Thursday, August 7, 2014

Swiss Chard and Eggs (Yumurtali Pancar Yapragi)

1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2-3 eggs
1 tomato, diced
½ tsp tomato paste (optional)
2 Tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Saute the onions with olive oil over high heat until the onions are caramelized. Then, add the stems of Swiss chard and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add tomato paste and tomatoes. Cook over medium heat until the stems are soft. Stir in the leaves and cook until they are softened. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Make room for the eggs and crack the eggs. Sprinkle some salt on top. Cook until the egg whites get solid without disturbing the egg yolk.
Serve warm.
ENJOY

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TURKCE
1 demet pancar yapragi, dogranmis
1 kucuk sogan, dogranmis
2-3 yumurta
1 domates, dogranmis
½ tatli kasigi domates salcasi
2 yemek kasigi zeytinyagi
Tuz ve karabiber

Sogani zeytinyaginda pembelesene dek kavurun. Pancar yapraginin sadece sap kisimlarini ilave edin ve 2-3 dakika soteleyin. Domates salcasi ve domatesi ilave edin. Sap kisimlari yumusayana dek orta ateste pisirin. Pancar yapragini da ilave edin ve hepsi yumusayana dek pisirin. Tuz ve karabiber serpin.
Tavanin dibinde yumurtalar icin yer ayirin ve yumurtalari kirin. Uzerine biraz tuz serpin ve yumurtlalarin beyazi sertlesene dek pisirin.
Sicak servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Beet Salad (Pancar Salatasi)

1 lb fresh beets
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp chives or scallions, chopped
½ tsp salt to taste

Boil the beets for about 15-20 minutes. Drain and run cold water over. Then, peel the outer layer off with your hands. It should come off easy. Either slice in rounds or quarters as in apple slices (I did in rounds).
Take the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl and mix them well. Take the beets slices over the serving plate and pour the sauce all over. You may toss the beet slices gently to mix the sauce evenly, then leave them in the fridge for 1-2 hours for a better flavor.
If desired serve with feta cheese or goat cheese.
ENJOY

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TURKCE
½ kg taze pancar
1/3 su bardagi sizma zeytinyagi
1 yemek kasigi balsamik sirke
2 yemek kasigi limon suyu
1 yemek kasigi taze maydanoz, ince dogranmis
1 yemek kasigi yesil sogan, dogranmis
1 tatli kasigi taze feslegen yapragi, dogranmis
½ tatli kasigi tuz

Pancarlari yaklasik 15-20 dakika haslayin. Suyunu suzun ve soguk su altina tutun. Pancarlarin ust kismindaki kabukumsu tabakayi elinizle soyun ve halka veya elma dilimi seklinde dograyin (ben halka seklinde dogradim). 
Bir karistirma kasesine geriye kalan butun malzemeleri alin ve guzelce karistirarak sosu hazirlayin.
Pancar halkalarini servis tabagina dizin ve uzerine her yeri kaplayacak sekilde sostan dokun. Arzuya gore sosu doktukten sonra pancaralari harmanlayip dolaba koyarak 1-2 saat bekletebilirsiniz. Bu sayede sos pancarlarla daha guzel butunlesecektir.
Yaninda beyaz peynir ile servis edebilirsiniz.
AFIYET OLSUN

Friday, March 7, 2014

Rolled Pastry (Rulo Borek)

3 Turkish yufka
1 cup ricotta cheese
½ cup parsley, finely chopped (optional)
¾ cup milk
½ cup canola oil
1 egg
1 Tbsp yogurt
1 pinch salt to taste

Mix the ricotta cheese and parsley. Meanwhile, mix canola oil, milk, egg and salt for the sauce.
Place one Turkish yufka on a flat surface and spread the 1/3 of the sauce all over it equally. Place the second yufka on top and spread the ricotta mixture over evenly. Then, place the third yufka over and spread the other 1/3 of the sauce all over. Roll it over to a long log. Cut it in half and leave in the freezer for up to 2-4 hours.
Then, take the rolls out of the freezer and slice them in ½ inch thick and place over a greased oven tray. Add the yogurt to the remaining sauce, mix and spread it all over the borek slices. Bake them in the preheated 400F (200C) oven for 30-40 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
Serve them hot/warm.
ENJOY

