Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions
Silky red lentil soup flavored with ground Aleppo pepper and brightened with lemon — finished at the table with a cascade of onion rings fried in cumin until almost black at the edges. The fried onion topping is the difference between this and any other lentil soup in the world.
Cook this hands-free
All 214 Sofra recipes are free in the app. This one includes step-by-step English voice narration, hands-free Cooking Mode, and the original oud music by Charbel Rouhana.
Get Sofra on Google Play →Ingredients
- 350 g red lentils, rinsed
- 1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic cloves
- 2 tsp Aleppo pepper
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 1.5 liters vegetable or chicken stock
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1½ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 large yellow onions for taqlia, thinly sliced into rings
- ¼ cup olive oil for frying
- 1½ tsp whole cumin seeds
Instructions
- Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot. Add chopped onion and cook until soft and golden, 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes.
- Add Aleppo pepper, ground cumin, and turmeric. Stir 1 minute.
- Add lentils and stock. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 20–25 minutes until lentils are completely dissolved.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the soup completely smooth. Stir in lemon juice and salt.
- Adjust consistency with water if too thick — should pour easily from a ladle.
- Make the taqlia: heat ¼ cup olive oil in a separate pan over medium-high heat. Add onion rings and cook, stirring frequently, until deeply golden and the edges begin to char — about 15 minutes. Add whole cumin seeds in the last 2 minutes.
- Ladle hot soup into bowls. Spoon the hot taqlia over each bowl at the table.
Hear every step read aloud
Step-by-step voice narration guides you hands-free. Faten's Idlib recipes carry her own Syrian-Arabic narration. Charbel Rouhana's original oud plays during Cooking Mode.
Get Sofra on Google Play →Frequently Asked Questions
What is Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions?
Silky red lentil soup flavored with ground Aleppo pepper and brightened with lemon — finished at the table with a cascade of onion rings fried in cumin until almost black at the edges. The fried onion topping is the difference between this and any other lentil soup in the world.
Where is Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions from?
Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions comes from Idlib Syrian. Sofra documents this recipe as part of its 214-recipe Lebanese and Syrian heritage collection, including 49 dishes from Idlib province.
Is Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions vegetarian?
No — as written, Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions includes meat, fish, or meat-based stock, so it is not vegetarian. See the ingredient list for the specific ingredients used.
What can I use instead of ground cumin in Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions?
The ground cumin called for here is part of the traditional recipe and gives Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions its authentic character, so keep it if you can. If you must substitute, choose the closest equivalent you have on hand and adjust to taste — the dish will shift slightly from the traditional version but still work. The Sofra app lists the full ingredient set and sourcing notes.
What do I serve with Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions?
In a Syrian soups spread, Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions is served hot with warm flatbread or a wedge of lemon, often as a light meal on its own or as a first course.
Can I make Idlib Red Lentil Soup with Aleppo Pepper and Cumin Onions ahead, and how do I store leftovers?
Yes — leftovers keep well stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days. Reheat gently (or bring to room temperature for cold dishes) and taste to adjust seasoning before serving. Dishes with fresh herbs or dressing are freshest the day they are made.