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New Year's Supper: Highlights
2007-12-30 16:26:00
In the celebration of the New Year, the most important meal is the New Year's Supper , lasting usually until very late hours.A typical Turkish New Year’s Eve Supper, can be composed initially by a dinner with a soup, one or more appetizers (meze), pilaf, salad, a main dish, which is usually stuffed turkey (Hindi Dolması), but can be also stuffed chicken (Tavuk Dolması) or other dishes, usually meat dishes, and one or more desserts.The most common turkey stuffing in the New Year is the iç pilavı, containing usually dried red currants, pine nuts, turkey or lamb liver in very small pieces, and flavored with all spice and cinnamon. Often, the turkey, in addition to the rice filling, is also stuffed with chestnuts (Kestaneli Hindi Dolması).The whole turkey only appears in supermarkets at this time of the year, and is not very consumed in Turkey in the rest of the year. The dinner may be accompanied with wine, which occupies an important place in the New Year's Supper, in the case...
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Pomegranate Juice (Nar Suyu)
2007-12-27 20:15:00
Turkey is right now in the pomegranate season, so the pomegranate juice is a constant presence in the Turkish homes and in the various points of sale of natural juices.The easiest and convenient way to make pomegranate juice at home is with a citrus-squeezer (in the picture), very common in Turkey. The pomegranate has properties very beneficial to health, which are also present in its shell. You can use the pomegranate shells to make tea.
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Rice Stuffed Chicken (İç Pilavlı Tavuk Dolması)
2007-12-27 00:47:00
There is also a version of this recipe made with turkey. The recipe with turkey is specific for the New Year, as the turkey in Turkey is almost only eaten in the New Year.Both versions are a good suggestion for the New Year’s Supper or for the lunch of the first day of the year.1 chicken with about 2 kg * 50 ml of olive oil * 2 tbsp thyme, * black pepper * red pepper * saltFilling:1 cup rice * 1 1/2 cup water * 3 tbsp dried red currants * 1 onion * 1 tbsp olive oil * salt * black pepper * 1 tsp cinnamon * 1 tsp all spiceWash the rice and place it in hot water for about 20-30 minutes. Mix the olive oil with the spices and the salt. Place the chicken in an oven tray and brush it with this mixture. Put it in the oven at 180° for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile prepare the filling. Sauté the onion in olive oil. Add the rice and fry it lightly for about 2-3 minutes. Add salt, black pepper, all spice and cinnamon. Add the water and the red currants. Cook until all the water evaporates. St...
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Turkish Rice Pilaf (Pirinç Pilav?)
2007-12-26 01:19:00
Makes 4 servings1 cup rice * 1 1/2 cup water * 1 tbsp butter * salt * black pepperWash the rice and place it in hot water for 15 minutes. Melt the butter and add the rice. Fry the rice for 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously. Add the water, salt and pepper. Close the lid and cook until all the water evaporates. Turn off the fire. Put a kitchen towel between the rice and the lid for 10 minutes. Remove the towel and serve hot.
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Dried Figs and Walnuts Dessert (Cevizli ?ncir Tatl?s?)
2007-12-24 12:21:00
Makes 7 - 8 servings1 kg dried figs * 150 g walnuts * 2 cups sugar (400 g) * 1 1/2 cup cold water * 1 stick cinnamonWith a knife, open the figs in half without completely separating the halves. Put them in warm water for 10-15 minutes. Stuff them with the walnuts. Place them in a pot without overlapping. Sprinkle with the sugar. Add the cinnamon stick and the cold water. Cook on low heat in boiling water for about 20-25 minutes. When the syrup evaporates, turn off the fire and let it cool down. Wait about 30 minutes and serve cold.Merry Christmas! **** Noeliniz Kutlu Olsun!
More About: Dessert , Desserts , Vegetarian Recipes , Walnuts , Tatl

