If you are not keen on prawns, you can take out and add cooked chickpeas to the mixture instead, as we did for an alternative version. It was wonderful to be hands on with 9 enthusiastic participants and create a Turkish feast. Also, my very best wishes for a wonderful festive season to you all, in good health and happiness. We're on a mission to find the most exciting places, new experiences, emerging trends and sensations. Poach each egg for 2-3 minutes so that the yolk remains soft. Stir regularly. Get free recipes & stories from my kitchen in Istanbul. In a small bowl, beat the yoghurt with garlic and seasoning. Turkish pul biber, red pepper flakes or chili flakes, Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Pingback: Adventure in Istanbul - Enjoy Turkish Meze - Omnivore's Cookbook | Omnivore's Cookbook . It is a striking example of one of the key virtues of Turkish cuisine, namely the use of simple ingredients and basic techniques to produce a surprisingly complex result. Drizzle the oil over the aubergine and heat a grill pan. This is a wonderful, refreshing salad from southern Turkey, Antakya, and one of my favorites, featuring Turkey’s beloved eggplant, aubergine or “patlican”. Oct 7, 2016 - Easy to make and absolutely delicious, Turkish style aubergine in tomato sauce (aka soslu patlıcan or şakşuka) should be in your repertoire! Making imam bayıldı takes a while. Cilbir is generally enjoyed as a hot mezze though I like serving as lunch or a light supper, along with a refreshing salad like Coban Salata, Shepherd’s Salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, spring onions and some pide bread or crusty bread. Here are some photos and recipes we made at our class, I hope they inspire you too. Mix the tomato paste, sugar and boiling water with a little salt and pepper. Turkish cuisine provides healthy, hearty, delicious food for family and friends. I was back home, Istanbul, recently and as always it felt so good. Required fields are marked *. Packed full of flavor and easily reproduced at home without having to spend hours at your cooker, you will be surprised at the simplicity of such stunning dishes. This collection of mezze Your email address will not be published. For the aubergine and feta, preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Would you like to receive free recipes & stories from my kitchen in Istanbul? Home made Turkish round flat bread, Pide Ekmek. Beautifully flavored with olive oil, lemon juice, spices, pomegranate molasses and nuts, they are not only delicious but very wholesome and easy to make. Biberli Ekmek, southern Turkish style flat breads with crumbled feta, za’atar and red pepper paste, was another easy recipe we did at the class. The name of the dish does bring the claim somewhat explicitly into question, however. Continue to cook for 5 minutes or more to allow the … Hi there! As with most dishes in Western Turkish cuisine, spices more commonly used in the Middle East or Greece are not used. *In fact, while “bayıldı” literally means fainted in Turkish, it’s also a commonly used expression for something extraordinarily delightful. At Brooklands Radio, with Jill Bennett, talking about healthy Turkish Cuisine. Spoon this into two serving plates, creating a round thick layer to provide a nest for the poached egg. It is best to use long, thin aubergines. Christians of Greek heritage were a significant minority during the Ottoman empire, and there is indeed much overlap between Greek and Western Turkish cuisine. Or was it in shock? It is known across much of the former empirical lands of the Ottomans, notably also in Greece. Wednesday, Jan 11th  – Turkish Pide Class at Blid & Hatton Gatherings, Cobham   – 1 space available, Sunday, Jan. 29th 2017 – Healthy, Hearty Turkish Supper with Ozlem-  at Divertimenti Cookery School, Lahmacun; Turkish thin pizzas with minced meat and vegetable, at our Jan. 29th Turkish Cookery Class. A mezze platter is such a delightfully sociable way to eat. The 12 bottles of beautiful olive oil were all empty. Kisir is generally made with nar eksisi (sour pomegranate molasses) instead of lemon juice – though it is common to use lemon juice for Kisir at northwest Turkey. Kisir, Spicy Bulgur Wheat Salad with Pomegranate Molasses. Turkish coffee is more than a drink for us Turks; we take time to pause and enjoy a delicious sip with a friend or to reflect. We then had a go at the popular Karides Guvec, Prawn casserole with vegetables and grated