Mercimek Köftesi - Turkish Lentil Bulgur Balls
Turkish lentil and bulgur bites that super simple to make and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
- 190 g dry split red lentils
- 400 ml water
- 80 g fine bulgur
- 2 small onions
- 1 bunch of parsley
- 2 spring onions
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Biber salçası - Turkish medium hot red pepper paste OR more of the tomato paste and some chili flakes
- 1 tsp Cumin
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- juice of half a lemon
To serve
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 1 lettuce
Instructions
- Rinse the red lentils, add them to a pan with the water, cover and cook for about 10 minutes until they are soft but still watery. We are now adding fine bugler and it needs water to be able to continue cooking and absorb the water. Add the bulgur, remove from the heat, cover with a lid and let it stand for another 5/8 minutes and then let it cool down.
- In the meantime, heat up some olive oil in a pan, add diced onions and sauté for 8-10 minutes or until translucent, then add tomato paste, Turkish red pepper paste or more tomato paste and some chili flakes (reduce or increase depending on your spice tolerance) and cumin. Mix to combine, cook for a few minutes more.
- Once the lentil and bulgur mixture has cooled down, place it in a big bowl and add the onion mixture, spring onions, fresh parsley, lemon juice, chili flakes if using, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands until it reaches a smooth consistency. Shape the balls with damp hands by squeezing them in your palms.
- Serve on a plate with lettuce leaves and lemon. When ready to eat, take a piece of lettuce, place one ball on it, and season it with some lemon juice.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!