Pumpkin Sweet (Kabak Tatl?s?)
2007-12-17 22:55:00
Makes 6-7 servings 6 medium slices / 1 kg pumpkin * 4 cups sugar (800 g) * 2 cups cold water To garnish: 200 g walnuts * 3-4 tbsp kaymak (or whipped cream without sugar) Peel the pumpkin and cut... This is a summary. Click in Turkish & Delicious (top of the page) and visit the website for full content. Thank you!
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Fried Cauliflower (Karnabahar Tava)
2007-12-14 13:49:00
1 cauliflower * 1 cup crumbled ka?ar cheese (or cheddar) * 2 coffee cups flour * 1 egg * 2 coffee cups corn starch * 1 bottle (33 cl) of mineral water with gas or beer * salt * oil to fryWash the cauliflower and separate the flowers. Cook with water and salt. Then, wash with cold water. In a bowl, place the mashed cheese, the flour, the egg, the corn starch, the water (or the beer) and the salt. Pass the cauliflower on this sauce, one by one, and fry.This dish is a delicious appetizer and is included in the many Turkish meze (appetizer). The meze have a very special role in the Turkish cuisine, and many times the Turkish meals are composed by a group of various meze.
More About: Vegetarian Recipes , Appetizers , Cauliflower , Fried

Fried Bread with Cheese (Peynirli Yumurtal? Ekmekler)
2007-12-14 01:11:00
Makes 4 servings8 bread slices * 2 cups milk * 200 g ka?ar cheese (or cheddar) * 2 eggs * 2 tsp thyme * 1 tsp red pepper * 1 1/2 cup crumbled bread * oil to fry Put the milk in a deep bowl. Dip each bread slice in the milk, and place them in a large plate. Cut the cheese in slices and place two of them over four bread slices. Cover with the remaining ones. Mix the eggs with the red pepper and the thyme. Put the crumbled bread in a plate. Pass both sides of the bread on the crumbled bread and then in the eggs. Fry in very hot oil. Serve hot.
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Mushroom Soup (Mantarl? Çorbas?)
2007-12-11 18:38:00
Makes 2 servings 200 g mushrooms * 1 tbsp butter * 2 tbsp flour * 3 dl water * 30 dl milkMince the mushrooms. In a cooking pan, place the butter and the flour and mix until the butter melts. Add the water stirring very well. When it boils, add the mushrooms and the salt and cook for 20 minutes over low heat. Add the milk and let it boil. Serve sprinkled with black pepper.
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Lokma and Tulumba (Lokma ve Tulumba Tatl?s?)
2007-12-06 01:29:00
Lokma and tulumba are two versions of a kind of a sweet very typical in Turkey. There is also another, called halka tatl?s? with the shape of a ring. The dough is very similar to the one of the Portuguese farturas or churros. It is fried and then dipped in very hot sugar syrup. They are crusty and melt in the mouth...The recipes will be posted soon.
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Chicken Croquettes (Tavuk Köftesi)
2007-12-04 12:22:00
Makes 4 servings 2 chicken breast (without bone and skin) * 1 cup water * 3 old bread slices * 1 onion * 1 tbsp minced parsley * 2 eggs * salt * black pepper * grated bread * 3 tbsp oil to fry Boil... This is a summary. Click in Turkish & Delicious (top of the page) and visit the website for full content. Thank you!
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In Amasra...
2007-11-28 12:26:00
Amasra is a beautiful and welcoming port town located in the Black Sea border. View of AmasraIn the Black Sea region, women have an important role in the agriculture and also in selling the products they produce. Black Sea woman sells garlic, spices, jams, sunflower seeds and other products, in Amasra.In Amasra, in the Black Sea border, especially during the summer, many women sell several products, namely strawberry and cornelian cherry jams and other products from the soil. Sunflower seeds (ay çekirde?i). The consumption of sunflower seeds is very popular in Turkey. Usually they can be bought roasted and they are eaten at any moment of the day. Cornelian cherry (k?z?lc?k). This fruit is mostly eaten in jams.

Burnt Milk Sweet (Kazandibi)
2007-11-25 10:39:00
Makes 6 servings 1 chicken chest * 1 tbsp lemon juice * 7 cups milk * ½ tsp salt * 1 ½ cup sugar * 2 tbsp flour * 2 tbsp corn starch * 1 tbsp rice flourFirst cut the chicken chest into two and cook it in water and lemon juice. Turn off the fire and let it cool down. Separate the chicken in very small pieces. Place the chicken pieces in cold water for some minutes. Then, rub the chicken with the hands and wash it at the same time until it looses all the smell. Dry the chicken and reserve. Meanwhile, place the milk in a cooking pan. Add the sugar and the salt and mix. Bring it to boil. In a bowl, mix the flour, the corn starch and the rice flour. When the milk starts to boil, take a small amount of it and mix with the flours and starch. Then, add this mixture slowly to the milk. Cook over low fire for five minutes. Add the chicken and mix with a fork. Cook for more 10 minutes. When the mixture becomes thick take from the fire. While the cream is still hot, pour it on a large cooking t...
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Beetroot and Yogurt Dip (Yo?urtlu Pancar Mezesi)
2007-11-24 23:40:00
Makes 2 servings4 tbsp plain yogurt * 1 beetroot * 2 garlic cloves * 1 tbsp thyme * saltPlace the beet in a cooking pan, cover with water and cook until it gets soft. Filter and let it cool down. Cut into small and thin pieces. Reserve. Place the yogurt in a small bowl. Add the beet, the minced garlic, the salt and the thyme and mix.This dipping sauce can be served as an appetizer combined with other meze, or as a complement of a main dish.
More About: Vegetarian Recipes , Sauces , Appetizers , Beetroot , Yogurt