cheese. — Where are the stuffed aubergines?, the imam demanded. These flat breads take me back to my childhood in Antakya immediately, as my mother and grandma used to prepare the topping for the flat breads and we would take it to our local bakery to bake. This is especially true if you go to a fish restaurant. There are a few things that separates imam bayildi from most other stuffed aubergine dishes. Karides Guvec; baked prawn and vegetables casserole with grated cheese, from our Turkish cookery class, Baked vegetables casserole with chickpeas and grated cheese. Let the yoghurt mixture reach the room temperature. Finally, the absence of any spices. Set aside to cool completely. For a Lebanese or Syrian version, replace the dill with 1-2 tbs powdered dried mint. This also makes for a delicious imam bayildi, but if you’ve tried the low, slow braise, you’ll soon realise there’s no beating the good old methods. Brush the salt off the aubergines. Oruk, baked icli kofte, a version of kibbeh; these bulgur balls with walnut and ground meat stuffing are a real treat. I like to prepare a simple red pepper flakes infused olive oil sauce and pour this over the poached eggs with garlic yoghurt, just before serving. Get delicious recipes &fascinating stories fromthe heart of Istanbulin my fortnightly newsletter. You choose about 3-4 mezes for the table. Regional Signature Dishes; Mains, Sides and Desserts, My Culinary & Cultural Tour to Turkey, 2009, Regional Signature Dishes; Starters, Mains and Desserts. It really is a “bowl of health and goodness” with fresh vegetables, bulgur – packed with fiber and pomegranate sauce, full of antioxidants. If you can small ones, even better. Heat a thick bottomed frying pan over medium heat. Alternatively, roast in a preheated oven at 200 C (390 F) until starting to soften, around 20 minutes. On the first night, the imam asked his wife to make something delicious using some of the olive oil her father had gifted them. Pide bread, Turkish flat bread is easy to cook at home; this version of pide has a crispy crust but soft in texture, great to serve with mezzes. Upon hearing the exlusive dowry had already been spent, the imam was so shocked he fainted on the spot. Moist, delicious semolina sponge cake in light syrup, Revani, was our dessert. Add 2 Tbsp olive oil and fry the aubergines until they start to soften, turning regularly. Last but not least, we finished off with Turkish coffee, a perfect end to a Turkish meal, along with Turkish Delight. – Here is the podcast link of our interview, if you like to listen to. For starters, the generous amounts of olive oil used (and it should be extra virgin). Lift the eggs out of the water with a slotted spoon and place them over the garlic yoghurt spread. I teach Turkish cooking classes in England,Turkey & USA, hope you can join us!, Poached Eggs with Garlic Yoghurt, Turkish Style - Cilbir. Patlicanli Eksileme; Smoked eggplant salad with vegetables, parsley and dried mint. Keep frying until the tomatoes collapse and the liquid starts to thicken, 5-6 minutes. I’m Vidar. https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/cuisine/turkish-recipes These gorgeous potato and bulgur rolls, Patatesli, bulgurlu kofte, with spring onions and red pepper flakes were another highlight. Prepare the garlic yoghurt first – about 10, 15 minutes before poaching the eggs – and bring to the room temperature. https://ozlemsturkishtable.com/category/appetizers-and-mezes Recipes differ from place to place but generally the dish consists of fried cubes of aubergines, peppers and onion in a fresh tomato sauce served with a dollop of yogurt. I do hope these delicious mezzes inspire you to enjoy with family and friends, Afiyet Olsun! Let me show you around! My favourite tells the story of an imam who married the daughter of an olive oil merchant. Potato and bulgur rolls, patatesli, bulgurlu kofte, with olive oil and pomegranate sauce. I hope you enjoy this simple yet very satisfying dish, Afiyet Olsun. Ezo Gelin Corba, Spicy Bulgur and Lentil Soup. This dish is perfect for buffets or as part of a barbecue spread. Nevermind, the only thing that matters is this: Imam bayildi is perhaps the most delicious thing you can make with the mighty aubergine. Talking about Turkish culinary heritage at Divertimenti Cookery School, London. Ezme is a very typical Turkish dish, served in lokantas and restaurants throughout the country. Let the sauce simmer until the tomatoes are soft and