Turkish Delights: Stunning Regional Recipes from the Bosphorus to the Black Sea
Black Sea pancakes
We generally think of pancakes as sweet, topped with butter and syrup or honey. But there is a world of savoury pancakes that is also amazing. This is one of those recipes. We would not have thought of Turkey as having a pancake culture, but I was surprised to find that it has deep roots in the region. There are numerous varieties: Akitama, a thin, crepe-like pancake brushed with butter and enjoyed with salty goat cheese, and Lalagna, an Ottoman dish made from a thick batter with cheese....
Poached eggs, yoghurt, and avocado (Cilbic)
Turkish breakfasts are massive; the tables are loaded with a wide array of goodies: olives, cheese, meats, and, of course, eggs in all...
Turkish sumac and oregano chicken wings
I am obsessed with chicken wings, and here is another lovely recipe. Chicken wings make for the perfect finger food, setting the tone for...
Kale, spinach, pomegranate, and walnuts
I love simple and healthy salads. This is one of those salads that is so simple to make but has excellent flavour. The salad is full of...
Pomegranate and walnut rice pudding
If there is a dessert that we all grew up with, it is rice pudding. Versions of it are found in every country and culture on this planet....
Lemon, garlic, and herb yogurt or Haydari
I was looking for a yogurt dish to serve with some kebabs, Kebab Torsh, and a delicate Lentil rice tahdig as part of a larger meal and I...
Turkish garlicky okra
Okra is favoured in Turkish cuisine, and interestingly, it is used as a thickener for stews and soups. But, like us in India, they prefer not to have the slimy palate feel. They get around this by adding lemon or lime juice that is added to the dish to prevent the mucilage from forming. This is a simple dish, easy to make yet so delicious. The baby okra is soft and tender, without the slime, and the tomatoes add an acidic, mild sweetness to the dish. It is perfect as a side dish with grilled...
Turkish vegetable stew (Sebze güvee)
Turkish cuisine is known for its kebabs and meze, but is also renowned for its beautiful, slow-braised stews. These dishes are derived...
Spicy adana kebab
These kebabs, originating from the city of Adana, where they are incidentally referred to as "kiyma", are a favourite all over Turkey....
Red pepper and walnut dip (Yogurtlu kozlenmis biber)
Turkish cuisine is dominated by meze food, and the star of these tables is the dips. There are literally hundreds of dips across the...
Ali Nazik: Ground mutton (or lamb) with smoked eggplant
Ali Nazik literally means "gentle hand" in Turkish. According to legend, this dish was created for a Sultan in the Gaziantep Region of...
Green beans with tomatoes and olive oil (Taze fasulye)
Taze fasulye is a staple dish in Turkey, typically served as a side dish with meats or as part of a mezze table. The name means "fresh...
Turkish walnut pasta (Cevizli pasta)
Constantinople stood at the crossroads of trade for centuries, growing rich and absorbing culture and cuisine from all over the world....
Simit kebab with pistachios
On my first trip to Istanbul, I was taken to a kebabçi or a restaurant that serves mainly kebabs. I was mesmerised by the variety of...
Turkish mutton chops from Gaziantep
Gaziantep is in the South Eastern region of Turkey near the Mediterranean coast. It is known to be an ancient city, initially controlled...
Turkish zucchini, feta, dill and walnut salad
This is a modern rendition of a traditional salad called Cevizli Kaba, a cooling salad featuring creamy yoghurt, walnuts, feta, and...