Dried Figs (Kuru ?ncir)
2007-11-16 11:19:00
Organic dried figs Turkey produces about half of the world production of dried figs, and is the second country in the world in the production and commerce of dried figs. Most of the dried figs are produced in the Turkish provinces of Ayd?n and Izmir, located in the Aegean Sea coast.

Cola Turka
2007-10-01 19:14:00
This is a special Cola Turk a commercial for Ramadan:

Stuffed Zucchinis (Kabak Dolması)
2007-09-23 18:39:00
4 zucchinis * 1 tbsp tomato paste * 2 cups hot waterFor the filling: 1 cup bulgur * 1 big onion * 1 cup water * 1 tbsp all spice * 100 g parsley * 1 tbsp olive oil * saltFor the yogurt sauce (sarımsaklı yoğurt): 5 tbsp yogurt * 2 minced garlic cloves * 2 tbsp thyme * saltCut a little of the base of each zucchini so they can remain upright. Cut also a little of the top of each one. Cut them in half. Remove the pulp of the zucchinis with a coffee spoon. Reserve. Mince the onion and sauté in the olive oil. Add the bulgur and the minced parsley and sauté a little more. Season with salt and all spice. Add a glass of water and cook over low fire until the water evaporates. Stuff the zucchinis with this mixture and place them in a pot with two cups of hot water and a soup spoon of tomato paste. Close the pot and cook on low fire for about 45 minutes. Mix all the ingredients of the yogurt sauce. Serve the zucchinis with the yogurt sauce.

Pasta and Feta Cheese Börek (Yalanc? Su Bore?i)
2007-08-31 22:56:00
Makes 5-6 servings3 phyllo pastry sheets (yufka) * 250 g pasta (like this one or similar) * 4 eggs * 125 g margarine * 2 cups milk * 70 cl oil * 500 g feta cheese * 100 g parsley * 50 g dillCook the pasta, filter and place it on a bowl. Add the crumbled cheese, the margarine (at room temperature), the minced parsley and dill and mix everything very well. In another bowl beat 3 eggs. Add the oil and the milk and mix. Grease an oven tray or a big round oven pan. Cover it with one phyllo pastry sheet. Make the phyllo pastry humid with part of the oil mixture. Then, cover with half of the cheese mixture. Close with the extremities of the phyllo pastry that were out of the pan or tray. With the oil mixture, make that part of the phyllo pastry humid. Cover with another phyllo pastry sheet. This sheet must be totally inside the pan or tray. Make it humid with the oil mixture. Cover with the rest of the filling and then cover with the third phyllo pastry sheet. Beat one egg and brush the su...
More About: Pasta , Pastries , Vegetarian Recipes , Appetizers , Cheese

