Turkish Vegan Lentil Balls (Mercimek Köftesi)

These vegan lentil meatballs are a Turkish classic. Made with red lentils and bulgur, these meatballs are usually served with lettuce and herbs. 

Turkish recipes are very versatile and use fresh and healthy ingredients. Many Turkish recipes such as Turkish yogurt soup, gozleme, borek, and zucchini fritters are naturally vegetarian. These red lentil meatballs are another delicious Turkish recipe that happens to be naturally vegan. They are quick to make and absolutely tasty! 

Table Of Contents:

• What is mercimek koftesi?
• Why this recipe works
• Ingredients
• Instructions 
• Serving suggestions
• Frequently asked questions
• Notes and tips
• More Salads Recipes
• Step-by-Step Recipe

What is mercimek koftesi?

Mercimek köftesi, also known as vegan lentil meatballs, is a common Turkish dish that's a staple in many Turkish households. These are considered a cold mezze dish which can be served alongside other appetizers such as labneh, hummus, muhammara and baba ganoush. They are served cold and they're perfect for a tasty appetizer or even a quick lunch. 

What's interesting is that these vegan meatballs are not commonly served at restaurants so unless you've had a nice Turkish neighbor or friend, chances are that you've never tried these tasty treats until now.

Why this recipe works

• Perfect choice for vegans and vegetarians: These lentil balls are a great vegan option when you're hosting a party and know you're going to have vegetarian or vegan friends over. Packed with red lentils and bulgur and flavored with herbs and spices, this healthy lentil recipe will become a staple in your home. 
• Easy meal-prep: Turkish lentil meatballs also make a good light lunch for days in which you want a quick pick-me-up. If you're looking for an easy vegetarian meal that comes together in no time and is packed with nutrients, then these will be your go-to, especially because you can easily make them ahead of time and enjoy them through the week.
• Good for you: Lentils are a good source of protein and are easy to cook and work with. Red lentils are a bit different from green or brown lentils (like the ones we use to make mujadara) because they lose their shape when cooked and become very soft. Other recipes using red lentils include Turkish red lentil soup and Turmeric ginger red lentil soup.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you'll need:

• Red lentils - You can find red lentils at any supermarket. They are more delicate than green lentils and will turn yellow and mushy once cooked.
• Bulgur - Bulgur can be coarse or fine. For recipes such as bulgur pilaf we use coarse bulgur. However, for this recipe we are going to use fine bulgur. Check out The Spruce Eats to read more about bulgur wheat and its use. 
• Olive oil - Like many other Mediterranean recipes,  olive oil is an important part of this recipe. In addition to its health benefits, olive oil enhances flavor.
• Onion and garlic -  Sautéed onion and garlic are combined with cooked bulgur and red lentils.
• Tomato paste - The dense color of tomato paste gives the nice orange color to the lentil balls and also adds delicious flavor without the juiciness of the tomatoes.
• Parsley and green onions -  Both are common staples of Turkish cuisine and used in almost every savory recipe. They add freshness and flavor to the vegan meatballs. Don't discard the parsley stems - they're full of flavor!
• Spices - You need salt, pepper, cumin and pul biber which is similar to Aleppo pepper.

Instructions 

Cook the lentils and bulgur

Cook the lentils with water until all the water is absorbed and the lentils are mushy. Turn the heat off, add the bulgur to the lentils and mix. Cover and let it sit for 30 minutes. The bulgur will cook with the steam and moisture coming from the lentils. 

Prepare onion and garlic

Sauté the onion and garlic in some olive oil over medium heat. Stir in the tomato paste for color and flavor. 

Mix and shape

Add the onion mixture to the lentil and bulgur mixture. Mix well using a spoon or a spatula. To the lentil mixture, add the spices, olive oil, chopped parsley and green onions. 

Take a piece of the mixture the size of a large walnut and shape it into a long cylinder and place it on a platter with some lettuce leaves. Cool in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving. 

Serving suggestions

This is a simple lentil meatball recipe that's best when served cold. As I mentioned above, mercimek koftesi can be a part of a mezze platter alongside dips such as spicy hummus and muhammara. These vegan lentil meatballs are usually served with lettuce leaves and parsley with a squeeze of fresh lemon for more flavor. You can also turn it into a complete vegetarian meal with a side of sauteed spinach or Turkish style leeks.

However, if you're interested in vegan Mediterranean wraps like falafel sandwich, you can make a sandwich or a wrap with these Turkish lentil balls, parsley, lettuce and some tahini sauce. 

Frequently asked questions

Notes and tips

• This recipe yields 25-30 lentil balls and is enough for 5-6 people. You can store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. 
• Red lentils get very soft when they're cooked and will lose their shape. It's important to make sure the lentils don't have too much excess water since you want the vegan meatball mixture be sticky enough so you can shape it into balls. 
• Make sure you purchase fine bulgur and not coarse bulgur. The finer the bulgur, the smoother the meatball mixture is going to be. Coarse bulgur will make the mixture crumbly and hard to shape. 
• Aleppo pepper is not hot and is used to add depth and flavor to this recipe. If you would like the vegan meatballs to be spicy, you can add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the mixture. 
• If the mixture is not sticky enough, add more olive oil to it, one tablespoon at a time. 

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Step-by-Step Recipe