Turkish red lentil soup or mercimek orbas (meyr-ju-mek' chor-bah-su') is a popular hearty soup, especially during the winter months. It's also an important part of breaking the daily fast during the month of ramadan. After the lentils and vegetables have been cooked and strained, let the soup continue to simmer slowly to get the best blend of flavors. For garnish, sprinkle with some hot pepper flakes, plain croutons or squeeze a few drops of lemon on top.
