Simit: Turkish Pretzel – Turkish Dishes & Recipes

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Simit, also known as Turkish Koulouri or bagel, is a circular bread with crusted appearance. It is everyday bread in Turkey, and households serve Simit for breakfast. Here is the list of ingredients and instructions to make Simit.

Ingredients

  • Two teaspoons of instant yeast
  • One teaspoon of salt
  • One tablespoon of sugar–granulated
  • Four cups of all-purpose flour
  • One or two cups of warm water
  • ¼ cup of vegetable oil
  • A half cup of water
  • ¼ cup of grape molasses
  • One or two cups of sesame seeds – roasted

Instructions

  1. Combine instant yeast, four cups of flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl of a mixer
  2. Add vegetable oil and warm oil, and use a dough hook to mix
  3. The purpose is to make a sticky dough
  4. Add 2-3 tablespoons of flour if the dough is not sticky
  5. Use a dough hook to knead the dough for eight to ten minutes
  6. Cover the dough and set aside to let it rise
  7. It will double in size after 1.5 hours
  8. Add sesame seeds to a pan and toast them
  9. Now mix a half cup of water and molasses
  10. Punch the dough after 1.5 hours
  11. Divide the dough into 15-16 pieces
  12. Now, roll out two pieces in 25 inches tubes
  13. Lay these tubes parallel to each other
  14. Ensure rolling the tubes in the opposite direction
  15. The purpose is to make a twist
  16. Now meet the ends and close/pinch them together
  17. Once you have made a ring, repeat the process on the 14 remaining pieces
  18. So, make at least seven more rings
  19. Dip all rings in water and molasses mixture
  20. Next, dip them in the sesame seeds
  21. Place the rings on a baking sheet (make sure you line it with parchment paper)
  22. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
  23. Now, bake the rings in the oven for 15-20 minutes
  24. Remove from the pan after the Simits are brown
  25. Serve the delicious Simit to your family or friends

How to make Balik Ekmek: Fish Sandwich

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Balik Ekmek is a Turkish fish sandwich with healthy ingredients, such as fish, that contains essential nutrients, like low-fat, proteins, and omega-3 fatty acids. You can use soft Turkish bread or soft bread rolls based on your preferences. Here is the list of ingredients and instructions to make Balik Ekmek. Read on!

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients for Balik Ekmek

  • Two soft Turkish bread or soft bread rolls
  • Two smocked mackerel fillets
  • A half lemon and Turkish chili flakes

For the salad, you will need these ingredients

  • One tablespoon of pomegranate molasses
  • One tablespoon of white wine vinegar
  • A half teaspoon of honey
  • Six tablespoons of olive oil
  • A half-red pepper–sliced
  • ¼ iceberg lettuce – shredded
  • A half carrot – thinly striped or grated
  • One small red onion – sliced
  • Salt and pepper

For the yogurt sauce, you will need the following ingredients

  • One tablespoon of natural yogurt
  • One tablespoon of mayonnaise
  • A handful of chopped parsley

Instructions

  1. Combine white vinegar, pomegranate molasses, olive oil, and salt and pepper to make the salad dressing
  2. Add the mixture into a jar and close the lid to combine well
  3. Now combine all salad ingredients and add dressing to coat
  4. Now set aside and mix the ingredients for the yogurt sauce
  5. Season with salt and set aside
  6. Assemble the sandwiches by adding a yogurt sauce layer and smoked mackerel
  7. Use salad and Turkish chili flakes for topping
  8. Close the sandwich and serve it with lemon wedges

How to make Kumpir: Must-Have Snack

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Kumpir is one of the staple snacks in Istanbul, Turkey. It is fast food available on the streets of Istanbul. However, you can make the snack in your home kitchen by baking potatoes and stuffing them with different kinds of filling, such as olive, sweet corn, sausage, pickles, choose, and vegetables. Here is the list of ingredients and instructions to make Kumpir. Read on!

Ingredients

  • Four large potatoes
  • Two medium beef sausage
  • One medium carrot
  • Three tablespoons of sweet corn
  • Three tablespoons of green peas
  • Black and green olives
  • Pickled cabbage and cucumber
  • White cheese–grated
  • Cheddar cheese – grated
  • 100 grams of butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Mayonnaise and ketchup for topping
  • Celery and dill for topping

Instructions

  1. Cook potatoes in your oven
  2. Remove from oven and make holes in the center
  3. Create a bowl-like shape and set aside
  4. Mash the scarped potatoes in a large bowl
  5. Mix the remaining stuffing and season with pepper and salt
  6. Adjust the taste based on salt and pepper
  7. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius
  8. Now place the potato bowls into the oven
  9. Cook for 30-35 minutes
  10. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with dill or celery
  11. You can also use mayonnaise and tomato sauce
  12. Serve the delicious Kumpir

How to make Durum: Turkish Wrap

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Durum is a wrap filled with doner kebabs and lavash flatbreads. In addition to doner kebabs, you can add vegetables to the dish to make it healthier and more delicious. Here is the list of ingredients and instructions to make Durum in your home kitchen. Read on!

