If you are anything like me you are curious about different cultures and people, what they do and what they eat. This has lead me to cook various things other than just the average meat and 3 veg. I came to Turkey 6 years ago and what an adventure,! many things have happened including living the way the locals do and learning all their culinary secrets. Turkish food seems to becoming more and more popular these days and I can understand why. The Turkish food culture is one of appreciating fresh at its best. Combining ingredients to compliment each other and eating in season. I have lived in many areas of Turkey from the European side to Middle Anatolia to the Mediterranean. All the areas have their own distinct dishes and styles but there are many dishes that the Turks as a whole have in common. Those are the ones you will probably find at your local Turkish restaurant.
What would most people order at a Turkish Restaurant if they have had no exposure to the food before?
I'm thinking the dip platter(I have checked online and most still seem to be serving this)so I will give you the recipes for all those beautiful looking dips and you can do these at your next BBQ or dinner party and impress your friends.
We will start with Baba Ghanoush, Beetroot dip and Hummus. You will find these very very easy to make. You might have all have your favorite recipes already for these as I know in most areas these are sold in the fridge sections of most supermarkets. I will be giving you the recipes as I know them from the average Turkish housewife.
Baba Ghanoush
1 large eggplant or a couple of small ones
garlic to taste, minced
salt to taste
lemon juice to taste
yogurt --- probably 1 or 2 cups
Cook the eggplants whole in your oven until black. Place them into a plastic bag until cool. Take off the blackened skins, rinse off then chop roughly. Add everything into the yogurt and serve. You can garnish with dried mint or chili.
Beetroot or Pembe Sultan
I love this and make it all the time. I usually eat it as a side with salad.
1 kilo of cooked beetroot - you can boil it or roast it to be fancy - you can add it in raw if you like but it doesn't give you the deep red colour.
garlic, minced
salt
yogurt - 1-2 cups
Peel and grate the cooked beetroot. Add everything else, stir and serve.
Hummus
1 tin of cooked chickpeas
sesame paste - half a cup
lemon juice to taste - 1 or 2 tbsp
salt
garlic, minced
olive oil
Drain the chickpeas and put everything into a food processor or use a hand blender and then blend until it is a paste. Add in everything else and blend again. When you add in the sesame paste add half in first, taste to see if you want more, then add the rest(some people find it a bit strong) same with the garlic add to your own taste. I would probably add in 4 cloves. With the olive oil I would probably put in a couple of tablespoons, if the mix looked a bit dry then add in some more.
With all of the above dishes you can add olive oil.
(Forgive my use of google photos as I am having camera issues but hopefully that will be rectified soon)
Can I please have the recipe for the carrot dip, it's one of my favourties. littlej loves the beetroot dip the most.
ReplyDeleteOk very similar to Pembe Sultan.
ReplyDeleteGrate 500gr of carrots
garlic to taste
salt
yogurt 2 or 3 cups
olive oil
heat up the oil in a pan and sautee the carrots. Cook for about 5mins. Take off the heat and cool. Add the crushed garlic and salt to the yogurt and beat well then add to the carrot mixture. Stir and serve.
If you want less yogurt add less or if you want more add more it is generally personal taste.
Hi Simcha, thanks for finding us - and lovely to find you, too, as a result! :) Love love love Turkish meze plates! Looking forward to more recipes from you.
ReplyDelete