Fried Mussels with Dipping Sauce (Midye Tava)
2007-08-28 20:40:00
Makes 4 servings30 mussels * 4 tbsp flour * 1 egg * 1/2 cup beer * salt * black pepper * 1 cup oil for fryingFor the dipping sauce:2 tbsp pine-nuts * 2 tbsp milk * 1 tbsp cream * 2 garlic cloves * 1 tbsp lemon juice * salt * black pepperMix the flour with the egg, the beer, the salt and the black pepper. Put each mussel in this mixture and fry in hot oil. When the mussels become cooked place them on a paper towel.Prepare the sauce. Beat the milk with the cream and the minced garlic. Add the lemon, the salt, the black pepper and the pine-nuts.Serve the mussels with the dipping sauce in different plates. Each person can cover the mussels with the desired amount of sauce. These mussels can also be eaten inside the bread. In that case, they can be also covered with the sauce.
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Eggplant Börek (Patl?canl? Börek)
2007-08-28 20:17:00
2 tbsp olive oil * 3 eggplants * 1 onion * 2 green peppers * 2 tomatoes * salt * black pepper * 4 phyllo pastry sheets (yufka) * 2 cups milk * 1/2 cup olive oil * 2 egg whites * 1 egg yolkTo garnish:1 egg yolkPeel the eggplants and cut them in small cubes. Place them on a bowl with water and salt for 10 minutes. In the meantime, sauté the minced onion and peppers in 2 tbsp of olive oil. Add the eggplant. Peel the tomatoes, cut in cubes and add them to the other vegetables. Let it cook until all the juice evaporates. Let it cool down and reserve. Prepare a liquid mixture with the olive oil, the milk and the eggs. Place two phylo pastry sheets on a greased oven tray. Make the phylo pastry wet by pouring half of the liquid mixture over it. Cover with the eggplant filling. Then, cover the filling with two phylo pastry sheets and pour on the rest of the liquid. Brush with the egg yolk. Bake on a 200º preheated oven until the surface is brown and crusty. Let it cool down and then cut into...
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Because today is Kandil: Kandil Rings (Kandil Simidi)
2007-08-28 09:57:00
Today is celebrated in Turkey one of the five holy nights, according to the Muslim calendar: the Berat Kandili.In the kandil days you can find kandil simidi in all the patisseries and bakeries in Turkey.Makes 10 servings250 g margarine * 2 coffee cups yogurt * 2 tbsp sugar * 2 tbsp salt * 1 egg yolk * 4 1/2 cups flour * 1 tsp baking powder * 2 tsp mahlebTo garnish:1 cup sesame seeds * 1 tbsp black cumin * 1 egg whiteSift the flour and place in the center the margarine, at room temperature, the sugar, the salt, the egg yolk, the yogurt, the baking powder and the mahleb and knead well. Let it ferment for 30 minutes. Separate portions of dough in the amount of walnuts and make rings. Place them on a greased oven tray. Brush each one with egg white and sprinkle with sesame and black cumin. Bake on a 170º preheated oven until they become brown.It is also tradition to make helva in the kandil days.
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Chocolate and Hazelnut Rolls (Çikolatal? F?nd?kl? Lokum)
2007-08-22 00:19:00
For the dough:500 g flour * 1 cup warm milk * 3 tbsp butter * 4-5 tbsp sugar * 1 tsp salt * 40 g powder yeastFor the filling:5 tbsp raspberry jam * 50 g sugar * 50 g crumbled hazelnuts * 1 cup corn flakes * 160 g dark chocolate flakesTo garnish:1 tbsp butter * 1 tbsp powdered sugarBeat the sugar with the butter until it becomes creamy. Add the yeast, the milk, the flour and the salt and mix well. Let it wait for 20 minutes with the bowl covered. Open the dough on a surface sprinkled with flour. Cover the dough with the raspberry jam, then the sugar, the crumbled hazelnuts, the corn flakes and the chocolate flakes. Divide the dough in 3-4 parts, make rolls and place them on a greased round cake mold. Put a little butter on each roll. Bake on a 190º pre-heated oven for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with powder sugar and serve.
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A delicious dessert: Baklava and Padi?ah
2007-08-21 23:41:00
I had already published a baklava recipe here. Soon I will publish the padi?ah recipe.
More About: Dessert , Baklava , Padi , Delicious , Deli