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients for masoor kebab

  • One cup of masoor dal
  • A half cup of chana dal
  • One boiled potato
  • A half cup of mint leaves
  • A half cup of coriander leaves
  • One tablespoon of ginger and garlic paste
  • One tablespoon of green chili paste
  • One teaspoon of garam masala
  • One teaspoon of red chili powder
  • One teaspoon of chat spices

Other ingredients you will need for Durum are

  • Two flatbreads
  • Two cubes of grilled potatoes
  • Two cubes of grilled cheese
  • Onions and tomatoes
  • Mayo sauce and tomato sauce
  • Lettuce

Instructions

  1. Wash and soak dal and set aside overnight
  2. Boil both dal in pressure cookers separately
  3. Drain excess water and set aside to cool
  4. Mash dal and roast them in a pan
  5. Add boiled potatoes, herbs, and spices to the pan
  6. Remove from the pan and set aside to cool
  7. Mix all spices and grease kebabs
  8. Assembling the Durum requires
    1. Making the flatbread
    2. When ready, spread mayo and all veggies based on your preferences
    3. Place kebabs along the grilled choose, potatoes, and other toppings
    4. Wrap tight and transfer to the serving dish
  9. Serve the dish with sauce
  10. Enjoy the delicious Durum

Note: you can use a half cup of oats powder and three pods of cardamom powder based on your preference or taste.

Borek: Spinach Or Meat Puffs – Turkish Dishes & Recipes

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Borek is a Turkish dish with spinach and feta cheese. It contains layers of phyllo sheets and fillings of herbs and cheese with yogurt sauce in between, making it a delicious and savory Turkish pastry.

The best thing about Turkish Borek is that you can store it in the freezer and warm it to enjoy it as a snack. Here are the ingredients and instructions to make Turkish Borek. Read on!

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients for the yogurt sauce

  • Three eggs
  • Two cups of yogurt
  • ¼ cup of olive oil

You will need these ingredients for the filling

  • Two cups of chopped spinach
  • ¼ cup of chopped dill
  • A half cup of chopped parsley
  • A half cup of grated mozzarella
  • A half cup of crumbled feta cheese
  • Two tablespoons of olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt
  • ¼ teaspoon of black pepper

For Borek, you will need 12 phyllo sheets and two tablespoons of sesame or nigella seeds. Let us now discuss the steps to make Turkish Borek.

Instructions

  1. Whisk eggs, olive oil, and yogurt in a medium bowl
  2. Combine spinach, parsley, green onions, olive oil, cheese, salt, and pepper in another bowl
  3. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
  4. Brush the pan with oil
  5. Cut the sheets to fit the baking pan
  6. Cover them with a kitchen towel
  7. Line the phyllo sheet in a pan and brush two tablespoons of mixture on it
  8. Fold the edges to the center and place the second phyllo sheet
  9. Repeat this for six sheets
  10. Spread the filling on top of the phyllo sheet
  11. Pour the rest of the yogurt and egg mixture on top
  12. Spread the mixture evenly
  13. Slice the Borek in squares, followed by a sprinkling of sesame or nigella seeds
  14. Bake the Borek for 40 minutes to achieve a golden color
  15. Remove the oven and cool for 15 minutes
  16. Serve the delicious Borek

İmam Bayildi: A Spicy Delight – Turkish Recipes

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Iman Bayildi is one of the most iconic Turkish recipes. It is made from eggplant and contains flavors of vegetables and olive oil. If you want to make this spicy delight at home, follow the list of ingredients and instructions in this post. Read on!

Ingredients

  • Two medium eggplants
  • One large onion
  • Six cloves of garlic
  • One pound of tomatoes
  • ¼ cup of fresh parsley
  • Two tablespoons of fresh dill
  • Two tablespoons of fresh basil
  • ¼ cup of olive oil
  • ¼ cup of water
  • Two teaspoons of sugar
  • Two tablespoons of lemon juice – this is optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
  2. Use a foil or brush to line the olive oil on the baking sheet
  3. Slit the eggplants and place them on the baking sheet
  4. Bake for 15-20 minutes and remove from oven
  5. Transfer them to the colander in the sink and drain for 30 minutes
  6. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet with a lid
  7. Add onions and cook for 5-10 minutes
  8. Now add garlic and stir for 30 seconds
  9. Remove from the heat and put in the bowl
  10. Add herbs, tomatoes, and salt to taste
  11. Next, add sugar and the remaining oil
  12. Turn the eggplants and place them in the pan
  13. Season with salt and add tomato and onion mixture
  14. Mix these ingredients with the remaining olive oil
  15. Cover the pan and bring to a boil, and simmer for 1.5 hours
  16. Once cooked, remove from the pan and allow to cool
  17. Serve at room temperature and enjoy

Note: We recommend toasting the eggplants in advance or a few hours before cooking the dish.