wajahatmughalSimple to make and packed with flavour. Turks serve them at just about any occasion. And few leftovers are more treasured than finding mercimek köftesi in the fridge when a midnight snack is called for. What’s not to like about Turkish lentil meatballs?
To many, Turkish cuisine is one of döner kebab, köfte and perhaps pide. But it’s so much more than that.The regional cuisines are as diverse as those of different countries. And then there’s the food which is perhaps most elusive to the outsider. Some of the most beloved dishes rarely appear on restaurant menus. These gems are only made at home.
This is in large part what led me to write my second book, Aubergine & tahini. It explores the home cooking of the region. The less famous – but equally tasty and much simpler to make – dishes. For the moment, it’s only published in Norway, where it’s enjoyed great success, hitting third print within its first year.
If I were to reduce the home cooking gems down to a single flag carrying dish, I’d choose mercimek köftesi. Deliciously aromatic vegetarian meatballs. Made from red lentils, bulgur and a few carefully selected ingredients, these flavour bombs are as comforting as they are tasty.
Vegan dish that’s perfect for any occasion
At least, that’s my experience. I feel like whenever I enter someone’s home, it’s never long before a plate of these bright orange lentil meatballs appear.
I’ve had them for breakfast. I’ve had them as an appetiser before dinner. I’ve had them as one of many mezes at an occasion. I’ve had them as a snack from the fridge late at night.
One of the genius things about mercimek köftesi, is that they’re served at room temperature, or even cold. What’s more, they keep perfectly for days.
Though they’re not just for those who make ahead. I find having a plate of these in the fridge is the perfect answer when you’re feeling peckish before bed, or between meals. Fulfilling enough to keep you going until the next meal, but not so much as to spoil the hunger for too long.
The trick to perfect mercimek köftesi
Making Turkish lentil meatballs is deceptively simple, but it does require a thing or two from your kitchen cupboards.
Red lentils make up most of the base, along with bulgur. Here, you want to use the fine bulgur. If the brand is Turkish (or German-Turkish, as most Turkish sounding brands outside of Turkey are), it will be sold as köftelik bulgur. Bulgur for meatballs.
The bulgur will cook in the residual heat and liquid of the lentils, so it’s essential to use the fine grained variety. I suppose you could substitute fine couscous if you must. Bulgur is, however, easily accessible in most places.
Turkish lentil meatballs get their bright colour, and much of the flavour, from tomato and red pepper pastes. It is worth seeking out good quality versions if you can. In Turkey, I get mine sundried and home made from Turunç Gıda, a family business I know and trust. They don’t ship abroad, but if you’re in Turkey I highly recommend them.
Onions are another essential ingredient. They are crucial to getting the right flavour here, but if you’re not careful, they can be overpowering. Striking the right balance is key. To that end, I add onions three ways – sautéed brown onions, plus raw red onion and spring onion. You can use just either if the latter two, but make sure there’s a good balance of flavours.
Finally, keep them away from the frying pan. This may sound odd to re-iterate if you’re already familiar with the dish, but beyond boiling red lentils and sautéing onion, there’s no heat involved in making this dish.
You can shape them however you like. I like squeezing them between the fingers in my hand for a wavy, elongated shape. Moisten your fingers with a little water or oil every now and again to keep them from sticking to your hands.
How to serve Turkish lentil meatballs
Traditionally, mercimek köftesi is served and eaten with fresh salad leaves. Delicious!
That said, I often skip the salad leaves. They are also delicious as they are!
As I mentioned above, these lentil meatballs can be served with any meal, though personally I usually serve it as a meze or appetiser before dinner. It’s also perfect for those days when you’re putting a number of dishes, small and big, in the middle of the table to let everyone help themselves.
In summer, why not consider it for your picnic or outing in the park? Turkish lentil meatballs keep well for hours at most temperatures. Of course, if you’re moving around, they may not be as pretty as when you shaped them. But they will still taste amazing!
While I rarely make them to snack on between meals, I always make sure there’s plenty left over for that purpose! Good then, that they keep for days in the fridge – probably more than a week if you pack them well. Though I assure you, they’ll be long gone by that time.
The recipe makes 25-30 lentil meatballs. Depending on what is served alongside, 2-3 lentil meatballs per person is usually enough. If this is a major part of the meal, however, allow at least twice that.
Semrushtools
Add comment