Ingredients
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6 cups of heated chicken stock (other stocks optional)
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1 1/4 cups lentils (yellow peas)
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1 small onion, chopped up
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1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste (tube, can or jar)
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1 small green zucchini, cut into thin 12 slices
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1 small red pepper, chopped up
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1 -2 tablespoon butter
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2 -3 garlic cloves, chopped up
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1/2 lemon, juice of
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1 -2 teaspoon lemon zest (optional, 8 small slivers from the outside of a lemon)
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1 teaspoon ground cumin
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1/2 inch ginger, chopped up
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1 lb ground turkey (turkey #1 choice) or 1 lb ground chicken (turkey #1 choice)
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1 teaspoon ground cumin
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1 teaspoon ground coriander
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1 teaspoon black pepper (cayenne optional)
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1 small onion, chopped up
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1 celery rib, chopped up
Instructions
- Mix the kofta ingredients and set aside.
- Put stock in a pot (non-stick Teflon) and after heated add; peas (lentils), celery, onion, tomato paste and let simmer for about 30+ minutes, with the cover on.
- Stirring occasionally.
- When the lentils are three quarters done, reserve about 1/2 cup for later use.
- Remove pot from stove and puree the soup, then back on the stove.
- After the soup is reduced somewhat, add; Semneh Seasonings and puree again.
- Let soup simmer for about 15 minutes, stir often (and make sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot).
- When you have a real thick soup add the 1/2 cup reserved lentils and cook for one minutes more.
- The soup should be thick which will allow the koftas, zucchini and red peppers to float on top when added.
- While the soup is cooking, make the koftas.
- Form about 12-16 small flat kofta patties and fry with a little oil (or grilled).
- Make sure that the ground poultry is thoroughly cooked, flatten them with a spatula.
- Put the zucchini and chopped red pepper into a big bowl, add the butter and then into the microwave for about 1 minutes.
- Do not over cook!
- Add the thick lentil soup to each bowl.
- Make a nice looking design around the bowl by placing 2- koftas, 3 slices of zucchini and garnish with red peppers.
- Enjoy, with pita bread and accompanied with hot chili sauce, yogurt sauce, mint sauce, sour cream, sour pickles/vegetables, lemon wedges on the side.