Iranian Adasi is a slow-simmered lentil soup enjoyed for breakfast, often on weekends. Garnish with fresh lime, fried onion, fresh herbs, and Persian Tea Eggs.
Why You Should Make this Recipe
This Iranian Adasi dish is a slow-simmered lentil soup traditionally enjoyed for breakfast. This recipe works as a filling and tasty meal because lentils are so high in fiber and protein. They’re quick, easy and amazing flavor-absorbers.
The soup itself is a blend of classic flavors: onion, cumin, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Simple yet so good, you should make this Adasi if you’re looking for a warm, hearty soup suitable for vegetarians or vegetarians.
It’s also an easy prep-ahead slow cooker meal and can be sized up or down to feed as many people as you like!
Ingredients
lentils - "adasi" means "lentils" and green lentils are traditionally used in this recipe, though it should work with any lentils.
water - you can use stock instead of water in this recipe, though the adasi develop great flavors with the spices and onion on it's own.
How to Make Adasi
Heat the oil over medium heat. Saute the diced onion until translucent. Add the salt, pepper, turmeric, and cumin. Cook until fragrant, 30 seconds-1 minute.
Add the washed adasi (lentils) and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to the lowest possible temperature.
Cook for a minimum of 8 hours. Monitor the water level and add more, if necessary.
Note: You can cook the lentils in a slow-cooker (Amazon link opens in a new tab) on the low setting. Monitor the water level to make sure the lentils don't get dry.
Smash some of the lentils against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon to thicken the soup. Serve warm with fresh limes and herbs, fried onions, and Persian Tea Eggs.
More Persian Favorites
I set out to learn all my favorite Persian family recipes with the help of my mom and Maman Joon (grandmother). My Farsi isn't fluent, so I created a Farsi Cooking Vocabulary Guide that you might find helpful if you're recreating your own family recipes and need some help. Here are some favorites:
And of course, Steamed Basmati Rice. You can check out all my Persian recipes here.
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Iranian Adasi
Ingredients
- 2 cups green lentils washed
- 1 onion diced
- 2 tablespoon oil canola, avocado, or other flavorless oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt do not use table salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 6 cups water
Instructions
- Heat the oil over medium heat. Saute the diced onion until translucent.
- Add the salt, pepper, turmeric, and cumin. Cook until fragrant, 30 seconds-1 minute.
- Add the washed lentils and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to the lowest possible temperature. Cook for a minimum of 8 hours. Monitor the water level and add more, if necessary.
- Smash some of the lentils against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon to thicken the soup. Serve warm.
Ryan
I've never had such flavorful lentils! I will definitely be making these again.
Connie
Haven’t made this yet and was wondering if cooking with the instant pot-is the water measurement the same? Also, how long do you cook in instant pot?
Candice
Hi Connie, unfortunately I haven’t tried it myself yet but plan to in the next few weeks. If you try it before then please let us know if you were successful and what you tried. Here is what I’m going to try:
1-3/4 cups water
Pressure Cook setting.
10 minutes.
Natural pressure release for 10 minutes. Manual pressure release to vent any remaining steam.
I’ll come back and let you know if it needed more or less water.
Emily
My husband is from shiraz. My sister in law showed me this but in shiraz everyone adds meat to everything. ( including ash e reshteh). So we added some lamb and tomoato paste. Delicious.
Mara Roman
Delicious and super easy to make. Need to plan ahead right timing and you are set for a great dish.
I added whole eggs to mine to make it a one stop protein power plate. Thank you!!
More recipes like this please!!
Candice
Thank you for sharing, Mara... will do!
Arezoo
It was supper tasty,I love it . Thank you for this recipe🥰
Candice
You are so welcome. I'm glad you liked it, Arezoo... thank you for sharing!
Goli Khalafi
It was delicious! Thank you for this recipe.
Candice
Glad you liked it, Goli... Thank you for sharing!