TURKCE
3 yufka
1 su bardagi lor peyniri
½ su bardagi maydanoz, dogranmis (istege bagli)
½ su bardagi kanola yagi
¾ su bardagi sut
1 yumurta
1 yemek kasigi yogurt
1 tutam tuz

Lor peynir ve maydanozu karistirin. Sos malzemeleri olan; sut, kanola yagi, yumurta ve tuzu cirpin.
Yufkanin birini masaya yayin ve sos karisimin ucte birini uzerine yayin. Uzerine ikinci yufkayi yayin ve her yerine esit olacak sekilde lorlu ic malzemeyi yayin. En ustune son yufkayi yerlestirin ve sos malzemesinin 3 e boldugunuz 2. kismini yayin. Son kalan 3. kisim firina vermeden once boreklerin uzerine yayilacak. Son olarak, ust uste koydugunuz yufkalari uzun bir rulo olacak sekilde gevsek bir sekilde sarin. Ruloyu ortadan ikiye kesin ve buzlukta 2-4 saat kadar bekletin.
Buzluktan cikan rulolari 1-2 cm kalinliginda dilimleyin ve yaglanmis firin tepsisine yerlestirin. Uzerlerine geriye kalan sosa 1 kasik yogurdu ekleyin ve boreklerin uzerine kasikla dokun.
Onceden isitilmis 200C (400F) firinda yaklasik 30-40 dakika uzerleri kizarana dek pisirin.
Sicak servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Salmon Patties (Somon Baligi Koftesi)

1 ½ cups cooked salmon OR canned salmon, drained
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 stalk celery, finely diced
1 green onion, finely chopped
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
3-4 Tbsp olive oil
½ tsp freshly ground pepper
1 tsp salt to taste
1 cup corn meal (optional)
 
Place salmon in a medium mixing bowl. Flake apart with a fork; remove any bones and skin. Add egg, onions, parsley, celery, salt and pepper; mix well. Shape the mixture into 8 patties, about 2-3 inches wide. If desired roll them in corn meal (optional).
Heat the olive oil in the pan over medium heat. Cook salmon patties until the undersides are golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce.
ENJOY
 
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TURKCE
1 ½ su bardagi pismis somon baligi YA DA konserve, suzulmus
1 yumurta, cirpilmis
1 kucuk boy sogan, minik dogranmis
1 yesil sogan, minik dogranmis
1 kereviz sapi, minik dogranmis
2 yemek kasigi maydanoz, dogranmis
3-4 yemek  kasigi zeytinyagi
1 cay kasigi taze ogutulmus karabiber
1 tatli kasigi tuz
1 su bardagi misir unu (istege bagli)
 
Somon baligini bir karistirma kabina alin. Catal yardimiyla ufak parcalara ayirin, kilcik ve derisini ayirin. Sonra, yumurta, sogan, maydanoz, kereviz, tuz ve karabiberi ilave edip guzelce karistirin. 8 tane kofte olacak sekilde 5-8 cm capinda kofteler yapin. Istege bagli olarak misir ununda yuvarlayabilirsiniz.
Kizartma tavasinda zeytinyagini kizdirin ve orta ateste somon baligi koftelerini her iki tarafi da kizarana dek (3-4 dakika) pisirin. Yaninda linon ve tartar sosu ile servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN
 

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Creamy Chicken Soup (Tavuk Corbasi)

1 chicken breast/thigh
1 onion
1 cup celery stalk, chopped
2 Tbsp flour
2-3 Tbsp butter
½ cup orzo/vermicelli
3 Tbsp yogurt
1 egg yolk
1-2 gloves garlic, minced
4-5 cups water
2-3 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp salt to taste
1 tsp black pepper

Boil the chicken breast/thigh, whole onion and the celery until the chicken meat is tender. Then, discard the onion and celery. Chop the chicken in small pieces and let the chicken broth cool.
In a pot, sauté butter and flour over medium heat until the flour gets yellow. Then, add cooled chicken broth and salt. Bring to a boil. Add orzo/vermicelli, chicken meat and garlic.  Cook for about 6-8 minutes until the orzo/vermicelli is tender. Meanwhile, whisk egg yolk, yogurt and lemon juice very well. Laddle some soup into the sauce and mix slowly to warm the sauce. Then, stir in the sauce into the soup. Sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper and serve hot.
ENJOY
TURKCE
1 tavuk gogsu/sarma
1 sogan
1 su bardagi kereviz sapi, dogranmis
2 yemek kasigi un
2-3 yemek kasigi tereyag
½ su bardagi arpa/tel sehriye
3 yemek kasigi yogurt
1 yumurta sarisi
1-2 dis sarimsak, dovulmus
4-5 su bardagi su
2-3 yemek kasigi limon suyu
1 yemek kasigi tuz
1tatli kasigi karabiber

