Spiced red lentil kofte (mercimek köftesi)

These kofte are simple to make, healthy and incredibly tasty. Plus, they’ll keep the vegetarians happy. A very popular mezze in Turkey, the traditional way to shape these is by squeezing a small amount between your fingers while making a “fist” with your hand - this makes a sausage shape with well-defined finger indentations along the edges of the kofte. Shaping them into balls like these, however, is a very acceptable alternative. Don't make your kofte too far in advance, as they'll dry out if they sit too long before serving.