Semolina Halvah (Irmik Helvasi)

2 cups semolina
1 ½ cup sugar
4 cups boiling water/milk
125 gr (1 stick) butter/margarine
50 gr pine nut
1 tsp vanilla extract/1 package vanilla
2 tbsp oil

Place semolina and butter/margarine in a pot and sauté over medium heat. They will turn to light brown. Then, turn the heat off. Stir in boiling water/milk and close the lid. Set aside for 10 minutes, so that semolina will absorb the water.
Stir in sugar and vanilla, close the lid and leave for 5 minutes.
In a small pan, sauté pine nuts with oil until they turn to golden brown. Stir in semolina.
Let the Semolina Halvah cool and serve with cinnamon on top if desired.
ENJOY

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TURKCE
2 su bardagi irmik
1 ½ su bardagi seker
4 su bardagi kaynar su/sut
125 gr margarin/tereyag
50 gr cam fistigi
1 tatli kasigi/1 paket vanilya
2 yemek kasigi sivi yag

Bir tencerede irmik ile tereyagi/margarini orta ateste kavurun ve atesten alin. Uzerine kaynar su/sut ilave edin ve karistirip kapagini kapatin. 10 dakika kadar cekmesini bekleyin.
Daha sonra seker ve vanilyayi ilave edin, karistirin. Kapagini kapatin ve 5 dakika kadar demlendirin.
Bir tavada sivi yag ile cam fistiklarini kavurun. Helvaya ilave edin ve karistirin.
Irmik Helvasi’ni soguduktan sonra servis tabaklarina alin ve arzuya gore uzerinde tarcin ile servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN

Ana Sayfaya Don

Artichoke-Mushroom Salad (Mantarli Enginar Salatasi)

4 artichokes (½ lb)
½ lb button mushroom, brushed
3-4 tbsp lemon juice
4-5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4-5 cloves garlic, minced/grated
½ + ½ tsp salt to taste
2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped finely (optional)

Chop artichokes in bite sizes and cut mushrooms in two or four pieces. Then, boil them with ½ tsp salt till they become tender. Drain and let them cool.
In a small bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill (optional) and remaining salt. Pour this sauce all over the mushrooms and artichokes. Mix them all.
Transfer Artichoke-Mushroom Salad into a serving plate and garnish with fresh dill.
ENJOY

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TURKCE
4 tane enginar (250 gr)
250 gr mantar, fircalanmis
3-4 yemek kasigi limon suyu
4-5 yemek kasigi sizma zeytinyagi
4-5 dis sarimsak, dovulmus/rendelenmis
1+1 cay kasigi tuz
2 yemek kasigi taze dereotu, ince dogranmis (istege bagli)

Enginarlari lokma buyuklugunde, mantarlari da ikiye veya dorde bolerek dograyin. Bir tencerede mantar ve enginarlari yumusayana dek 1 cay kasigi tuz ile haslayin. Suzun ve sogumaya birakin.
Kucuk bir kasede zeytinyagi, limon suyu, sarimsak, dereotu (istege bagli) ve geri kalan tuzu karistirin. Haslanmis enginar ve mantarlarin uzerine hazirlamis oldugunuz sosu dokun ve karistirin.
Mantarli Enginar Salatasi’ni servis tabagina alin ve uzerini dereotu ile susleyerek servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN

Ana Sayfaya Don

Kandil Sesame Rings (Kandil Simidi)

Kandil Simidi is a traditional Turkish pastry, which is eaten on Kandils. Kandil is one of the five Islamic holy nights when the minarets are illuminated and special prayers are made: Mevlit, Regaip, Miraç, Berat, Kadir. During the Kandils, this savory ring shaped biscuit is distributed to neighbors and other relatives for Allah’s sake.
Today is Regaip Kandil and I’d like to bake Kandil Simits and share them with you. I wish an auspicious Kandil for you all.

2 sticks butter/margarine (250 gr), melted
½ cup canola oil
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup vinegar
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp mahaleb
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
4 cups flour

Topping:
1 egg white
1 cup sesame seeds

Place the main ingredients but the flour and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix them all and then add flour and baking powder slowly. Knead until the dough becomes soft.
Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Grab pecan size dough pieces and make 2-2 ½ inch (5-6 cm) long pencil like pieces and stick the ends to form a ring. And then, in a bowl whisk the egg white and place sesame seeds in a flat plate. First dip all the rings in the egg white and then dip into the sesame seeds.
Arrange them over a baking paper or greased oven tray. Bake until they all turn a light brown color (for about 20-25 minutes). Make sure not to leave them in the oven once they are baked. Otherwise they would become drier.
Kandil Sesame Rings are good to go with tea or coffee at brunches.

ENJOY

P.S: This recipe makes 40-45 Kandil sesame rings.
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TURKCE
Kandil Simidi Kandillerde yapilip, ikram edilen geleneksel bir Turk simididir. Kandiller Islam Dunyasi’nda butun cami minarelerinin aydinlatildigi ve ibadet edilen 5 kutsal geceden olusur: Mevlit, Regaip, Miraç, Berat, Kadir. Kandil gecelerinde, bu lezzetli minik simitler yapilir ve Allah rizasi icin komsu-akrabalara dagitilir.

