September 29, 2023
The word “kalburabastı” means “pressed on kalbur” in Turkish. Kalbur is a large mesh sieve which was mostly used by farmers to separate grains. Back in […]
September 22, 2023
The word “karnabahar” in Turkish literally means “spring blossoms for stomach”. I searched the dictionary further, it might also mean “flowering cabbage”. Either way it is […]
September 15, 2023
Purslane (semizotu), a fast growing weed, has many nutritional benefits. It is rich in vitamins A & C as well as antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. […]
August 25, 2023
Stuffed zucchini is similar to stuffed eggplants, yet the taste is quite unique. This is a tasty yet very light dish. Original recipe calls for briefly […]
August 8, 2023
This is the kind of pilaf you could use for lunch or dinner bowls with chicken, beef or tofu. It is not only a very healthy […]
May 31, 2023
Do you want a light dessert that is easy to prepare, yet tastes amazingly delicious? This one is for you. Apples poached with raisins, cinnamon sticks […]
April 15, 2023
Ingredients: 1 15 oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup water 3 table spoons tahini (sesame paste) 1 clove garlic, […]
March 5, 2023
Stuffed Eggplants – Karniyarik Karnıyarık word by word translates as “split belly”. Eggplants are stuffed with seasoned minced meat. This is a very Turkish recipe which […]
May 14, 2018
Here’s a sinfully decadent vegan dessert that is healthy at the same time. Looks delicious and is always a party favorite as an appetizer. It is very […]
July 2, 2016
Here’s a perfect example of an Aegean-California fusion dish, if there is such a thing. Although the Mediterranean climate is perfect for growing avocados, they are […]
March 20, 2015
Here’s a refreshing fruit dessert that looks appetizing and tastes heavenly. It is easy to make, easy to serve. It makes a great breakfast/brunch dessert as well. I’m […]
January 18, 2015
Kataifi is a shredded dough that sort of looks like shredded wheat cereal. It is mostly used for desserts with syrup. Different kinds of nuts, fresh […]
January 10, 2015
Carrots and onions sautéed in olive oil is a simple dish. Easy to prepare and takes less than 15 minutes to cook. Typically a […]
December 12, 2014
Quinoa Pilaf with Garbanzo Beans (Nohutlu Kinoa Pilavı) OK, I admit I did not know what quinoa was until just a few years ago. But then, […]
December 2, 2014
Hummus with Red Beets Ingredients: 1 small-medium beet (1 cup) 2 cups of water 1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained 2 table spoons tahini (sesame paste) […]
November 18, 2014
Weaved Puff Pastry Cheese Rolls If you want a very easy recipe for borek, this is it! You’ll use puff pastry right out of the freezer. […]
November 14, 2014
Green Lentil Salad with Herbs My friend Zinnur, ever so busy, somehow always finds time to get the friends together at her house. This salad was […]
November 8, 2014
Tarator is a garlic-olive oil based sauce that is commonly used in summer salads in Western Turkey. Cooked long string beans (börülce), zucchini, peppers of all […]
October 30, 2014
Eggplants, Peppers & Tomatoes in Olive Oil Literally meaning “peasant fries”, Kirli Kizartmasi is a local dish from Aydin province in the Aegean region of Turkey. […]
May 26, 2014
Red Beet Green Apple Salad I don’t believe there are any Turkish recipes that use raw beets. Typically in Turkish Cuisine, beets are cooked before they […]
May 22, 2014
Cauliflower Tabule (Tabbouleh) Salad – Karnıbahar Kısırı Tabule (Tabbouleh) is a traditional Lebanese salad made with fine bulgur, finely chopped herbs, seasoned with olive oil and […]
March 11, 2014
Spinach Purée with Cheese Ingredients: 2 lbs fresh baby spinach 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons all purpose flour 2 cups milk 1 cup grated romano or […]
