Join KindChef Alexa Abdelatey to make a delicious Turkish Red Lentil Soup for Washington Hebrew Congregation’s Mitzvah Day 2023. All are welcome – whether Washington Hebrew congregants or not!
After completing your soup, freeze and label it for donation, then drop off at one of our participating food assistance providers, with a person or family that is in your heart, or anyplace that you prefer, when convenient. Finally, report on where you shared your KindSoup and spread the word: Post a picture or two of you and your soups on social media with #DoKindWorks and tag us @DoKindWorks.
Turkish Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 medium yellow onions, diced
- 3 large carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 medium Russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 6 garlic cloves, sliced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 teaspoons cumin
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoons black pepper
- 3/4 teaspoons cayenne OR Aleppo pepper
- 15 cups vegetable broth
- 3 cups red lentils, picked through (for small stones) and rinsed
- 3 teaspoons dried mint
- 3 lemons
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Once the oil is hot, add the diced onions and sauté for 4 minutes.
- Add the diced carrots and diced potatoes to the pot. Sauté for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the garlic cloves and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add the tomato paste, cumin, salt, paprika, oregano, black pepper, and cayenne. Stir for 30 seconds and then deglaze the bottom of the pot with a small amount of the chicken or vegetable stock.
- Add the remaining stock and lentils. Stir and increase heat till the soup is boiling. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- If the soup is getting too thick, add water or more broth. Remove the soup from the heat and stir in the dried mint. Using an immersion blender or a stand blender, blend the soup till it’s creamy and all the ingredients are incorporated.
- Optional Paprika Oil – Heat the oil in a small pot and add the paprika. Stir to combine and remove from heat. Continue to stir till fully incorporated.
- Serve with lemon wedges. If you’d like, add a sprinkle of chopped parsley and a drizzle of paprika oil
Health and Safety Information
In order to protect the the quality of our KindSoup program, we ask that volunteers conscientiously observe the following guidelines:
- Start with clean hands and wash again frequently as needed throughout the cooking process.
- Start with clean kitchen surfaces and utensils (antibacterial wipes do a great job).
- Keep longer hair tied back.
- Follow other common sense procedures, such as never returning a tasting spoon to the pot!
Thank you for maintaining a high cleanliness standard for our KindSoup donations!
How to Donate Your KindSoup
Seal containers with a tight lid and freeze. Label each container with: date prepared, your first name and last initial, “Turkish Lentil Soup,” and “vegan.” When convenient, drop containers of frozen soup off at one of the following participating food assistance providers, with a person or family that is in your heart, or a place that you prefer.
- 5171 Manning Place NW (in the Palisades neighborhood in DC). NOTE: Soups dropped here must be vegetarian or Halal only, please.
- Here2Help @ Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 7611 Clarendon Road, Bethesda. (Go down driveway next to brick house just before the church on Clarendon and look for coolers labeled for soup donations). Drop off Sundays, 9:30 am-12 noon.
- Homes Not Borders 3610 East St., Landover. Drop off daily 10 am-2 pm. NOTE: Soups dropped here must be vegetarian or Halal only, as they will be shared with newly arriving refugee families in the area.
- Rainbow Community Development Center 12120 Tech Road, Silver Spring (this takes you to the rear parking lot and loading dock – there is usually a large RAINBOW truck parked here): Drop-off Monday-Friday 10am-1pm – BUT FIRST text or call Anna at 240-852-4184 or 301-852-4184 to confirm that someone will be there and tell her you are dropping off KindSoup.
- Upcounty Consolidation Hub 12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown (supporting 1,000 families with food and other supports). Drop off Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays 9-11 am.
- Embry Rucker Shelter 11975 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, 703-437-1975. Leave donations on the table around the back. Drop off anytime!
- NYC Community Fridges located throughout New York City.
- Bread and Roses 58 Newbury St., Lawrence, Mass., 978-681-8768. Drop off Mondays-Thursdays, 10 am-4 pm.
- The Bristol Lodge 27 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass., 781-893-0108. Drop off Mondays-Fridays, 9am-6pm.
- Community Refrigerators located in Los Angeles
See you in the KindSoup kitchen!
Learn more about this KindWorks program