Bugun Regaip Kandili oldugu icin ben de kandil simidi yapip sizinle paylasmak istedim. Hepinizin Kandili Mubarek Olsun.

250 gr margarin/tereyag, erimis
½ su bardagi sivi yag
¼ su bardagi seker
¼ su bardagi sirke
1 yemek kasigi mahlep
1 yumurta sarisi
1 tatli kasigi tuz, silme
1 paket/ 1 tatli kasigi silme kabartma tozu
4 su bardagi un

Uzerine:
1 yumurta aki
1 su bardagi susam

Genis bir kaba un ve kabartma tozu haric butun malzemeleri alin ve karistirin. Unun icinde kabartma tozunu karistirin ve unu yavas yavas yedirerek yogurun. Kulak memesi gibi yumusak bir hamur elde edin.
Hamurdan ceviz buyuklugunde parcalar koparin ve elinizle 5-6 cm uzunlugunda parcalar yapin. Uclarini birlestirerek halka seklini verin. Yaptiginiz her halkayi onceden cirptiginiz yumurta beyazina batirin. Son olarak duz bir tabaga susamlari dokun ve yumurta sarisina batirdiginiz simit halkalarini susama bulayin. Yagli kagit serilmis ya da yagladiginiz firin tepsisine aralikli olarak dizin.
Onceden 180 C (350 F) isittiginiz firinda uzerleri pembelesene dek pisirin (yaklasik 20-25 dakika). Piser pismez firindan cikarin, boylece kurumasini engellersiniz.
AFIYET OLSUN

NOT: Bu tariften 40-45 tane Kandil Simidi cikiyor.

Ana Sayfaya Don

Ezogelin Soup (Ezogelin Corbasi)

2/3 cup red lentil, washed and drained
1/3 cup rice, washed and drained
1/3 cup extra fine bulgur, washed and drained
1 onion, chopped finely
3 tbsp flour
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp butter
4-5 tbsp canola oil
1 tbsp dried mint
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 cups cold+6-7 cups warm water
1 tbsp salt to taste
Lemon wedges or lemon juice

Place red lentil, rice and bulgur in a large pot. Add 6-7 cups warm water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Then close the lid and cook over low heat, till all the grains are cooked (for about 20-30 minutes).
Meanwhile, put butter, canola oil and onions in a saucepan. Saute them over medium heat. Then add flour and sauté till it turns yellow. Stir in tomato paste, mint and red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 minutes and add 2 cups cold water. Stir well to dissolve the flour particles inside. And then, pour this mixture inside the pot and add salt. You can add more water to adjust the thickness as you desire. Once the soup boils, close the lid halfway and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
Laddle Ezogelin Soup to serving plates and serve with lemon juice or lemon wedges.
ENJOY

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TURKCE2/3 su bardagi kirmizi mercimek, yikanip suzulmus
1/3 su bardagi pirinc, yikanip suzulmus
1/3 su bardagi ince bulgur, yikanip suzulmus
1 sogan, ince dogranmis
3 yemek kasigi un
2 yemek kasigi domates salcasi
2 yemek kasigi tereyag
4-5 yemek kasigi sivi yag
1 yemek kasigi kuru nane
1 tatli kasigi pulbiber
2 su bardagi soguk+6-7 su bardagi ilik su
1 yemek kasigi tuz
Limon suyu ya da limon dilimleri

Genis bir tencereye 6-7 su bardagi su ile mercimek, pirinc ve bulguru alin. Yuksek ateste kaynamaya birakin ve kapagini kapatip kisik ateste hepsi pisene dek yaklasik 20-30 dakika pisirin.
Bu sirada bir tava ya da kucuk bir tencerede tereyag, sivi yag ve soganlari soteleyin. Sonra, unu ilave edip sararana dek kisik ateste cevirin. Domates salcasi, nane ve pulbiberi ilave edin. Biraz daha cevirdikten sonra 2 su bardagi soguk suyu ilave edin ve guzelce karistirin. Un karisimi suyun icinde dagildiktan sonra, tencereye ilave edin ve guzelce karistirin. Tuzu ilave edin, arzu ettiginiz kivama gore su ilavesi yapabilirsiniz. Corba kaynamaya baslayinca kapagini yari aralik birakarak kisik ateste 10 dakika kadar pisirin.
Ezogelin Corbasi’ni servis tabaklarina alin ve uzerine limon sikarak veya limon dilimleri ile servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN

Ana Sayfaya Don

Fried Vegetables (Karisik Kizartma)

1 lb eggplant, washed
3 potatoes, peeled
4-5 banana/green peppers, washed
2 cups canola oil for frying
Salt to taste

For the Tomato Sauce:
3 tomatoes, grated/crushed
1 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp salt to taste
A pinch of sugar
Garlic Yogurt Sauce

