Red Lentils & Turkish Pulses (Mercimek)

Few ingredients are as comforting, economical and nourishing as lentils, and they are central to Turkish, Kurdish and wider Middle Eastern cooking. At Turkish Online Market we stock the full family of pulses — from quick-cooking red lentils to firmer green and brown varieties — so you always have the makings of a warming meal in the cupboard.

Know Your Lentils

Each type of mercimek has its place at the table. Red lentils (kırmızı mercimek) cook quickly and break down into a smooth purée, making them the heart of Turkey's iconic mercimek çorbası and a key player in mercimek köftesi. Green and brown lentils (yeşil mercimek) hold their shape and add body to salads, pilavs and the classic mercimekli dishes. Together they cover almost every recipe you could want.

• Red lentils: lentil soup, mercimek köftesi, dals and purées
• Green & brown lentils: salads, pilavs, stews, kısır-style sides

The Goodness of Pulses

Lentils are a powerhouse of plant protein and fibre, require no soaking, and cook far faster than dried beans — red lentils in particular are ready in around twenty minutes. They are naturally filling and budget-friendly, which is exactly why they have fed families across Anatolia for generations. A bag of lentils paired with onion, tomato paste and a few spices is a complete, satisfying meal in itself.

Mercimek Çorbası (Lentil Soup)

Soften onion and a little carrot or potato in butter, stir in red lentils, tomato or pepper paste and stock, and simmer until the lentils collapse. Blend until silky, season with cumin and a squeeze of lemon, and finish with a drizzle of paprika butter. It is the soup that warms every Turkish winter and a customer favourite to recreate at home.

Mercimek Köftesi

Cook red lentils with fine bulgur until thick, then fold through sautéed onion, tomato and pepper paste, spring onions and parsley. Shape into the classic ovals between your fingers and serve with lettuce and lemon — a beloved meze that is entirely plant-based.

Shop Lentils & Pulses at Turkish Online Market

Our lentils and dried legumes are part of a pantry of more than 2,000 authentic Turkish and Mediterranean products at Turkish Online Market, sitting alongside bulgur, rice, pastes and spices so you can complete your shop in one order. As an online-only supermarket we deliver across the UK with next-day DHL, free on orders over £60 (a flat £5.99 applies below). Order your red lentils and pulses from Turkish Online Market today and keep your cupboard ready for soup season and beyond.