Eshkeneh-yeh Adas (Lentil Egg Drop Soup)

Preparation

1. Step 1

   In a medium pot, heat the oil over medium, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Add the potato, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes, just so that the potato pieces are no longer raw. Add the turmeric, Aleppo pepper and black pepper, give it a stir, and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and cook just to take off the raw taste and deepen its color, stirring and taking care not to burn the paste, about 1 minute.

2. Step 2

   Add the lentils, stir to combine and cook for 1 minute. Add 6 cups of water, partially cover, raise the heat to high and bring to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt or salt to taste, and stir. Cover completely, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils and potatoes are cooked through, about 25 minutes. Add the cilantro and fenugreek, if using, and simmer for 5 minutes, until the herbs release their fragrance and flavor the soup. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

3. Step 3

   In a small bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk until combined. In a thin stream, add half of the eggs to the soup, gently breaking them up with the whisk, then repeat with the remaining eggs. (You don’t want to scramble the eggs here, but just break up the eggs into strands.) Cover and cook for 2 minutes, until the eggs set. Divide among bowls and garnish each with cilantro leaves and a sprinkling of Aleppo pepper, if you like. Serve hot with bread on the side.