Mercimek koftesi red lentil balls
Soft spiced lentil and bulgur balls shaped by hand and wrapped in lettuce with lemon.
- Time50 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.19 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
Simmer the lentils in the water for 12 minutes until very soft and the water is absorbed.
12 min - 2
Stir the bulgur into the hot lentils, cover and leave for 20 minutes until it swells.
20 min - 3
Meanwhile, soften the onion in the oil for 6 minutes. Stir in the tomato purée, pepper paste, cumin, paprika and chilli for 1 minute.
6 min - 4
Add the onion mix, spring onions, parsley and half the lemon juice to the lentils. Knead with damp hands for 3 minutes until it holds together.
- 5
Shape into small oval balls, pressing so you see your finger marks. Serve in lettuce leaves with the rest of the lemon.
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.