begin to … This is nothing less than one of the most famous dishes of Turkish cuisines. I love our mezzes and I can just live on them for my dinner happily. Healthy, Delicious, Easy Turkish and Mediterranean Recipes For the Home Cook. Perhaps the most delicious thing you can do to the mighty aubergine. In the meantime, put two tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet and fry the onions, garlic, and peppers until tender. Kisir; Spicy Bulgur Wheat Salad with Pomegranate Molasses. Traditionally, the eggplant here is cooked over an open fire, which gives a delicious, smoky flavor. Heat a thick bottomed frying pan over medium heat. Serve immediately with pide bread or crusty bread by the side. www.turkeysforlife.com/2011/07/aubergine-salad-eggplant-turkish.html During the class you will also be joined by a Turkish coffee expert, Ozerlat Coffee, who will carefully demonstrate all the rituals behind Turkish coffee making whilst offering you plenty of opportunity for tastings. Fascinating Turkey Culinary Tour 2015 ; October 25th - 30th, 2015. I’ve published two books on Turkish and Middle Eastern food, available in Norwegian and German. Ingredients (serves 4 as a side dish): 4 medium-sized tomatoes (it … https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/cuisines/turkish_and_middle_eastern Your email address will not be published. Add enough of the liquid to the pan to go about halfway up the side of the aubergines. Chili salad is delicious as a dip, paste or spread. The basic recipe requires only four ingredients: aubergines, olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Not all of them are equally authentic. As I get older, I find every opportunity to reconnect with my homeland is precious; seeing family and friends and soaking up the fascinating Istanbul. It can be served as one of several dishes for a meze style meal, as a vegetarian/vegan main course, or even alongside meat or fish, if you like. The delicious heat from the red pepper flakes complements the dish beautifully. I hope they inspire you to recreate some scrumptious mezzes at home. We Turks love eggs done many different ways; one of our favorite ways to enjoy egg is as being poached and served over garlic yoghurt,  a special dish called Cilbir, in Turkish. We then set down and enjoyed the fruits of our labor together, it was a great team effort! These small dishes, intended for sharing and often accompanied by flatbread, are part of the culinary tradition of the eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and various Arab countries, where a few dishes will accompany drinks or else be served at the start of a longer, multi-course meal. This lovely, refreshing salad is very easy and quick to make and makes a wonderful appetizer, meze or a side dish served with grilled meats, poultry and pasta. Antakya’s Oruk is a version of the delicious Kibbeh, which is considered to be the national dish of Lebanon. Especially good wıth yoghurt and garlic! To the amusement of some Turks, many Greeks claim heritage to the dish. Enjoying the delicious Turkish feast we prepared together at the Divertimenti Cookery School. You don’t want anything to overpower such a delicate and beautiful dish! Lambs lettuce salad with garlic yoghurt; Yogurtlu semizotu salatasi. Ground cumin goes well with chickpeas, as well as red pepper flakes for a delicious heat. This combination also makes a wonderful and healthy lunch alternative. Turkish aubergine in tomato sauce (Soslu patlıcan), İzmir köfte – Baked Turkish meatballs with vegetables, Runner beans in olive oil (Zeytinyağlı taze fasülye), 2 aubergines (long and slender, if you can find them) or 4-6 small aubergines, 135 ml (9 Tbsp) best-quality olive oil (a mild extra virgin if you can), 2 Tbsp best-quality olive oil (a mild extra virgin if you can), 2 medium onions, cut into thin half moons, 250 g (2 medium) tomatoes, peeled and cut into wedges, 1 tsp Aleppo pepper (pul biber) or pinch regular chili flakes (optional). At home in the restaurants, this salad is served as part of a meze spread with warm pita bread, lovely feta cheese, hummus and olives. The following recipe is Turkish in origin. We had a delicious Turkish cookery class at the Divertimenti Cookery School in London last Sunday. Gently fold the roast aubergine into the sauce. Auntie Saniye is sharing the recipe for a beautiful meze today. A wholesome, delicious soup you can prepare ahead of time and left overs freeze beautifully too. This