Once tavuk gogsu/sarma  butun soyulmus sogan ve iri dogranmis kereviz saplarini 4-5 bardak su ile haslayin. Sogumaya birakin. Icinden butun sogani ve kerevizleri atin. Haslanmis tavuk etini de kucuk kucuk dograyin.
Bir tencerede tereyagi ve unu sararincaya kadar orta ateste kavurun. Sonra soguyan tavuk suyunu ilave edin. Tuzu ilave edin. Kaynamaya baslayinca; sehriye, sarimsak ve tavuk etini ilave edin. Sehriyeler pisene dek 6-8 dakika kadar kisik ateste kaynatin. Bu sirada bir kasede; yumurta sarisi, yogurt ve limon suyunu guzelce cirpin. Corbadan bir kepce alin ve yavasca karistirarak terbiyesine ilave edin. Sonra, yine karistirarak terbiyeyi corbaya ilave edin. Karabiber serpin ve sicak servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN

Monday, October 14, 2013

Gavurdagi Salad (Gavurdagi Salatasi)

4 tomatoes
1 medium onion
2-3 green/banana peppers
3 Tbsp fresh parsley
4 sprigs fresh mint
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp pomegranate molasses
½ lemon’s juice
1 cup walnuts, coarsely crushed
1 tsp salt to taste
1 tsp chili pepper flakes (optional)
 
Chop all the vegetables finely. Take olive oil, pomegranate molasses, lemon juice and salt into a small bowl. Mix them well. Then, add the sauce to chopped vegetables and toss gently. Let the sauce to be absorbed for 5-10 minutes.
Add walnuts, toss gently and serve.
ENJOY
 
TURKCE
4 domates
1 orta boy sogan
2-3 tane yesil biber
3 yemek kasigi taze maydanoz
4 dal taze nane
3 yemek kasigi zeytinyagi
2 yemek kasigi nar eksisi
½ limonun suyu
1 su bardagi ceviz, irice ufalanmis
1 tatli kasigi tuz
1 tatli kasigi aci pul biber (istege bagli)
 
Butun sebze malzemelerini minik minik dograyin. Kucuk bir kasede zeytinyagi, nar eksisi, limon suyu ve tuzu karistirin. Dogranmis olan malzemelere ilave edin ve guzelce karistirin. Yaklasik 5-10 dakika sosun salata ile iyice butunlesmesi icin bekleyin.
Uzerine cevizi ilave edip karistirin ve servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN
 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Asparagus with Olive Oil (Zeytinyagli Kuskonmaz)

1 bunch asparagus (1 lb)
2 medium carrots, julienne cut
1 onion, julienne cut
3 cloves of garlic, finely sliced
5-6 mushrooms, sliced/quartered
2-3 tomatoes, crushed
1 tsp salt to taste
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp fresh black pepper
4-5 Tbsp olive oil
½ cup hot water
Dill for garnish
 
Chop the onions and garlic. Cover the bottom of the pot with them. Place a layer of asparagus cut into ~1 inch length. Then, cover them with julienne cut carrots and sliced mushrooms. Finally, spread crushed tomatoes all over. Sprinkle with salt and sugar. Drizzle with olive oil and add hot water. Add some fresh black pepper. Close the lid and cook over low heat until the carrots are cooked (for about 30-35).
Serve either hot or cold with fresh dill on top if desired.
ENJOY
 
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TURKCE
1 demet kuskonmaz (1/2 kg)
2 havuc, julyen dogranmis
1sogan, piyazlik dogranmis
3 dis sarimsak, ince dogranmis
5-6 mantar, dilimlenmis
2-3 tane domates, rendelenmis
1 tatli kasigi tuz
1 cay kasigi seker
1 cay kasigi karabiber
4-5 yemek kasigi zeytinyagi
½ su bardagi sicak su
Uzeri icin taze dereotu
 