March 7, 2014
Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing Ingredients: 6 cups baby kale 1 medium green apple, sliced 1 medium orange, peeled 1 small avocado, diced 2 Tbsp hemp […]
March 2, 2014
Savory Dill and Cheese pastry Savory treats are my favorites for tea time. My friend Nur served these to us with coffee and they were an […]
February 14, 2014
Baked Spinach Rolls – Ispanaklı Kol Böreği Borek is typically a baked or fried pastry with cheese, minced meat or vegetable fillings. It is made with […]
February 4, 2014
Barley Salad with Pomegranate Seeds I make a quinoa salad similar to this. I was having my friends for lunch and I planned to cook […]
January 31, 2014
Collard Greens Soup with Corn and Beans My friend Nur is is a master chef in the kitchen. She is from the Black Sea region of […]
January 28, 2014
Freekeh Pilaf with Garbanzo Beans Firik (freekeh) pilaf is from the Southeastern part of Turkey. It is an ancient dish originated around 2300 BC in the Middle […]
January 25, 2014
Rice-Meatball Soup Seasoned with Lemon – Terbiyeli Ekşili Köfte Ingredients: 3 table spoons all purpose flour 1 lb ground beef 1 small-medium onion, grated (about 1/2 cup) […]
January 19, 2014
Savory Kataifi Balls with Cheese – Peynirli Çıtır Kadayıf Couple of years ago we were in the small Greek Island of Leros. We enjoyed many delicacies at Mylos […]
December 30, 2013
Roasted Eggplant Salad with Almonds and Mint – Nazuktan Roasted Eggplant Salad with Almonds and Mint – Nazuktan Nazuktan is a Central Anatolian recipe. I have […]
May 3, 2013
Diced Zucchini with Scrambled Eggs This is a common dish from the rural areas of the Aegean region of Turkey where I grew up. When I was […]
March 29, 2013
Spinach Salad with Orzo and Cheese Ingredients: 1 bag (6 oz) fresh baby spinach 1/4 cup orzo (barley shaped pasta) 1 table spoon pine nuts, roasted […]
February 23, 2013
Garbanzo Balls Ingredients: 2 cups cooked garbanzo beans (dry or canned) If you are going to use dry garbanzo beans, you need to soak […]
December 27, 2012
Olive Bread – Zeytinli Ekmek Here’s a tasty savory bread with olives, cheese and herbs. Very easy to make. It is great at breakfast/brunch as well […]
November 26, 2012
Bar Pilaf with Shrimps – Karidesli Meyhane Pilavı Meyhane is a cross between a restaurant and a pub. “mey” means “wine” and “hane” means “house”, however, […]
November 23, 2012
Baked Salmon Wrapped in Grape Leaves – Asma Yaprağında Somon Although the term “stuffed grape leaves” typically refers to grape leaves stuffed with rice or bulgur […]
November 15, 2012
Arugula Salad with Walnuts and Feta Cheese – Cevizli Roka Salatası Arugula is surely one of the Mediterranean salad favorites. In Turkey it is commonly served […]
November 5, 2012
Creamy Vegetable Soup – Kremalı Sebze Çorbası Ingredients: 2 stalks of leeks, chopped 2 medium carrots, chopped 2 zucchini, chopped 1 cup cauliflower florets 1 bunch […]
November 2, 2012
3 Layer Potato Salad – 3 Katlı Patates Salatasi This in fact, is an appetizer/salad that consists of 3 different appetizers in three different colors layered […]
October 31, 2012
Chicken Caserole – Tavuk Gratin This is a very healthy, tasty comfort food. No mayonnaise, no canned soups in the sauce. Just chicken, veggies and home- […]
October 26, 2012
Sautéed String Beans with Eggs – Yumurtali Borulce My friend Nuran cooked this for us on our boat trip this summer. She told us that this […]
October 22, 2012
Celery Root Salad – Kereviz Salatası Here’s very health salad that you can also serve as a dip or as a topping for crackers or pita […]
October 19, 2012