Peel the eggplants totally or in strip shapes. Then slice them lengthwise or round, 1/3 inch thick as you like (see the picture). Salt them and leave aside for 15-20 minutes.
Peel the potatoes and slice them thin just like the French fries. And then chop peppers in bite sizes (see the picture).
Place the frying oil in a frying pan or pot, turn the heat high and wait till the oil sizzles. And then, first place the eggplant slices and fry both sides. Then take them out and place over a paper towel to soak the excess oil. Fry the potatoes and the peppers the same way and place them over the paper towel. Sprinkle salt all over.
Meanwhile prepare the tomato sauce. Place the tomatoes in a pan and cook with a tbsp of oil, ¼ tsp salt and a pinch of sugar over low-medium heat. Cook till the sauce thickens for about 15 minutes.
Mix all the fried vegetables or serve them separately as you desire. Pour the tomato sauce or garlic yogurt sauce on top. Serve warm.
ENJOY

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TURKCE
½ kg patlican, yikanmis
3 patates, soyulmus
4-5 tane carliston/yesil biber, yikanmis
2 su bardagi sivi yag (tercihen kanola), kizartmak icin
Tuz

Domates Sosu icin:
3 domates, rendelenmis/ezilmis
1 yemek kasigi sivi yag
1 cay kasigi tuz
Bir tutam seker
Sarimsakli Yogurt

Patlicanlari yollu ya da tam olarak soyun. Sonra 1 cm kalinliginda yuvarlak ya da uzun olarak dilimleyin (resime bakiniz). Tuzlayin ve 15-20 dakika kadar bekletin.
Patatesleri soyun ve ince uzun dilimleyin. Sonra biberleri buyuk lokmalar halinde kesin (resime bakiniz).
Kizartma yagini tavaya ya da tencereye alin ve yuksek ateste kizdirin. Kizgin yagda patlicanlarin her tarafini kizartin. Kizarttiginiz patlicanlari kagit havlu uzerine alin. Sonra patates ve biberleri de ayni sekilde kizartin ve kagit havlu uzerine alin. Uzerlerine tuz serpin.
Bu sirada domates sosunu hazirlamak icin sos malzemelerini bir tavaya alin. Orta ateste sosun kivami koyulasana dek yaklasik 15 dakika pisirin.
Kizartmalari ayri ya da hepsini harmanlayarak servis tabaklarina alin. Uzerine domates ya da sarimsakli yogurt dokerek servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN

Ana Sayfaya Don

Meat Balls with White Sauce (Beyaz Soslu Kofte)

2/3 lb ground beef
1 small onion, grated/finely chopped
3-4 tbsp oil
4 tbsp flour
¼ cup rice, washed and drained
¼ +1 tsp salt to taste
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp cumin
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
6 cups water (1 cold+5 hot)
½ cup yogurt (for the sauce)

In a bowl mix ground beef, rice, half of the onion, ½ tsp salt and the spices. And then, grab ½ egg size pieces and round them in your palms (see the picture). Leave them aside.
In a pot, sauté the remaining onion with oil. Then stir in flour and cook over medium heat, till the mixture turns yellow (for about 2-3 minutes). Add 1 cup cold water, stir and add the remaining hot water while stirring.
Bring to a boil, add 1 tsp salt and the meat balls in. Simmer over low-heat for about 10 minutes. And then, whisk the yogurt in a small bowl and laddle some mixture from the pot and pour slowly into the yogurt bowl stirring continuously. Then, stir the mixture in the pot while stirring. Simmer over low-heat till the meat balls are cooked (about 10 minutes).

Serve warm with black pepper on top.
ENJOY

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TURKCE
300 gr kiyma
1 kucuk boy sogan, rendelenmis/ince dogranmis
3-4 yemek kasigi sivi yag
4 yemek kasigi un
¼ su bardagi pirinc, yikanip suzulmus
½ +1 cay kasigi tuz
½ cay kasigi karabiber
½ cay kasigi kimyon
½ cay kasigi pul biber
6 su bardagi su (1 soguk+5 sicak)
½ su bardagi yogurt (sos icin)

Bir kasede; kiyma, pirinc, soganin yarisini, ½ cay kasigi tuz ve baharatlari guzelce karistirin. Gerekirse elinizle yogurun. Sonra, bir yumurtanin yarisi buyuklugunde parcalar alip elinizde yuvarlayarak kofteler yapin (resime bakiniz). Yaptiginiz kofteleri bir kenara ayirin.
Geri kalan soganin yarisini bir tencerede sivi yag ile kavurun ve unu ilave edin. Orta ateste karisim sararana kadar, yaklasik 2-3 dakika kadar soteleyin. Sonra, once bir su bardagi soguk su ilave edin ve karistirarak geri kalan soguk suyu ilave edin.
Kaynamaya baslayinca, 1 cay kasigi tuz ve kofteleri ilave edin. Yaklasik 10 dakika kadar dusuk ateste pisirin. Sonra bir kasede yogurdu guzelce cirpin ve tencereden bir kepce alip yogurdun icine yavasca dokerek karistirin. Son olarak elde ettiginiz karisimi tencereye karistirarak dokun. Dusuk ateste kofteler pisene dek yaklasik 10 dakika kadar pisirin.

Uzerine karabiber serperek sicak olarak servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN

Ana Sayfaya Don