Etli Taze Fasulye (Green Beans with Minced Meat)

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1½ tbsp. olive oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 8 oz. (½ lb.) cubed lamb*
• 2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 3 cups plus 2 cups hot water
• 4 lb. fresh green beans, ends removed and sliced in half
• ½ green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• ½ tsp. salt

Direction:

1. In a medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. 
2. Sauté onions until slightly brown on edges. 
3. Add cubed meat and cook for 7 to 10 minutes longer. 
4. Add tomatoes or tomato paste and 3 cups hot water. 
5. Lower heat to a simmer. 
6. Cook until meat is tender, or about 30 minutes. 
7. Stir in beans and green pepper and cook for 10 minutes over medium heat. 
8. Add 2 cups of hot water and simmer until vegetables are tender, or about 5 minutes. 
9. Add salt to taste. Serve with rice.

Etli Taze Fasulye (Green Beans with Minced Meat)

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1½ tbsp. olive oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 8 oz. (½ lb.) cubed lamb*
• 2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 3 cups plus 2 cups hot water
• 4 lb. fresh green beans, ends removed and sliced in half
• ½ green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• ½ tsp. salt

Direction:

1. In a medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. 
2. Sauté onions until slightly brown on edges. 
3. Add cubed meat and cook for 7 to 10 minutes longer. 
4. Add tomatoes or tomato paste and 3 cups hot water. 
5. Lower heat to a simmer. 
6. Cook until meat is tender, or about 30 minutes. 
7. Stir in beans and green pepper and cook for 10 minutes over medium heat. 
8. Add 2 cups of hot water and simmer until vegetables are tender, or about 5 minutes. 
9. Add salt to taste. Serve with rice.

Domateslı Tel Íerhrıye Çorbası (Shredded Wheat Soup with Tomatoes)

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1 cup water
• 4 to 5 cups canned vegetable stock
• ½ cup vermicelli pasta, broken into ½-inch pieces
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• 2 tbsp. butter, melted
• 1 handful fresh parsley, chopped

Direction:

1. In a large saucepan, combine tomatoes and water. 
2. Bring to a boil over high heat. 
3. Boil for 10 minutes longer. 
4. Over a medium bowl, pour tomatoes and water through a strainer, using a spoon to press as much of tomato mixture through as possible. 
5. Discard pulp and set aside juice. 
6. In a Dutch oven, bring stock to a boil and add vermicelli. 
7. Add reserved tomato juice to Dutch oven, add salt and pepper, and simmer for about 8 minutes, or until vermicelli is tender. 
8. Combine melted butter and parsley. 
9. Add to soup and serve.

Kırmızı Mercimek Çorbası (Red Lentil Soup)

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. butter or olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 8 cups low-fat vegetable or beef stock
• 1 cup red lentils
• ¼ cup short-grain rice
• 1 dried red pepper (optional)
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. pepper
• ½ tsp. dried mint
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Direction:

1. In a Dutch oven, warm butter or olive oil over medium heat. 
2. Add onion and sauté for 5 to 10 minutes, or until onion is translucent. 
3. Stir in garlic, cumin, and coriander, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. 
4. Add tomato paste, stock, lentils, rice, and red pepper (if desired). 
5. Stir to combine. 
6. Bring soup to a boil, cover pan, and reduce heat to a simmer. 
7. Cook for about 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
8. When lentils and rice are tender and soup has thickened, add salt, pepper, and dried mint. 
9. Serve hot with lemon wedges.