Vegan croquettes: Turkish lentil meatballs

Hello internet friends! How's this post finding you? I hope you're doing well. Today I'm bringing you an excellent, delicious, inexpensive, and vegan recipe! Turkish lentil meatballs. It's a typical Turkish dish that's super quick to make. Once you make this recipe, you'll be adding it to your meals forever.

These Turkish lentil meatballs, or red lentils, are a typical Turkish dish called MERCIMEK KÖFTESI. I don't know how to pronounce it exactly, but that's how it's written. Turkish lentils cook very quickly, and this recipe is a multifunctional dish that can be eaten as a snack during tea time, as a main course, or as a side dish. It's a winner, to put it mildly.

About Turkish lentil meatballs

While this is a vegan recipe, it goes without saying that it's suitable for everyone in this room ... Right? These red lentil croquettes are so, so good. I invite you to step out of your comfort zone and be amazed by these new flavors.

Ahhh, read me something, for this recipe we are going to need a tomato paste, you have two options:

1. Go to the supermarket and buy a small jar of tomato paste.
2. Do it. And YES. 

How do I make tomato paste?

It's really easy. Soak a couple of tomatoes in tea or warm water, and once they're ready, strain and blend them. The end. REALLY HARD, RIGHT? Oh, with bell pepper paste, it's similar, but with cooked bell peppers... either sautéed, baked, or however you prefer.

Ready, there's not much more to add, so let's go straight to the recipe.

Cheers,

Gabu

Turkish lentil meatball recipe

Ingredients (if we can't go to Türkiye, let Türkiye come to us)

• 1 small glass of red lentils.
• ½ glass of bulgur wheat.
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.
• 1 tablespoon of red pepper paste.
• 1 spring onion.
• 1 common onion.
• Parsley.
• Cumin.
• Paprika
• Salt and pepper.

How to make the best Turkish lentil meatballs step by step

1. Cook the Turkish lentils in the same amount of water (1 cup of water per 1 cup of lentils) until they are almost pureed.
2. Meanwhile, chop the vegetables. Set the green onion and parsley aside.
3. Sauté the finely chopped onion until translucent. Add the tomato paste and bell pepper paste.
4. Once the tomato changes color and turns a little darker, season with salt and pepper and stir. Set aside.
5. Once the lentils are cooked, add the hot bulgur wheat and stir well. Cover and let soak for half an hour.
6. Once that time has elapsed, add the previously cooked mixture, the parsley, and the spring onion. Season with salt and pepper, and cut into rings: mix with your hands.
7. Shape them into meatballs and that's it! Eat them raw.
8. It is served on top of lettuce leaves and can be accompanied with a yogurt sauce.

And here the video recipe

You can find this video on YouTube, so if you click here you'll go directly to the channel and the recipe. I'll leave it below as well: