Roasted Kohlrabi (Firinlanmis Alabas)

1 lb fresh kohlrabi, ends trimmed, thick green skin sliced off with a knife
1Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic, minced (optional)

½ tsp paprika

½ tsp summer savory/thyme
½ tsp salt

1-2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

Set oven to 450F (230C). Cut kohlrabi in finger shape rectangular pieces. Toss them, with olive oil, paprika, summer savory, garlic and salt in a bowl. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet and put into oven and roast for 30 - 35 minutes, stirring every five minutes after about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar (probably at the table so the kohlrabi doesn't get squishy).

ENJOY

 

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TURKCE

½ kg alabas, saplari kesilmis, etrafindaki kalin yesil kabuk kesilmis

1 yemek kasigi  zeytinyagi

1 tatli kasigi sarimsak, ezilmis (istege bagli)

1 cay kasigi toz kirmizi biber

1 cay kasigi zater otu/kekik

1 cay kasigi tuz

1-2 yemek kasigi balsamic sirke

 

Firini 230C (450F)’a isitin. Alabasi uzun uzun parmak seklinde dilimleyin. Genis bir kaseye alin ve zeytinyagi, tuz, sarimsak, kirmizi biber ve zater out/kekik ile harmanlayin. Tercihen yagli kagit serilmis firin tepsisine yayin ve yaklasik 30-35 dakika pisirin. 20. dakikadan sonra, her 5 dakikada bir karistirin. Terchinen alabaslarin yumusamamasi icin balsamik sirkeyi servis sirasinda serpin.

AFIYET OLSUN

 

Ana Sayfaya Don

Pumpkin Filled Pastry (Kabakli Borek)

3 Turkish pastry leaves (yufka)

1 ½ cups sugar

300-350 grams pumpkin, shredded

½ cup walnuts, crushed (optional)

¼ cups milk

2-3 Tbsp canola oil

1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

 

Grease a wide oven tray and place a pastry leave covering the bottom with no overlapping. Try to make the pastry as flat as possible. If using cinnamon, mix sugar with cinnamon. Spread about half of the shredded pumpkin over the pastry and do the same with sugar. If desired add crushed walnuts for more flavor. Then, cover it with another pastry leaf making a flat layer. Continue with pumpkin, sugar and walnuts. If your tray is not large enough to accommodate all the pastry leaf, you may always tear the pastry leaf to fit the tray and use the torn parts for making another layer. Finally, cover the top with the last pastry leaf (yufka). Mix milk and canola oil and spread it all over the top evenly. Sprinkle with some sugar for a crispy top.

Bake the Pumpkin Borek in the preheated 400 F (200 C) oven for about 30-40 minutes or until the top gets light brown. Slice it into squares and serve either hot or cold.

ENJOY

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TURKCE

3 yufka

1 ½ su bardagi toz seker

300-350 gr balkabagi, rendelenmis

½ su bardagi ufalanmis ceviz (istege bagli)

½ cay bardagi sut

2-3 yemek kasigi kanola yagi

1 tatli kasigi tarcin (istege bagli)

 

Genis bir tepsinin dibini yaglayin ve ilk yufkayi buzusturmeden tam olarak yayarak yerlestirin. Uzerine kabak rendesinden bir miktar alin ve esit olarak serpistirin. Tarcin kullaniyorsaniz seker ile tarcini karistirin. Sekerden yarim su bardagi kadar kabaklarin uzerine serpistirin. Arzuya gore biraz ceviz de ilave edebilirsiniz. Uzerine diger yufkayi yine buzusturmeden iyice yayarak kapatin. Eger tepsi yeterince buyuk degilse, yufkalari yirtip yeni bir tabaka olusturarak da kullanabilirsiniz. Yine kabak rendesi, seker ve ceviz (istege bagli) koyarak son yufkaya kadar isleme devam edin. Son yufkayi da yine iyice yayarak uzerine kapatin. Sut ve kanola yagini karistirin ve boregin uzerine esit olarak gezdirin. Son olarak uzerine bir miktar toz seker serpistirin.

Onceden isitilmis 200 C (400 F) firinda yaklasik 30-40 dakika ya da boregin uzeri kizarana kadar pisirin. Dilimleyin ve ister sicak isterseniz de soguk servis yapin.

AFIYET OLSUN

 

Ana Sayfaya Don

Focaccia Bread (Baharatli Italyan Pidesi)

1 Tbsp instant dry yeast

1 cup warm water

2 Tbsp sugar

3 ½ - 4 cups flour

1 Tbsp sea salt

1 tsp dry rosemary/Mediterranean spice blend

¼ cup olive oil

Toppings:

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced (optional)

1-2 Tbsp shredded parmesan

¼ cup shredded Mozzarella

½ tsp sea salt

1 Tbsp rosemary

Place the lukewarm water, sugar and the yeast into a bowl. Stir gently to dissolve. Add the salt, olive oil, rosemary and flour; knead for 10 minutes, until dough becomes elastic. The more you knead the better your bread will be. Cover the dough with a plastic wrap or a clean cloth (see the picture) and let it rest for 1-2 hours in a warm place, until it rises up to double its volume (see the picture). Coat a sheet pan or baking tray with a little olive oil. Place dough on the counter and punch to release air. Roll and stretch the dough out to an oblong shape about ½ inch thick. Lay the flattened dough on the pan and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for 30-45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Uncover the dough and dimple with your fingertips. Brush the surface with more olive oil and then garlic, salt, cheese and rosemary. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

After taking it out of the oven cover with a clean cloth or towel to keep the bread soft.

ENJOY

P.S: Do not use metal container when kneading or resting the dough. Metal spoils the texture of dough.

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TURKCE

1 yemek kasigi instant toz maya

1 su bardagi ilik su

2 yemek kasigi seker

3 ½ - 4 su bardagi un

1 yemek kasigi deniz tuzu

1 tatli kasigi kuru biberiye/akdeniz baharat karisimi

¼ su bardagi zeytinyagi

Uzeri icin:

2 yemek kasigi zeytinyagi

2 dis sarimsak, ezilmis (istege bagli)

1-2 yemek kasigi Parmesan peyniri, rendelenmis

¼ su bardagi kasar peyniri, rendelenmis

1 cay kasigi deniz tuzu

1 yemek kasigi biberiye

Ilik suyu ve mayayi bir kaseye alin, icine sekeri ilave edin ve sekerle maya cozunene kadar iyice karistirin. Sonra un, zeytinyagi, biberiye ve tuzu ilave ederek, 10 dakika hamur elastik olana dek yogurun. Hamuru ne kadar cok yogurursaniz o kadar guzel ekmek elde edersiniz. Uzerini seffaf film ya da temiz bir bez ile ortun (resime bakiniz) ve sicak bir ortamda, hamur iki kati kadar kabarana dek, yaklasik 1-2 saat bekleyin (resime bakiniz). Hamuru tezgahin uzerine alin ve havasini indirmek icin uzerinden bastirin. Dikdortgen bir borcam ya da firin tepsisini yaglayin ve hamuru oval sekilde yaklasik 1-1 ½ cm kalinliginda acin. Uzerini temiz bir bez ya da seffaf film ile ortun ve hamur iki kati buyuyene kadar yaklasik 30-45 dakika bekletin (Vaktiniz varsa 1 saat bekletin).

Ekmegin uzerini parmak uclarinizla aralikli olarak bastirin ve uzerine zeytinyagi, sarimsak, tuz ve rendelenmis peynirleri koyun.
Firini onceden 200 C (400F) ye isitin, ekmegi uzeri kizarana dek 15-20 dakika pisirin. Yumusacik bir ekmek icin, firindan cikarinca, tepsinin uzerini temiz bir mutfak bezi ya da havlu ile ortup hava almasini engelleyin.

AFIYET OLSUN

NOT: Hamuru yogurmak ya da dinlendirmek icin metal kap kullanmayin. Metal, hamurun yapisina zarar verir.

Ana Sayfaya Don

Quince Dessert (Ayva Tatlisi)

4 medium quinces

2 cups water

1 ½ cups sugar

7 pieces of clove

1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Seeds of quinces

2 Tbsp pomegranate flowers/ a pinch of red food coloring (optional)

For garnish:

Ice-cream/whip cream/thick cream

Crushed nuts

Peel the quinces and cut them in half, remove the seeds but do not discard. You may want to flatten the bottom of the quince halves for a better standing in the serving plate. Set them aside for later use. If not using the quinces you may want to dip them in lemon juice water to prevent browning. 

Place water, cloves, cinnamon stick, pomegranate flowers/red food color and quince seeds (for thick syrup) in a shallow pot or saucepan. Bring to a boil and place the quince halves bottoms up (seeded parts facing down). Simmer on low medium for 15 minutes with lid is half closed. Then, flip the quince halves now the seeded parts facing up and add sugar filling the seeded holes. Simmer for 10 more minutes with lid open or half closed. Check them with a fork and if they are soft enough.

Take them over the serving plate sliced part facing up and spoon some of the syrup in the bottom of the plate. Let them cool for 20-30 minutes. Then you may use either whip cream or thick cream or even ice cream to fill up the holes. If desired, sprinkle with come crushed nuts and serve.

ENJOY

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TURKCE

4 tane orta boy ayva

2 su bardagi su

1 ½ su bardagi seker

7 tane karanfil

1 cubuk tarcin (istege bagli)

ayvanin cekirdekleri

2 yemek kasigi nar cicegi/ bir tutam kirmizi gida boyasi (istege bagli)

Uzeri icin:

Dondurma/krem santi/kaymak

Cekilmis antep fistigi/findik/ceviz

Ayvalarin kabuklarini soyup ikiye bolun. Cekirdeklerini cikarin ve daha sonra kullanmak uzere ayirin. Yuvarlak kisimlarini biraz duzleyip servis yaparken duzgun durmasini saglayabilirsiniz. Eger ayvalari hemen kullanmiyorsaniz, kararmasini engellemek icin limonlu su icine koyun.

Cok derin olmayan genisce bir tencereye; su, karanfil, tarcin cubugu ve nar cicegi/kirmizi gida boyasini koyun ve kaynatin. Sonra, ayvalari yuvarlak kisimlari yukari gelecek sekilde tencereye yerlestirin ve 15 dakika kisik ateste kapagi yari kapali sekilde pisirin. Ayvalari ters cevirin ve cukur cekirdek kisimlarini dolduracak sekilde sekeri ilave edin. Yine kapagi yari aralik sekilde 10 dakika kadar ya da ayvalar yumusayana dek pisirin.

Servis tabagina alin ve surubundan da dibine koyarak yaklasik 20-30 dakika sogumasini bekleyin. Sonra, cukur kisimlarini istege bagli olarak kaymak/krem santi ya da dondurma ile doldurun. Ogutulmus antep fistigi/ceviz/findik serperek servis yapin.

AFIYET OLSUN

Ana Sayfaya Don

Muhammara (Red Pepper Walnut Dip)

1-1 ½  cup roasted red peppers, drained
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp pomegranate molasses
½-1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp hot red pepper flakes (optional)
2-3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

½ tsp salt to taste

Blend all the ingredients but the olive oil in a food processor blend until mixture is smooth. You may also leave it a little chunky if you like it that way. Stir in oil gradually. Transfer muhammara to a serving bowl and if desired, garnish with fresh parsley/mint. Serve it with crudities, pita triangles or fresh bread. May be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Serve at room temperature.

Muhammara is also very good at breakfasts.

