Dolmas, from the Turkish verb “to stuff”, are the culinary legacy of the mighty Ottoman Empire. Dolmas form part of the meze or hors d’oeuvres menu of the eastern Mediterranean. Dolmas everywhere! The precursor to dolmas is thought to be the Greek thrion” a fig leaf stuffed with sweetened cheese. Dolmas can be found in…
Turkish
Turkish Chickpea Burgers
Anything that takes 5 minutes to prepare, and is delicious has my name all over it. For all my vegetarian friends, this Turkish chickpea”burger” recipe is for you! These are so full of flavor you wont even have to ask: “Where’s the beef”? because frankly, you won’t miss it. These babies are packed with protein,…
Burek
Get ready for spiced beef wrapped in phyllo pastry. These tasty treats are a staple street food in Eastern Europe. Burek is an integral part of Slavic cuisine. According to my dear friend Srdjan who is from Montenegro (part of the former Yugoslavia) burek can be found throughout Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia. Burek, or…
Eleven Exceptional Ethnic Eats
Let’s take a look and hopefully make all of these eleven exceptional ethnic eats. They are all so tasty. Let’s start with a mouth watering Moroccan chicken tagine. This recipe is a crowd pleaser. Lots of great spices unite to create an amazing flavor. The tagine is a traditional cooking vessel that dates back to…
Couscous Salad with Dates, Nuts and Apricots
Couscous salad with dates, nuts, and apricots is a slight twist on a typical Turkish dish from the region of Anatolia(a large region of Turkey). It is an awesome side dish to take to a picnic, or dinner party. The traditional dish uses bulgur wheat, but I felt compelled to improvise when I opened my…
Turkish Bread: Pide
I’ve never met a carbohydrate I didn’t like! I am in love with Turkish bread: pide. So what exactly is pide? Well, it’s a Turkish bread that can be eaten plain or stuffed. Some of the most popular stuffing choices are: seasoned lamb, feta, or spinach There are also regional differences. Similar dishes to pide can be found…
Spicy Turkish Meat Pastries
I love anything wrapped in a pastry; well, almost anything. Who doesn’t love a flaky, fluffy, buttery, melt in your mouth pastry enveloping a delicious sweet or savory filling? I don’t know anyone, do you? Years ago when I was homeschooling my son, an experience I would like to bury deep in the confines of…
Turkish Orange and Onion Salad
This Turkish orange and onion salad is a great addition to any summer menu. It’s light, refreshing, and a nice deviation from the usual greens. It also lacks the usual heavy or processed dressings. The simple dressing of olive oil, and herbs doesn’t overshadow the sweetness of the oranges. I love this salad! The color…
Ezme: Turkish Tomato and Pepper Salsa
Ezme is a Turkish tomato and pepper relish or salsa that is out of this world. Think of it as salsa’s Turkish cousin. I had one bite at a Turkish restaurant and I was in love. I vowed to replicate it at home so I could enjoy it anytime I wanted. So here I am…
Turkish Style Rack of Lamb
Turkish Style Rack of Lamb is a savory alternative to the more commonly flavored rack of lamb chops we are accustomed to. The pairing of the spicy seasoning blend combined with the tangy flavor of the yogurt and the bright flavor of the mint is pleasingly flavorful to say the least. The meat of choice…
Poğaças – Savory Turkish Pastries
Poğaças pronounced pwa-cha are savory Turkish pastries made with feta and blue cheese. They are a close cousin to the Middle Eastern cheese fatayer, or the Greek tiropita. The dough is similar in consistency to that of a biscuit dough. It uses no eggs, and has a nice elasticity that makes it incredibly easy to…