wonderful, refreshing can be prepared a couple of days in advance and can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. Salt generously and set aside for half an hour. Second, the relative amounts of onions to tomato. The imam loved the dish so much, he demanded it be part of dinner every single day. Peel half the skin off the aubergines, so they resemble a zebra pattern. If you like aubergines, I promise you it’s time well spent. Oruk, baked icli kofte, a version of kibbeh; bulgur balls with walnut and ground meat filling. The low, slow braise in plenty of olive oil is part of what makes the dish so special. Who knows…. Oruk, or (Sam Orugu as they are also referred) the baked oval bulgur balls with delicious ground meat and walnuts filling, is a very popular dish at my hometown, Antakya (Antioch). https://www.thespruceeats.com/your-guide-to-turkish-meze-3274212 Serves 2-6, depending what else you offer up alongside. 12 bottles of the most exquisite olive oil was gifted as part of the dowry. Nothing was left. © 2020 Ozlem's Turkish Table. Yes, it does take a bit of a time & effort, but it is totally worth it; a very rewarding, satisfying experience and makes any day special. The delicious heat from the red pepper flakes complements the dish beautifully. Take off the heat. It can be spiced up with fresh coriander, ground cumin, garlic or cayenne, or mellowed with yoghurt. A well-known version suggests the imam fainted in delight over the delicious meal his wife had cooked for him. I had the pleasure of having an interview with Jill Bennet on healthy Turkish cuisine at the Brooklands Radio on Sunday, 27th November. Get delicious recipes & fascinating stories from the heart of Istanbul in my fortnightly newsletter. And so it was. Add the flat-leaf parsley and some salt and pepper. It can be rolled into balls and served nestling in crunchy lettuce leaves. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and pepper. This recipe is for a Turkish meze. Turkish mezes are traditionally little appetizers which appear on the table before the main course. Turkish coffee and its best accompaniment, Turkish Delight. This tasty Turkish treat is one of our absolute favourites, a delicious meze that is at the top of our list whenever we eat out in Turkey. This simple dip is served all over Turkey. Leave to simmer until the aubergines are completely soft, around 45 minutes. İmam bayıldı is part of a family of dishes of vegetables braised in copious amounts of olive oil, known in Turkey as zeytinyağlı. Here’s how to make Turkish coffee and its rituals, hope you enjoy it. Serves 4. Add extra liquid if it's starting to look a little dry. oz. Kisir is a specialty in the southeast of Turkey, from where the country’s spicier dishes hail. Aubergines love olive oil, soaking it up and turning into the most wonderfully luscious and filling aubergine flesh once cooked. You can view the class details and book through Divertimenti Cookery School at this link, hope you can join us! Aug 7, 2017 - This Turkish roasted aubergine salad recipe is perfect for the hot summer months. Plain rice or bulgur works wonderfully alongside. I wouldn’t serve it with anything too spiced or spicy. Scatter a little flat-leaf parsley over before serving. İmam bayıldı, literally “the imam fainted”*, likely hails from the Aegean coast. I love the lightness semolina gives to this dessert, also fragrant with lemon juice and lemon zest, so easy to make, here’s my Revani recipe. İmam bayıldı is eaten at room temperature. All Rights Reserved. Ozlem Turkish Table Apron, TRT Interview and Online Classes, Online Cookery Classes coming up! Turkish stuffed aubergines so delicious the imam who first ate them, fainted out of pure delight. Turkish Mezes should be served at room temperature unless of course, they are the sıcak mezeler which is Turkish for hot ones. It was wonderful to have a chance to talk and spread the word on wholesome, delicious Turkish cuisine – and had a flash back of happy memories of my amateur DJ days at Kent FM in Istanbul! Make a lengthwise incision in the aubergines, as if opening a baguette, leaving 2 cm at either end. Turkish and Greek versions are very similar with the Turkish being much spicer. That said, different types of aubergines don’t have wildly different flavour, so if a big one is all you’ve got, that’ll do too. https://www.olivemagazine.com/.../chargrilled-baby-aubergines-meze Stir and let the red pepper flakes infuse to olive oil for a few