Recently I was told that the aubergine or eggplant, an essential ingredient in this dish, belongs to the nightshade family. So I thought I would google it to find out more. The result was very ...
Meat Dishes
Have You Ever Cooked Nuar?
I am not an expert on meat and most certainly not on Turkish cuts of meat. They are different, you know. What I do know is that the meat here doesn't seem to taste the same here as meat back in the ...
A Speciality from Antakya: Lakmi Le Varka/Ground Beef with lots of Fresh Herbs & Baked in the Oven
The other day a friend of mine in the UK emailed me for suggestions for a good Turkish cookbook to buy as a Christmas present for her SIL. So I actually stopped and reviewed my own selection. I ...
Sultan’s Kofte with Semolina/İrmikli Sultan Köftesi
Köfte are almost synonymous with Turkey, wouldn't you say? Think of the varieties then add all the regional specialities. Endless! For my last cooking class, there was a request for a ...
Spinach with mince and onion/Kıymalı Ispanak: an all-in-one Turkish favourite
I am quite surprised that I haven't featured this recipe before but I checked my past posts, I checked my files: no, apparently not. Why am I surprised? Well, for a start, it is one of my personal ...
Not Turkey but Beef en Croute!
It all started with me. I had this very strong feeling that I just couldn't face a Turkish organic turkey this year. We've had one before and tastewise it was fine if rather scrawny. But recently ...
A winter’s meal: leeks with mince/kıymalı pırasa yemeği
Meals like this are very common here and belong to the type called tencere yemeğı or tray/pan dishes where everything is cooked together: vegetables, meat and a grain, usually rice, sometimes bulgur: ...
Lamb with Quince Sprinkled with Pomegranate Seeds & Coriander
When I spied a recipe with a similar picture way back in July, I mentally earmarked it for now, when the quinces and pomegranates are in abundance here in Istanbul. Coriander is something of a ...