Harire
2007-08-20 18:51:00
This is a traditional recipe of Mardin, a city located in the southeast of Turkey.Makes 6 servings1 cup pekmez (grape, carob, or mulberry molasses) * 1 cup of flour * 5 cups water * 1/2 cup sugar * cinnamon powderTo garnish:Cinnamon sticks * walnutsMix the molasses with the sugar, the flour and the water. Bring to low heat and let it boil for some minutes. Add some cinnamon powder. Take from the fire and pour in small bowls or in a big pyrex tray. Put in the fridge and serve cold. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and some walnuts. Pekmez is a kind of syrup or molasses, available in Turkey in three varieties: grape, carob or mulberry. These are the most common, but the pekmez is also produced with other fruits. The pekmez doesn?t have any addition of sugar and is a very healthy sugar substitute. When it is mixed with tahini it is very similar to chocolate.You can find more details about pekmez here.
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Rice Pilaf with Lamb, Mushrooms and Walnuts (Mantarl? Pilav)
2007-08-18 19:08:00
Makes 10-12 servings2 cups rice * 5 tbsp butter * 3 onions *100 g walnuts * 8 cups water * 500 g lamb meat * 2 tsp thyme * 200 g mushrooms * 3 tomatoes * 100 g fresh dill * 2 tsp sugar * 1 tsp black pepper * saltWash the rice and place it inside a bowl with warm water and salt for one hour. Then rinse it with cold water, filter and drain very well. Bring the onions and the meat, finely chopped, to fire with half of the butter. Sauté on low heat until the meat looses all the juice. Add the mushrooms and the tomatoes finely chopped and go on sautéing for some minutes. Add the water and let it cook for 30 minutes on low heat. When the meat is almost cooked add the rice, the salt, the black pepper and the sugar. First let it boil and then cook for 15 minutes on low fire. Melt the rest of the butter and add it to the rice. Close the pan and turn off the fire. Garnish with the dill and the thyme finely minced and the walnuts.
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In the Market...
2007-06-25 19:06:00
Tarhana (ready powder used to make a typical turkish soup with the same name) and phyllo pastry (yufka) special for baklava Phyllo pastry sheets (yufka) Different kinds of pasta and tarhanaA kind of Turkish bread called bazlamaGreen beansApricotsPurslane Cherries Potatoes Mushrooms and white mulberriesWine leaves for sarma
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Baked Eggplants with Veggie Filling (İmambayıldı)
2007-06-25 13:47:00
Many Turkish dishes have interesting names. The direct translation of this recipe is "the Imam fainted".Makes 6 servings6 medium sized eggplants * 6 tsps sugar * 1 tbsp olive oil * 1 coffee cup olive oil * 6 garlic cloves * 3 medium sized onions * 4 medium sized tomatoes * 50 g parsley * salt * 1-2 red bell pepper (to garnish)Peel the eggplants. Mix 2 tsps of salt with 2 tsps of sugar and sprinkle the eggplants. Let them wait for 30 minutes. Dry the eggplants very well. Place them on a oven tray and pour over the olive oil. Bake them on a 200º pre-heated oven until they become soft (aprox. 20 minutes). On a frying pan, sauté the garlic and the onion with the olive oil (1 tbsp). Peel the tomatoes, cut them in cubes and add them to the garlic and onion. Add 4 tsps of sugar and some salt. When the tomato juice evaporates, turn off the fire. Mince the parsley and add to the mixture. Place some of the mixture over each one of the eggplants, after having opened the eggplants a little. G...
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Bulgur Salad with Vegetables (Kar???k K?s?r)
2007-06-19 17:12:00
Makes 6 servings2 cups thin bulgur * 2 cups hot water * 3 tbsp olive oil * juice of 1 lemon * 1 tbsp pomegranate sauce (nar ek?isi) * 2 tbsp tomato paste * 2 tbsp pepper paste * 2 tomatoes * 2 cucumbers * 4 lettuce leaves * 3-4 green onions * 100 g parsley * salt * black pepper * red pepperPlace the bulgur in a bowl with hot water. Cover the bowl and wait until the bulgur absorbs all the water and cool down. Add the olive oil, the lemon juice, the pomegranate sauce, the tomato and pepper pastes, the salt, the black pepper and the red pepper. Peel the tomatoes and the cucumbers, cut them in small cubes and add them to the bulgur. Slice finelly the the lettuce, the green onions and the parsley. Add to the bulgur and mix well. Place on a serving plate over lettuce leaves.This is a very common dish in the Turkish houses during the summer.
More About: Vegetables , Vegetarian Recipes , Salad , Salads , Bulgur

It's White Mulberry Season
2007-06-18 17:18:00
In Turkey, it's the white mulberry (dut) season, a delicious fruit with many benefits for the health. From this mulberry is produced a molasses (dut pekmezi), famous for its power to cure and prevent anemia. White mulberry tree in a street in the center of Ankara.Detail of the same mulberry tree. White mulberries in a market in Ankara.
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Vanilla Pudding (Yalanc? Tavuk Gö?sü)
2007-06-12 17:49:00
The direct translation of this sweet is Fake Chicken Chest. There is another version that includes chicken in the ingredients: Tavuk Gö?sü (Chicken Chest).1 cup flour * 4 tbsp margarine * 4 cups milk * 1 cup sugar * 1 tbsp vanilla extract * cinnamon to sprinkleCook the margarine with the flour. Add the milk and mix well. Add the sugar. Stir continuously with a wood spoon until the mixture becomes tick. Take from the fire and add the vanilla. Beat with mixer for 15 minutes. Wash a big serving plate only with water and don?t dry it. Pour there the tavuk gö?sü. Serve sprinkled with cinnamon, cold or warm.
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