Mercimek Koftesi (Red Lentil Patties)

🛒 Ingredients

• Red lentils 200 g · 704 kcal
• Fine bulgur 90 g · 308 kcal
• Onion 150 g · 60 kcal
• Olive oil 45 g · 398 kcal
• Tomato paste 15 g · 12 kcal
• Red pepper paste (mild) 15 g · 12 kcal
• Ground cumin 2 g · 8 kcal
• Red pepper flakes (Pul Biber) 2 g · 6 kcal
• Black pepper 1 g · 3 kcal
• Fresh parsley 20 g · 7 kcal
• Green onions 30 g · 10 kcal

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Rinse red lentils and cook them in 3 cups of water until very soft and all water is absorbed, about 15-20 minutes.
2. While lentils cook, place fine bulgur in a large bowl. Once lentils are cooked, pour the hot lentils directly over the bulgur, mix, cover, and let it soak for 10-15 minutes until the bulgur softens.
3. Finely chop the onion. In a pan, heat olive oil and sauté the chopped onion until translucent. Add tomato paste, red pepper paste, cumin, red pepper flakes, and black pepper; cook for another minute.
4. Add the sautéed onion mixture to the lentil-bulgur mixture. Add finely chopped fresh parsley and green onions.
5. Season generously with salt. Knead the mixture thoroughly by hand for 5-10 minutes until it becomes a cohesive paste. Form small, oval or torpedo-shaped patties (koftes) by squeezing a handful of the mixture.
6. Arrange the Mercimek Koftesi on a serving platter, typically on fresh lettuce leaves, and serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.