ENJOY

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TURKCE

1 su bardagi kozlenmis kirmizi biber, suzulmus

1/3 su bardagi ceviz ici, ufalanmis

2-3 dis sarimsak, dovulmus

1 yemek kasigi taze limon suyu

1 yemek kasigi nar eksisi

½-1 tatli kasigi kimyon

1 cay kasigi aci kirmizi pul biber (istege bagli)

2-3 yemek kasigi sizma zeytinyagi

1 cay kasigi tuz

Zeytinyagi haric butun malzemeleri mutfak robotunda puruzsuz hale gelene dek pure haline getirin. Istege bagli olarak iri parcali da birakabilirsiniz.Zeytinyagini da yavas yavas karistirin. Servis tabagina alin ve arzu ederseniz taze maydanoz/nane ile susleyin. Taze ekmek, pitaucgenleri ya da sebze ile servis edebilirsiniz. Buzdolabinda 24 saate kadar saklayabilirsiniz. Oda sicakliginda servis edin. Muhammara kahvalti sofralariniza da cok iyi yakisacaktir.

AFIYET OLSUN

Ana Sayfaya Don

Kebapche-Bulgarian (Bulgaristan Usulu Kebap)

2 lbs minced meat (60% lamb, 40% beef)
1 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp fresh ground black pepper
½ tsp cumin
1-2 glove garlic, minced (optional)

Mix all ingredients together well. Leave in the fridge for 4-12 hours. Take out and roll in sausage like pieces. About 1 inch in diameter and 6 inches in length. Makes about 30 pieces.

Cook over the grill until both sides are done.

ENJOY

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TURKCE

1 kg kiyma (60% koyun, 40% dana)

1 yemek kasigi tuz

1 yemek kasigi taze ogutulmus karabiber

½ tatli kasigi kimyon

1-2 dis sarimsak, ezilmis (istege bagli)

Butun malzemeleri guzelce karistirin. Buzdolabinda yaklasik 4-12 saat dinlendirin. Sonra, kiymadan yaklasik 2.5 cm capinda ve 15 cm uzunlugunda uzun yuvarlak sucuklar yapin.Yaklasik 30 adet cikar.

Mangal ya da izgara uzerinde her iki taraflari kizarana dek pisirin.

AFIYET OLSUN

Ana Sayfaya Don

Cheese Stuffed Jalapenos (Peynirli Jalapeno Biber Dolmasi)

12 jalapeno peppers

2 cloves of garlic, minced

½ cup cream cheese

¼ tsp cumin

¼ tsp paprika

1 tsp salt to taste

¼ cup jack cheese, shredded

Preheat the oven to 375F (190C). Either slice the jalapenos in half lengthwise or slice off the top one-third (lengthwise) of each jalapeno to make a boat shape out of each pepper. (The halved jalapenos will be twice as many stuffed peppers, but you can put more filling into the boat-shaped peppers). If you choose to make the boats, you can mince the tops and add them to the filling if you want some extra heat, or save them for another recipe. Scrape out all the seeds and ribs from each jalapeno with a spoon.

Mix together all the filling ingredients and pack the filling into the jalapenos. Arrange the peppers on a baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned, and the peppers are cooked. Serve warm.

ENJOY

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TURKCE

12 jalapeno biberi

2 dis sarimsak, ezilmis

½ su bardagi krem peynir

½ cay kasigi kimyon

½ cay kasigi kirmizi toz biber

1 cay kasigi tuz

¼ su bardagi jack/kasar peyniri, rendelenmis

Firini 190C (375F)’ye isitin. Jalapenolari isterseniz boyuna ikiye kesin, ya da sap kismindan 1/3 unu boyuna keserek kayak seklini verin. (Yariya kestiginiz biberlerden iki kati peynirli biber cikarken, kayak seklindekiler de daha fazla peynirli ic alacaktir). Eger kayak seklini tercih ederseniz, kestiginiz kucuk parcalari minik mink dograyarak peynirli ice karistirarak biraz daha aci elde edebilir ya da daha sonra kullanmak uzere saklayabilirsiniz. Jalapenolarin icindeki butun cekirdek ve dammar kisimlarini  bir kasik yardimiyla kaziyarak temizleyin.

Butun diger ic malzemeyi karistirin ve biberlerin icine doldurun. Peynirli jalapenolari yagli kagit serdiginiz firin tepsisine yerlestirin ve yaklasik 20-30 dakika, ya da uzerleri hafif pembelesip biberler pisene dek pisirin. Sicak veya ilik servis yapin.

AFIYET OLSUN

Ana Sayfaya Don