Mercimek Çorbası (Turkish Lentil Soup) Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced (about 1 1/4 cups)
• 1 celery rib, finely diced
• 1 carrot, finely diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons tatli biber salçasi (Turkish sweet pepper paste)
• 1 1/2 cups (8.8oz/250gr) dried red lentils
• 2 liters (8 1/2 cups) vegetable stock
• 1 to 2 lemons, juiced, to taste
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons pul biber, plus extra to sprinkle on top
• 6 tablespoons Greek yogurt
• 6 heaping tablespoons croutons
• 1/4 bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped