Our recent trip to Turkey was the best we have had in the past four years. We were looking for a very unique destination, one that was not very modern and neither very old. That’s how we came up with Turkey. While the Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, the ancient ruins of Aspendos, Ephesus and the bustling coast were the main draw, little did we know that we were in for a complete surprise when it comes to the food.
Here’s what we still haven’t been able to get over from the sight-seeing.
Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza)
Even the Turks have a pizza of their own. It is called Lahmacun and is oblong in shape with the pizza base made using an egg. Two, the Turkish people make a mince and layer it on the base. Three, its edges are then folded inwards and joined at the edges. It is topped off with cheese and the sides are given an egg wash. Looks like a boat carrying mince.
The Gozleme is a Turkish savoury flatbread that is hand-rolled and stuffed with meat, feta, spinach and herbs and resembles the slice of a stuffed parantha. Guess what? You don’t need an oven to bake it. It is pan-roasted with intermittent basting. Here, I have a recipe for a cheesy Gozleme.
Turkish Coffee
Next in line comes the very celebrated and a place of pride for the Turkish. The Turkish Coffee is a staple at their ‘kahvalti’ (breakfast) along with freshly baked breads, olives, jam, egg preparations and curated meats. It is made in a Turkish ‘mill’, a coffee filter that is one art piece itself. All you do is, put the coffee powder in the mill, heat till it foams at the top or the concoction bubbles. Take it off the heat and put it back. Repeat this 3-4 times but do not mix. Pour into shot glasses and serve hot.
Turkish Lamb Kebabs
The Turkish Lamb Kebabs are really tender and what makes them so is the mutton mince that is again ground with onions and garlic. The spices, and this includes oregano, go into it. The mixture is rolled into oblong kebabs and shallow fried in olive oil. This is another factor that makes a difference to the taste of the kebabs. I came across an easy recipe here.
Baklava
This lovely, flaky intriguing dessert is no less than a piece of culinary art. Really, Baklava is among the finest exports of Turkish cuisine and is made into a parcel of deliciousness. As against the conventional recipe that uses pistachios, I came across an interesting recipe that uses walnuts. A mixture of walnuts, sugar and cardamom, Wow!
I am sure this article has piqued your interest in Turkish food too and hence have shared the links for some popular delicacies.
I am convinced everything about Turkey is unique. It is a beautiful …
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