minutes, turn the heat off. Fill a small pan with hot water, add the vinegar (this will help sealing the egg whites) and bring to a boil. Bring to a boil, put on a lid and turn the heat down to low. Ingredients (serves: 4): 2 aubergines (eggplants) – the long type 2-3 peppers, finely chopped 2 tomatoes, peeled and cubed 2 medium size potatoes (optional) 1 courgette/zucchini (optional) Tomato purée/paste Food of course, took the central stage and we gathered with family and friends over Turkish breakfast, sipping our Turkish coffee mid morning with my mother and my sister, and nice long dinners indulging in the delicious Turkish cuisine, especially the mezze feast. This dish can be served as part of a “mezze” – appetizer- or can accompany grilled meats. Make a lengthwise incision in the aubergines, as if opening a baguette, leaving 2 cm at either end. Another suggests it wasn’t the taste that cause the imam to lose his consciousness, but the thought of the cost of the olive oil that had gone into making the dish. As a matter of fact, it tastes even better a day or two later it’s made! I also like to prepare a simple red pepper flakes infused olive oil sauce and pour this over the poached eggs with garlic yoghurt, just before serving. Add the tomatoes and Aleppo pepper (if using). It is a very special mezze that turns up at my mother’s table at every festive event and family gatherings. Revani, semolina sponge cake, light and fragrant with lemon juice and lemon zest. It is offered as a welcome to the guests in the homes of Antakya, where my roots are from, and in Gaziantep. If you google imam bayıldı, the internet offers a huge number of recipes. Oct 12, 2020 - Explore Gulercan's board "TURKISH MEZE" on Pinterest. While the eggs are poaching, quickly pour in the olive oil in a small pan and stir in the Turkish pul biber, red pepper flakes or chili flakes, over medium to high heat. … Coban Salata, Shepherd’s Salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, spring onions would also go well with this delicious poached eggs over garlic yoghurt, Cilbir; Afiyet Olsun. Method. Food & Wine goes way beyond mere eating and drinking. Stir every once in a while to ensure nothing catches at the bottom. Add the remaining olive oil (5 Tbsp/75 ml) to the pan. Coban Salata, Shepherd’s Salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, spring onions, view the class details and book through Divertimenti Cookery School at this link, Here is the podcast link of our interview, http://www.brooklandsradio.co.uk/podcasts/OzlemWarren2016-11-27.mp3, Turkish Vegetarian Feast; Ideas from our Turkish Cookery Class, Ezo Gelin corba, spicy bulgur and lentil soup, Biberli Ekmek, southern Turkish style flat breads with crumbled feta, za’atar and red pepper paste, Karides Guvec, Prawn casserole with vegetables and grated cheese, potato and bulgur rolls, Patatesli, bulgurlu kofte, Please click here for more information & registration. Add the stuffing into the aubergines and place them, stuffed side up, in a pan for which you have a lid. The incision should not pierce through the bottom of the aubergines. Get 2017 off to a healthy and wholesome start with my  selection of Turkish supper dishes from my homeland at our Turkish cookery class at Divertimenti Cookery School on Sunday, January 29th, 12 pm – 3.30 pm. Meanwhile, make the stuffing. Ezo Gelin corba, spicy bulgur and lentil soup flavored with dried mint and red pepper flakes, was one of the highlights of the class, everyone really enjoyed it and pleasantly surprised how easy it was. For the past few years, I’ve been exploring the foods of Turkey, the Middle East and beyond from my house in Balat, Istanbul. My best wishes and Afiyet Olsun to you all. Here’s my Kisir recipe, hope you enjoy it. Scrumptious Turkish mezze feast in Istanbul. Poached Eggs with Garlic Yoghurt, Turkish Style – Cilbir. If you are an oruk, icli kofte or kibbeh fan, I hope you would give it a go and make these delicious treats at home. Za’atar here is a delicious, aromatic blend of spice mix, including wild oregano, ground cumin, sesame seeds, crushed pistachio, crushed chickpeas and many more, utterly delicious. I'm Vidar, the author of this blog. I’ve been trying to recreate the way my turkish mother in law makes this dish, and this recipe … Pingback: Adventure in Istanbul - Dinner at Meze by Lemon Tree - Omnivore's Cookbook | Omnivore's Cookbook . Below are some of my favorite mezzes; they are refreshing, delicious