In fact, kebab is just a small element of Turkish cuisine from the southeastern part of the country. And many tourists every year find dishes that are perfect for them. Moreover, most of the side dishes that are served with the main meal consist of beans, vegetables and seasoned with olive oil. Therefore, they are loved by vegetarians all over the world. Turkish cuisine is very rich and multifaceted.
And a knowledgeable culinary specialist, definitely, has something to tell the layman about, except for kebab (by the way, I won’t mention it in this article, because I’m sure that you have either already tried it, or, if you wish, you can easily find where to buy it, or cook it yourself). In our selection you will find 10 delicious Turkish recipes, and if you love to cook, you can easily cook them at home.
Tekirdag kefte
Tekirdag kefte are Turkish meatballs that are ideal for barbecue and go well with various side dishes. Ingredients: 300 g medium-fat ground beef, ½ large onion, finely grated, 1 handful of finely chopped parsley, 1 dessert spoon of semolina, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of yogurt (thick natural), 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional), 1 teaspoon dried oregano, a pinch of salt and black pepper. Preparation: place minced meat in a large bowl, mix with grated onion. Add parsley.
cumin, chili flakes, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Add yogurt, semolina and baking soda and mix thoroughly again. As soon as the mass becomes homogeneous, make small pieces, the size of a golf ball and form oblong patties. Leave to cool in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before cooking. Grill over indirect heat for 10-15 minutes (depending on the size of the kefir), browning on both sides. Serve with rice, bean dishes, stews or fresh vegetables. Bon appetit!
Mantar Dolmasy
Mantar Dolmasy is a dish of stuffed mushrooms that are cooked on the grill and are ideal as an appetizer for meat and fish. You can get creative and experiment with the toppings however you like. Ingredients: 10 large champignons, 150 g of kashar cheese (or similar hard cheese) grated on a fine grater, 30 g of sujuk (remove the shell and finely chop), 1 or 2 cloves of garlic (peeled and grated), 1 tablespoon of chili pepper (optional).
a pinch of salt and pepper. Preparation: Wash the mushrooms and let them dry. After that, finely chop the legs of the mushrooms. Add grated cheese and sujuk. Add garlic, chili flakes, salt, pepper. Mix thoroughly. Using a teaspoon, carefully add the filling to each of the mushroom caps. Once the barbecue is hot, place the stuffed mushrooms directly on the grate and cook until the cheese is melted. Serve hot. Bon appetit!
Lahmacun
Lahmacun is a pizza-like thin dough dish filled with meat and herbs, also known as “Armenian pizza” and “Turkish pizza”, very popular in Armenia and Turkey. Dough Ingredients: 1 teaspoon dry yeast, ½ teaspoon sugar, 1 and ½ cups warm water, 4 and ½ cups flour, a little oil to grease the dough. Stuffing Ingredients: 340g minced beef or lamb, 1 large onion, 2-3 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 and ½ cups fresh parsley, 1 cup fresh mint, 1 medium tomato, 1 teaspoon chili pepper, 1 jalapeno pepper (optional), 1 teaspoon paprika (optional), 1 teaspoon cumin (optional), salt to taste, juice of 1 lemon, a little oil to grease the dough.
Dough preparation: In a small bowl, combine yeast and sugar. Add 1/2 cup warm water, mix well, close the lid (or cover with a plate), put in a warm place. Wait 15 minutes. In a large bowl, mix the remaining water, flour and yeast. Mix everything well and knead the dough. You should have about 10-12 pieces. Roll out each piece and place on a floured surface. Preparation of the filling: Rinse well and finely chop the greens. Cut the onion and garlic into pieces, chop in a meat grinder or in a mixer. Peel the tomatoes (remove the skin) and cut into very small pieces.
Gather all ingredients in one large bowl. Add chili, salt, cumin, lemon juice, paprika, chopped jalapeno and mix very well. Take a piece of dough and roll it with a rolling pin into an oval, 5-8 mm thick. Place the rolled out dough on a foil-lined baking sheet, brush lightly with olive oil and add 2 tablespoons of the filling. Spread the filling evenly and very thinly over the surface. Place in oven preheated to 200°C for baking. Bake until filling is done and crispy. Squeeze lemon juice by hand before serving. Bon Appetit!
Pita
Pita is a pizza-like dish that is a hallmark of Turkish, Armenian, and Middle Eastern cuisine. We offer you a recipe for the Turkish version of pita, which is prepared with different fillings and served in many popular Turkish restaurants around the world. The dough basically stays the same, but the toppings are different. Ingredients for the dough.
1 tablespoon dry yeast, 1 cup warm milk, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 egg, 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 3 cups flour. Stuffing Ingredients: 300 g lean ground beef, 1 medium onion, 2 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil, ½ teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ cup chopped parsley, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 medium tomato, 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese, 2 eggs, some starch.
