an enginarcı at the Selami Çeşme pazarı, my local Monday market |
Everything may be a bit late this year but enginar or artichokes are indeed ripe and out there, readily available on street corners and at the markets alike. Do you know them? Here in Turkey or at least Istanbul, they are beautifully prepared and sold ready-to-go in plastic bags full of lemon water to prevent them from discolouring. Right now they cost between 2.50TL- 3.00TL for one. They are a real delicacy with a subtle taste that we never tire of.Turkish-style, there is just one way to prepare them which is zeytinyağlı: I have nothing to say against it. In fact, I am doing this myself every 10 days or so at home these days. Click here to find out how to do it.
classic zeytinyağlı enginar/artichokes in olive oil |
The other traditional seasonal way is to cook them with bakla or broad beans. For this recipe, click here.
you can see clearly that the artichoke hearts have been cooked first and then grilled |
grilled artichoke with rocket salad |
artichoke carpaccio which I had – and enjoyed although I did feel there could have been more enginar! |
The other choices were enginar dolması – artichokes stuffed with the usual rice dolma filling, and a grilled artichoke soup which sounded interesting as it had pistachios in it. Unfortunately I couldn’t persuade either of my friends to have it!
Yes, we did indeed have a most enjoyable lunch, with a great view. Thanks for suggesting it!
We were lucky with the weather too!!
Oh, those artichokes at the Divan Pub are presented so beautifully. They look fab. It's great reading about the different seasons in different parts of Turkey. Not an artichoke in sight on the Fethiye markets as yet.
You're kidding?? What new spring veggies are you seeing at your markets then?
Artichokes are in season so I can look forward to finding imported ones in our local grocers. So may delicious ways with these seasonal treats.
Hi Val! So nice to get your comments :))
Claudia, maybe you can give me a Turkish cooking lesson too someday? 😉 I end up either teaching myself or learning from my cookbooks. When I head to the metro at Osmanbey, there are 2 enginarcı right across the street from each other, which I always find kinda funny. Is one better than the other?
Honestly, Joy, I know what you mean – they are probably exactly the same, you just have to build up a 'relationship' with one of them! At this time of year, I don't think you can go far wrong with the actual enginars – they're all great! I'd love to see you again – we must do that coffee:)))
I really don't do artichokes here but when we go to Izmir my SIL makes them quite often…..she soaks them in water with flour????
I just might try this recipe and go into the Little Italy part of the city here. They always have artichokes.
Have a great day!!!!!
Hi! Does she??? soak them, I mean? Well, I suppose she could. The flour is actually important here and so is the sugar. One of the cousins puts in about 12 lumps!!!
Mmmmmmm…i love artichokes. i boil them in lemon pepper and serve them with butter. they are delicious this way. if you can get lemon pepper you should try them this way. i use a whole jar of it for about 4 artichokes.
Ah you see, I don't even know what lemon pepper IS!!But if you say cooking them with it is a good idea,I'm quite sure it's delicious!!
Oh, absolutely love artichokes!! you are so lucky to get some wonderful artichokes 🙂 the carpaccio idea looks divine, I might add a poached egg over the top with a lemon&olive oil dressing, I am dreaming about it now! Thanks for the lovely post.