Mercimek köftesi is a
lentil
The lentil (''Vicia lens'' or ''Lens culinaris'') is an annual plant, annual legume grown for its Lens (geometry), lens-shaped edible seeds or ''pulses'', also called ''lentils''. It is about tall, and the seeds grow in Legume, pods, usually w ...
based cold dish or
meze
''Meze'' (also spelled ''mezze'' or ''mezé'') (, ) is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers in Eastern Mediterranean cuisines. It is similar to Spanish cuisine, Spanish tapas and Italian cuisine, Italian Antipasto, antipasti. A ''me ...
found in
Turkish cuisine, also known as Lentil balls. Being one of the foods that symbolize the importance of Anatolian hospitality, it is often served in events such as 5 o'clock tea and special occasion meals.
Adana province
Adana Province () is a Provinces of Turkey, province and Metropolitan municipalities in Turkey, metropolitan municipality of Turkey located in central Cilicia. The administrative seat of the province is the city of Adana, home to 78.25% of the r ...
is specifically famous for this dish's popularity.
Lentil balls are prepared from split red lentils along with tomato paste, fine bulgur, parsley, onion, and other spices. Proportions of ingredients and types of spices used may differ in different regions.
The preparation requires cooking of lentils in water to a mushy texture, followed by addition of fine bulgur which swells from liquid from boiled lentils without additional cooking. Onions roasted in olive oil, tomato paste, spices and herbs are added for flavor. This thick consistency batter is then shaped in a palm in a cylindrical form, and served with lettuce and vegetables on side. Mercimek Köftesi may also be served as a wrap with lettuce and tahini sauce, but it is then called Lentil Falafel.
American Institute for Cancer Research
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is a large American cancer research organization associated with the World Cancer Research Fund umbrella organization.
As of 2024, the charity has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator
C ...
(AICR) in 2015 put mercimek köftesi in a list of 7 dishes from local cuisines from all around the world which are considered to fight cancer, especially reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
Regional mercimek köftesi styles
South-central:
*Gaziantep mercimek köftesi (or Malhıtalı/Maltıkalı Küfte in the regional Turkish dialect)
*Osmaniye mercimek köftesi
Southeastern:
*Diyarbakır Belluh
*Mardin BelloÄŸ
See also
*
List of salads
Salad is any of a wide variety of dishes including green salads; vegetable salads; long beans; salads of pasta, legumes, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads. They often include vegetables and fruits.
...
*
Eetch
Eetch () otherwise known as eech, itch, metch or one of several other variations is a traditional Armenian cuisine, Armenian side dish, salad or spread, similar to tabbouleh. Eetch can be eaten either at room temperature or warm.
Its typical red ...
*
Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh (), also transcribed tabouleh, tabbouli, tabouli, or taboulah, is a Levantine salad of finely chopped parsley, soaked bulgur, tomatoes, mint, and onion, seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and sweet pepper. Some variations a ...
*
Çiğ köfte
Çiğ köfte () or chee kofta is a kofta dish that is a regional specialty of southeastern Turkey, southeastern Anatolia in Urfa. The dish is served as an appetizer or meze, and it is closely related with ''kibbeh nayyeh'' from Levantine cuisine. ...
References
External links
Meze
Turkish words and phrases
Turkish cuisine
Lentil dishes
Bulgur dishes
Assyrian cuisine
Vegan cuisine
Legume dishes
{{Turkey-cuisine-stub