Sogan ve sarimsaklari dograyip tencerenin dibine yayin. Uzerine 3 cm uzunlugunda dogradiginiz kuskonmazlari yerlestirin.  Onlarin uzerine julyen dogradiginiz havuclari ve uzerine de dilimlediginiz mantarlari yerlestirin.
Son olarak rendelenmis domatesi butun tencerenin uzerinde gezdirin. Tuz ve sekeri serpin. Zeytinyagini da her yere esit yayilacak sekilde gezdirin ve sicak suyu ilave edin. Taze ogutulmus karabiber ilave edin. Kapagi kapali olacak sekilde kisik ateste havuclar pisene dek yaklasik 30-35 dakika pisirin.
Arzuya gore sicak veya soguk olarak uzerine dere otu koyarak servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN
 

Saturday, June 8, 2013

BBQ Yogurt Marinated Chicken (Yogurt Marineli Barbeku Tavuk)

1 cup yogurt
¼ cup olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp rosemary
1 Tbsp thyme
1 tsp salt to taste
½ tsp black pepper
4 chicken thighs/breasts

Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Then, add the chicken breasts or thighs (I prefer thighs) into the marinade. Cover them all over and allow marinade for 2-4 hours in the refrigerator.
Cook them over the barbeque grill until both sides are cooked. Discard the leftover marinade.
Serve hot preferably with a side dish or salad.
ENJOY

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TURKCE
1 su bardagi yogurt
¼ su bardagi zeytinyagi
2 yemek kasigi limon suyu
2 dis sarimsak, dovulmus
1 tatli kasigi biberiye
1 yemek kasigi kekik
1 tatli kasigi tuz
1 cay kasigi karabiber
4 tavuk sarma/gogus

Butun marine malzemelerini bir kasede karistirin. Sorna, tavuk gogsu veya sarmalari (ben tavuk sarma tercih ediyorum) ilave edin. Tavuklarin her yerini guzelce marine sosuna daldirin ve yaklasik 2-4 saat buzdolabinda marine edin.
Tavuklarin her iki tarafi da pisene dek barbeku izgarasinda pisirin. Geriye kalan marine sosunu atin.
Yaninda tercihen salata ile servis yapin.
AFIYET OLSUN


Monday, May 27, 2013

Spinach with Bulgur (Bulgurlu Ispanak)

1 lb spinach, fresh or frozen
1cup bulgur, washed and drained
1 onion, chopped
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 ½-2 cup hot water
½ tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp salt to taste

In a pot, sauté onions with olive oil over medium heat. Stir in tomato paste and sauté for 1-2 minutes. If you are using fresh spinach, wash, drain and then chop. If using frozen spinach, just add them into pot. Cook them over medium heat stirring occasionally until most of the water evaporates (5 minutes).
Stir in bulgur and add hot water, crushed red pepper and salt. Close the lid and cook over low heat for 20-30 minutes, until the bulgur is cooked.
You may serve it with yogurt on top or on side.
ENJOY
***This is a vegetarian recipe.

 
TURKCE
½ kg ispanak, taze veya dondurulmus
1 sogan, dogranmis
1 yemek kasigi salca
1 su bardagi bulgur, yikanmis ve suzulmus
3 yemek kasigi zeytinyagi
1 ½-2 su bardagi sicak su
1 cay kasigi kirmizi pul biber
1 tatli kasigi tuz

Sogani zeytinyagi ile orta ateste kavurun. Sonra salcayi ilave edin ve biraz daha cevirip, ispanaklari ilave edin. Eger taze ispanak kullaniyorsaniz once guzelce yikayin. Suyunu suzup dograyin. Dondurulmus ispanak kullaniyorsaniz direk tencereye ilave edin. Yaklasik 5 dakika orta ateste suyu azalana dek kavurun.
Yikanmis ve suyu suzulmus bulguru ilave edin. Sonra sicak suyu, kirmizi pul biber ve tuzu ilave edin. Kapagini kapatip kisik ateste yaklasik 20-30 dakika bulgur pisene dek pisirin.
Yaninda veya uzerinde yogurt ile servis yapabilirsiniz.
AFIYET OLSUN
***Bu bir vejeteryan yemegidir.
 

