Domates Çorbası – Turkish Tomato Soup

Domates Çorbası, known as Turkish tomato soup, is a staple dish in Türkiye. It’s simple and comforting, made with tomatoes and a few other ingredients. Ingredients 1 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoons all purpose flour 2 tablespoon tomato paste 4 tomatoes, mashed 4 cups water 1 cup milk Salt to taste Instructions Melt butter in a pot and add flour. Cook it, stirring constantly […]

Lamb, aubergine and olive stew with couscous

Delicately spiced with cumin and coriander, this lamb and aubergine stew is hearty and comforting, yet light enough to enjoy for lunch. Starting the aubergines off in a pan without oil helps them to collapse into tender, juicy bites without becoming greasy. Ingredients 2 aubergines, cut into 3cm chunks 2 tsp olive oil, plus extra […]

Turkish dining: Chicken şiş kebab

Marinated meat, aromatic spices, tangy pickles, and zesty citrus, balanced with a touch of smokiness – this chicken şiş kebab recipe is irresistibly delicious. Ingredients 1 large onion, quartered 3 garlic cloves Large pinch ground turmeric 2 tbsp tomato purée 200ml natural yogurt or whole milk 1 tbsp paprika (not smoked) 2 tsp salt 4 […]

Recipe: Roasted cherry tomatoes, feta and avocado on Turkish bread

Adding avocado to this open sandwich not only adds a rich creamy flavour, it also increases its nutritional value. Avocados are a rich source of potassium and healthy monounsaturated fats that help to lower cholesterol. Ingredients 250 gram cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 loaf turkish bread (215g), halved (use a loaf of ciabatta bread if Turkish […]

Pomegranates – tangy, delicious and full of health benefits

The Fethiye markets are filled with fruit and vegetables all year round in Türkiye, but the arrival of autumn brings a feeling of anticipation and excitement. The change of fruits in autumn is quite dramatic with apples, pears, plums and oranges coming into season and replacing the last of the summer fruits. The jewel of […]

Pumpkins – from Jack-o-Lanterns to delicious desserts

It’s autumn! Pumpkins are ripe and plentiful … and Halloween is just around the corner. The history of the Jack-o-Lantern  People have been making Jack-o-Lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink […]

Watermelons – juicy, scrumptious and amazing

Don’t let the seeds stop you from enjoying watermelon… With a name like a watermelon (karpuz in Turkish), one would expect it to be juicy, scrumptious and amazing. The watermelon meets and exceeds that expectation. The presence of so much water makes this melon an impressive addition to the fruit family.  The sweet flavour that explodes […]

Best meze dishes for your barbecue

No barbecue is complete without a selection of tempting side dish recipes… Summer is here and with it, barbecue season. If you’re planning a barbecue, why not try something different to complement your grill? Here are some meze recipes that will really zing up your side dishes. Turkish-style slaw Serves 4 Juice of 1-2 lemons10 […]

Recipe: Green beans cooked in olive oil – zeytinyağlı taze fasulye

Try this delicious and healthy recipe from Ozlem’s Turkish table – ideal for those long hot days of summer as it can also be served cold. Green beans cooked this way are a great national favourite. Enjoyed by urban and rural families alike, there are varying theories of how to achieve the best result. Traditionally, […]