Ahmet's lentil soup

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 1 onion(s), peeled, roughly diced
• 1 carrot(s), peeled, roughly diced
• 2 potatoes, peeled, roughly chopped
• 50 ml sunflower oil
• 200 g lentils, red, washed
• Salt
• 1 ½ liters of boiling water
• 50 g butter
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• ½ tbsp paprika powder (sweet or hot)
• 1 tbsp mint, dried

Instructions

Working time approx. 15 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 30 minutes; Total time approx. 45 minutes

Mercimek Çorbasi

Sauté the onion and carrot pieces in hot oil until translucent, but do not brown. After about 5 minutes, add the potato pieces and fry. Add the washed lentils, salt, and boiling water and stir. Cook everything until soft, about 30 minutes. Then puree thoroughly with a hand blender or pass through a sieve. Add a little more salt if desired. Foam the butter and add the tomato paste and paprika (I like to use hot or chili flakes – Pul Biber). Add the mint and bring everything to a boil. Pour over the hot soup, stir briefly, and serve.