A bowl of Turkish lentil soup can do a lot with very little. Red lentils, onion, carrot, broth, lemon, and a few warm spices turn into something silky, filling, and deeply comforting in under an hour.

A good Turkish soup does not need a long ingredient list to taste complete. The magic often comes from a handful of pantry staples, a patient simmer, and a hot butter or olive oil seasoning poured over the top right before serving.