Ezogelin Çorbası (Turkish Red Lentil Soup)
A brick red Turkish soup of red lentils and rice with tomato, pepper paste and a dried mint finish, thick enough to eat with a spoon.
Made with Homemade vegetable stock. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.06 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Rinse the lentils and rice in a sieve under cold water until it runs fairly clear.
- 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion for 6 minutes until soft, then stir in the pepper paste and tomato purée and cook for 2 minutes until darker.
6 min - 3
Add the lentils, rice, cumin and half the paprika, then pour in your ready made vegetable stock (see the base recipe) and the water. Bring to the boil.
- 4
Simmer gently for 25 minutes, stirring now and then, until the lentils have collapsed and the rice is tender. Add a splash of hot water if it gets too thick.
25 min - 5
Blend about a third of the soup with a stick blender so it is part smooth and part chunky. Season with salt and pepper.
- 6
Warm the remaining oil in a small pan, take it off the heat and stir in the mint, chilli flakes and remaining paprika. Spoon it over each bowl and serve with the lemon wedges.
Tips
- Rinse the lentils well. It removes dust and keeps the soup from foaming over as it comes to the boil.
- No Turkish pepper paste? Use an extra tablespoon of tomato purée plus half a teaspoon of hot paprika.
- Traditional ezogelin often contains fine bulgur as well as rice. Rice keeps this version gluten free.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 to 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. It thickens as it sits, so loosen with hot water and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Is ezogelin soup vegan and gluten free?
Yes, as written. It uses homemade vegetable stock, olive oil, lentils and rice, with no dairy, egg, wheat or nuts. Check the label on your pepper paste and tomato purée in case of additives.
Can I make it without rice?
Yes. Use 190 g red lentils and skip the rice. The soup will be slightly thinner, so simmer it a few minutes longer for body.
What should I serve with ezogelin soup?
Lemon wedges and warm bread are the usual partners. For a gluten free meal, serve it with gluten free flatbread or a simple tomato and cucumber salad.
More made with homemade vegetable stock
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.