and you would be surprised to see how easy they are. I hope you enjoy this delicious poached eggs in garlic yoghurt, Turkish Style, called Cilbir. Turkish Baked Rice Pudding! Aubergine Mezze - Belazu Ingredient Company JavaScript seems to … The classes would also make a wonderful gift for the festive season. But don’t skimp on the olive oil! Here’s my cookery class details if you’d like to join us. Aubergine Mezze Smokey aubergine blended with garlic, paprika and a touch of parsley that works well in any turkish mezze. And Stuffed aubergines with lentils, Mercimekli Karniyarik, Bulgur pilaf with freekeh, aubergine, tomatoes – Firikli Sebzeli Bulgur Pilavi, Chickpea Salad with sumac onions, peppers, spinach and tomatoes, Ozlem's culinary and cultural trip photos to Turkey, Kiymali Pide; Turkish Flat bread with ground meat and vegetables, Fried Eggs with Turkish Sucuk (dried sausage) – Sucuklu Yumurta, Turkish Meatballs, Kofte 101 and Grated Carrots, Red Cabbage Salad, Barbara’s wonderful hands-on Provencal cooking classes in France, Ghillie Basan, Turkish cookery books author, 1 small garlic clove, crushed and chopped finely, 1 cup / 8 fl. Watercress can replace the lamb lettuce well. Until the thirteenth day, when suddenly no aubergines were served. She went on to make a delicious dish of aubergines stuffed with onions and tomatoes. Semolina sponge cake with syrupy orange slices; Portakalli Revani and New Online Turkish Cooking Class! You can make them ahead of time and they are delicious dipped into olive oil & pomegranate molasses sauce. A favorite starter at fish restaurants at home, it also makes a wonderful, easy to make main course. Add 2 Tbsp olive oil and fry the onion until softened, but not browned, 8-10 minutes. Here’s my Pide bread recipe, hope you enjoy it. 4 small Middle Eastern cucumbers or 1 … Cover and reduce the heat to low. While many modern recipes stuff the aubergines with a tomato sauce, onion is the main stuffing ingredient in traditional recipes. May 26, 2018 - This Turkish roasted aubergine salad recipe is perfect for the hot summer months. Patlicanli Eksileme, Smoked eggplant salad with vegetables, parsley and dried mint. 150 ml water (boiling); Add the water, cover the lid and simmer on a low heat for 10-15 minutes until most of the water is absorbed. Alexandra May 5, 2019 at 12:22 am. Stir the water to create a whirlpool and crack in the first egg. See more ideas about meze, food, recipes. Turkish flat breads with crumbled feta, red pepper paste, za’atar mix. As the egg spins and the white sets around the yolk, stir the water ready for the next one. Serve at room temperature with some … It may look simple, but once you take a bite, it’s easy to understand why the imam may have fainted in delight. The dish is another celebration of the Turks love of aubergines. In which case it may be worth halving the aubergine rather than stuffing it like a baguette, as the recipe below suggests. Add the garlic and fry for another minute, stirring constantly, taking care not to burn the garlic. Bread, ekmek is a major staple in Turkish cuisine and appears generously at breakfast, lunch and dinner and no mezze is complete without flat breads. Aug 5, 2017 - Easy to make and absolutely delicious, Turkish style aubergine in tomato sauce (aka soslu patlıcan or şakşuka) should be in your repertoire! Drizzle the red pepper flakes infused olive oil over the poached eggs. The leftovers also freeze beautifully. No e-books or spam, just inspiring emails every fortnight or so. Due to popular demand, my Turkish vegetarian class will be repeated at the Divertimenti Cookery School in London on Saturday, April 30th, from 11 am to 2.30 pm. Though perhaps that use of the word itself comes from the story of the imam that fainted? plain thick yoghurt, brought to room temperature, 10 ml / 2 tsp. His wife could only admit that she was no longer able to make it. Head to a Turkish restaurant, order a meze plate and chances are a generous helping of saksuka will turn up with the other tasty nibbles. The dried mint really adds a wonderful flavor to this salad, most refreshing. Menu will include ‘Mercimek Corbasi’ (Lentil soup with cumin and red pepper flakes), ‘Zeytinyagli Pirasa’ (Leeks and carrots with olive oil, rice and lemon), ‘Lahmacun’ (Turkish thin pizza with minced meat and vegetables), ‘Cezerye’ (Caramelised carrot delight with walnuts) Turkish Coffee and Turkish Delight. For a simpler version, you can roast the aubergines.