Monday, May 20, 2013

White Asparagus Mushroom Stir Fry (Mantarli Beyaz Kuskonmaz)

½ lb portabella mushroom, sliced
½ lb white asparagus, trimmed and chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
½ tsp paprika
A pinch of rosemary
½ cup artichoke, cooked
 
Cut asparagus in 1 inch length and either steam or boil. Then, sauté mushrooms with olive oil over medium heat and add asparagus. Saute 2-3 minutes and add artichokes, paprika, salt and rosemary. Give a final stir.
Serve either with yogurt or garlic yogurt on top.
ENJOY
 
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TURKCE
250 gr portabella mantari, dilimlenmis
250 gr beyaz kuskonmaz, temizlenmis ve dogranmis
2-3 dis sarimsak, dovulmus
1-2 yemek kasigi zeytinyagi
1 cay kasigi kirmizi toz biber
 Bir tutam biberiye
½ su bardagi enginar, haslanmis
 
Kuskonmazi 2.5 cm uzunlugunda kesin ve ister haslayin isterseniz buharda pisirin. Sonra, mantarlari orta ateste zeytinyaginda kavurun ve kuskonmazi ilave edin. Yaklasik 2-3 dakika sote edin ve enginarlari, kirmizi toz biber ve tuzu ekleyin. Hepsini karistirin.
Uzerinde yogurt ya da sarimsakli yogurt ile servis yapabilirsiniz.
AFIYET OLSUN
 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Turkish Butcher's Meatballs (Kasap Kofte)

2 lb ground beef
1 tsp salt to taste
1 onion, grated
2-3 cloves of garlic, smashed
½ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
½ tsp thyme
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp crushed red pepper
 
Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Knead until the ground beef absorbs the ingredients.
Grab egg size or bigger pieces and make balls rolling them in between your palms. Then, flatten the meat balls as seen in the picture. 
Cook both sides over the grill until they get browned. Serve with salad and/or greens.
ENJOY
 
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TURKCE
1 kg dana kiyma
1 tatli kasigi tuz
1 sogan, rendelenmis
2-3 dis sarimsak, ezilmis
½ su bardagi maydanoz, ince dogranmis (istege bagli)
1 cay kasigi kekik
1 cay kasigi kimyon
1 cay kasigi karabiber
1 cay kasigi kirmizi pul biber
 
Butun malzemeleri genis bir karistirma kabinda guzelce karistirin. Elinizle guzelce yogurarak baharatlarin kiyma ile ozdeslesmesini saglayin. Yumurta buyuklugunde ya da daha buyuk parcalar koparin ve avuc iclerinizde yuvarlayarak esimde gorulen kofte seklini verin. Her iki taraflari da kizarana dek izgarada pisirin. Yaninda yesil salata ile servis edin.
AFIYET OLSUN
 

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Okra with Olive Oil (Zeytinyagli Bamya)

 
1 lb okra
1 cup tomato, finely diced
2 carrots, julienne cut
1 big onion, sliced thin
½ lemon’s juice
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt to taste
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp sugar
½ cup hot water
 
Place the carrot on the bottom of a pot and cover with the cleaned okra. Then cover the okra with thinly sliced onions. Add the tomatoes, lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt, sugar, and black pepper. Pour the hot water and cook over low heat covered (for about 20 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked).
Serve either warm or cold.
ENJOY
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TURKCE
½ kg bamya
1 su bardagi domates, kup kup dogranmis
2 havuc, julyen kesilmis
1 buyuk boy sogan, ince dilimlenmis
½ limonun suyu
1/3 su bardagi limon suyu
1 tatli kasigi tuz
½ tatli kasigi karabiber
½ tatli kasigi seker
½ su bardagi sicak su
 
Havuclari tencerenin dibine dizin ve uzerine temizlenmis bamyalari dizin. Daha sonra, uzerine soganlari ve domatesleri ekleyin. Limon suyu ve zeytinyagini dokun. Tuz, seker ve karabiberi de ekleyin. Sicak suyu ilave ederek kisik ateste kapagi kapali olarak yaklasik 20 dakika ya da sebzeler pisene dek pisirin.
Ilik ya da soguk servis edebilirsiniz.
AFIYET OLSUN