Turkish Lentil Balls – Vegan Meze in Lettuce Leaves

Name: Turkish Lentil Balls – Vegan Meze in Lettuce Leaves
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients: 1 cup red lentils; 1 cup fine bulgur; 2.5 cups water; 1 onion (finely chopped); 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 tablespoon red pepper paste; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 5 sprigs fresh parsley (chopped); 3 spring onions (chopped); Juice of 1 lemon; 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper; Lettuce leaves for serving

Kneaded from red lentils and fine bulgur with tomato paste and herbs, these vegan balls make a light snack served in lettuce leaves.

Total: 35 min
Servings: 2 servings
Difficulty: Medium
Calories · per serving: 220 kcal

Written by

Ecem Akkaba · Dietitian

Dietitian, graduate of İstanbul Medipol University. She develops the recipes and nutrition values on FitZen.

Updated: July 25, 2026

In short

Turkish Lentil Balls – Vegan Meze in Lettuce Leaves contains 220 calories per serving: 10 g protein, 38 g carbohydrate and 3 g fat. It takes 35 minutes in total and makes 2 servings.

About this recipe

Turkish lentil balls are one of the beloved vegan mezes of Turkish cuisine and are filling despite being meat-free. Thanks to the protein in red lentils and bulgur, they offer a satisfying, low-fat option.

Method

1
Rinse the lentils, add to a pot with water and boil until soft.
2
Just before removing from the heat, stir in the fine bulgur.
3
Cover and let it rest for 15 minutes until the bulgur absorbs the water.
4
In a separate pan, sauté the onion in olive oil until golden.
5
Add the tomato and pepper paste and cook for another couple of minutes.
6
Add the paste mixture to the lentil dough and knead thoroughly.
7
Add the parsley, spring onions, lemon juice, salt and black pepper.
8
Shape in your palm and serve in lettuce leaves.

Tips

If the dough is too dry, you can knead in a little warm water.
Those who like it spicy can add red pepper flakes or cumin.
Serving it after it has cooled in the fridge enhances the flavour.

Language

Similar recipes

All recipes

Medium

Mapo Tofu – Spicy Sichuan Tofu

A classic Sichuan dish of soft tofu cubes simmered in a doubanjiang and fermented black bean sauce with a little minced meat. Spicy, satisfying and a lighter high-protein version.

Total: 30 min
Calories: 285 kcal
Servings: 4 servings

Medium

Agedashi Tofu – Lightly Fried Soft Tofu in Warm Dashi Broth

Soft tofu is lightly dusted, fried until crisp, and served in a warm dashi-soy-mirin broth. Topped with grated daikon and scallions, this classic Japanese starter is light yet satisfying.

Total: 30 min
Calories: 240 kcal
Servings: 2 servings

Medium

Baingan Bharta – Smoky Mashed Roasted Eggplant

A North Indian classic where fire-roasted eggplant is mashed and simmered with onion, tomato and spices. Its smoky aroma and low calorie count make it a healthy vegan dish.

Total: 45 min
Calories: 150 kcal
Servings: 4 servings

Free to start

Get started

Meet RoboFit and log today’s first meal

Download it, create your account, photograph your first plate. Setup takes under a minute. Start with the free version; the yearly Premium plan includes a 3-day free trial for eligible new users.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Free to download
Free version: 3 food logs and 3 photo scans
Cancel your subscription any time

FitZen Premium: weekly or yearly plan. Prices vary by country — see the current price in the App Store or Google Play.