Turkish red Lentil Soup

There must be as many recipes for this soup as there are Turkish housewifes. Some are richer, some are leaner.

I checked a lot of recipes on the Internet. Then I remembered that the husband of my friend was at a Men only Turkish cooking class several years ago. He made this soup for mega long time ago.

He mailed me his old recipe. It is vegetarian and you can decide to put some additional veggies in the soup. Original only onions are added.

Recipe for 3:
300 g red lentils
1 red onion
3 spring onions
1 cooked potato
1 carrot
1 tbsp olive oil
850 ml veg stock
1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp pul bieber or hot paprika
Salt and pepper
1 lemon
1 tsp butter
1 tsp flour
1 tsp tomato paste
150 ml water
Lemon juice

Chop bell pepper, onions and garlic and cube carrot and potato. Wash the lentils.
Heat up the oil and toss in onions, garlic ad carrot. Give them 3 min, add the 1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste and cook. Add stock and lentils.
Toss in the potato and season well. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat, close the lid and cook for 15.min.
Check if the lentils and the carrot are soft.

In a small pan make the roux.
Heat up the butter, add tomato paste and flour.
Cook, then add water and lemon juice and fresh mint. Season.
Stir into the soup.