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Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Mercimek köftesi with lettuce salad

Mercimek köftesi is a Turkish vegetarian dish made from red lentils and bulgur, shaped into small patties and served cold in a lettuce leaf. For 4 people, it takes 45 minutes and costs about €1.60 per person, with an easy difficulty level. The key to success is letting the mixture rest and cool before shaping it.

Tonight, small Turkish patties made with red lentils and bulgur, rolled up in a lettuce leaf with a squeeze of lemon.

Mercimek köftesi with lettuce salad
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.60
Calories per person
510 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Red lentils cook down quickly into a soft puree, then fine bulgur swells in that residual heat without any extra cooking. Cumin, paprika and sweet paprika powder add a gentle warmth, while lemon squeezed right before serving wakes up the whole dish. The texture stays soft inside and slightly firm outside, and you eat it with your hands, rolled in a crisp lettuce leaf.

This dish works just as well for a quick weeknight dinner as for a summer table with guests, served cold or at room temperature. Kids generally enjoy the hands on part of rolling the patties and the mild flavor, especially if you cut back on the chili. Mon Chou likes to slip it into a light spring meal, made a little ahead so the flavors settle.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Red lentilsoften in the pantry 200 g
  • Fine bulguroften in the pantry 100 g
  • Tomato pasteoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Cuminoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Paprikaoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Sweet paprika powderoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Scallions 4
  • Flat leaf parsley 1 bunch
  • Lettuce 2
  • Lemon 2

Allergens Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the red lentils in three times their volume of salted water until they fall apart. 12 min

    They do not need soaking, just make sure they do not stick to the bottom of the pot.

  2. Off the heat, add the fine bulgur, cover and let it swell in the residual heat of the lentils. 10 min

    Fine bulgur absorbs moisture, do not stir while it swells.

  3. Sauté the chopped onion in the oil with the tomato paste, cumin, paprika and sweet paprika powder, then stir it all into the lentils. 5 min

    Warm the spices in the oil before the onion goes in, they release more aroma that way.

  4. Add the chopped scallions and parsley, taste, then shape small elongated patties with damp hands.

    Keep a bowl of water nearby, damp hands keep the mixture from sticking.

  5. Arrange the patties on lettuce leaves and serve with lemon wedges.

    Squeeze the lemon over the patty right before eating, it brightens the whole dish.

Our tips to get it right

  • Chop the onion and parsley very finely, the mixture holds together better and the patties keep a neat shape.
  • If the mixture feels too soft after cooling, stir in an extra spoonful of fine bulgur instead of overworking it.
  • Shape the patties into small elongated ovals rather than round balls, they roll into the lettuce leaf more easily.

The variations

  • Swap the fine bulgur for fine semolina if that is what you have, the texture stays close to the original.
  • For a spicier version, add a pinch of chili flakes or a dash of hot sauce right before serving.
  • For kids, skip the lettuce wrap and serve the patties with cucumber sticks and lemon wedges on the side.

What to serve it with

  • A side bowl of plain yogurt
  • Cucumber sticks
  • Cold lemon water

Storage

The patties keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. They do not freeze well, the bulgur turns mushy once thawed. Serve them cold or at room temperature, without reheating.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the mercimek köftesi mixture ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the mixture the day before and keep it covered in the fridge. Shape the patties just before serving, they are easier to roll once fully chilled.

Can you replace the fine bulgur with something else?

You can use fine semolina instead of bulgur, it absorbs the moisture from the lentils just as well. Avoid medium or coarse bulgur, which stays too crunchy for this texture.

Why does the mixture need to cool before shaping the patties?

As it cools, the bulgur finishes absorbing the moisture and the mixture firms up. That is what lets you shape patties that hold together without crumbling.

Do kids usually like mercimek köftesi?

Generally yes, since the flavor stays mild and the texture feels like a soft little patty. You can reduce the sweet paprika powder for an even milder version for younger kids.

How long does it take to make mercimek köftesi, Turkish red lentil and bulgur patties, with a lettuce salad?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in mercimek köftesi, Turkish red lentil and bulgur patties, with a lettuce salad?

About 510 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does mercimek köftesi, Turkish red lentil and bulgur patties, with a lettuce salad cost?

About €1.60 per serving, or €6.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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