Spinach and Mushrooms in Olive Oil – Zeytinyağlı Mantarlı Ispanak Ingredients: ¼ cup olive oil 1 small or 1/2 medium onion, sliced 1 lb baby spinach […]
October 17, 2012
Lemonade – Limonata Lemonade, simplest of beverages, yet, still the favorite on a hot summer day for people of all ages all around the world. I […]
October 16, 2012
Cauliflower-Broccoli Salad – Karnıbahar-Brokoli Salatası Ingredients: 1 medium cauliflower 1 lb broccoli juice of 1 lemon 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 teaspoon mustard salt and pepper […]
October 14, 2012
Uzbek Pilaf with Chicken – Tavuklu Özbek Pilavı Uzbek Pilaf is traditionally prepared with lamb browned in butter or lamb fat. I’ve modified the recipe by […]
October 12, 2012
Chicken Soup – Tavuklu Şehriye Çorbası Oh, the comfort of mom’s chicken soup on a cold day! Whether it is a cold day, or you have […]
October 5, 2012
Eggplants Stuffed with Onions and Garlic in Olive Oil – Imam Bayıldı The name of this famous dish “Imam Bayıldı“ means “Priest Fainted”, supposedly with pleasure […]
October 1, 2012
Menemen – Scrambled Eggs with Onions, Tomatoes and Peppers Menemen is a close cousin to omlettes, but it is typically a summer lunch classic in Turkish […]
August 21, 2012
Plum Preserves At the peak of summer, local farmers markets are bursting with colorful fruits and vegetables. I bought two different kinds of plums. One had […]
August 18, 2012
Tuna Salad with Arugula and Roasted Eggplants Ingredients: 1 5 oz can of Solid Tuna in water 1+3 table spoons extra virgin olive oil Juice of […]
July 22, 2012
Walnut Stuffed Figs – Cevizli Kuru İncir Tatlısı I grew up in the Western part of Turkey. The region we lived in (Aydin) is famous for […]
July 18, 2012
Shepherd’s Salad – Çoban Salatası Especially popular during summer, Shepherd’s Salad (Çoban Salatası) is light, refreshing and easy to make. It is a combination of finely […]
July 16, 2012
Cucumber Salad with Yogurt Here’s a refreshing salad for hot summer days that is easy to make. I use small cucumbers that are sold as Persian […]
June 26, 2012
Garbanzo Bean Dip with Cumin and Dills This is a dip similar to hummus, except that it does not have tahini (sesame paste) in it. Not […]
June 19, 2012
Poğaça – Savory Pastry with Cheese Filling Poğaça is a delicious little pasty which usually accompanies tea coffee in the morning or in afternoon. It is unresistable […]
June 4, 2012
Carrot Salad with Garlic Yogurt “Raki” is an anise based drink that is unofficially considered to be the national drink of Turkey. Raki is not just […]
May 30, 2012
Meatballs in tomato sauce – Salçalı Köfte Definitely a comfort food. Kids love it, so do the adults. These classic meatballs are not only a great […]
May 28, 2012
Pickled Beets Another easy, healthy recipe. Like other colorful root vegetables, beets are very good for you. Beets are rich in folic acid, calcium, iron and […]
May 24, 2012
Zucchini Fritters – Mücver Who knew zucchini tasted so good? Start with zucchini, add a bunch of herbs, add eggs and flour, then fry them to […]
May 22, 2012
Quinoa Salad with Artichokes and Sun Dried Tomatoes This is a simple summer salad that I make with Quinoa and other grains. You can use cooked […]
May 20, 2012
Swiss Chard Rolls with Bulgur Stuffing Ingredients: 2 bunches of Swiss Chards (about 12 leaves) 3 cups boiling water 1 ½ cup No1(fine) or No 2 […]
May 17, 2012
Chocolate Pudding with Tea Biscuits and Coconuts This is one of my mother in law Nevzat Ari’s signature desserts. She added a twist to the good […]
May 15, 2012
Fava Beans in Olive Oil – Zeytinyagli Bakla Fava Beans in Olive Oil – Zeytinyagli Bakla Ingredients: 1 lb fresh fava beans 4 cups water 1 […]
May 13, 2012
Haydari – Yogurt Dip with Walnuts and Herbs Haydari – Yogurt Dip with Walnuts & Herbs Haydari is a typical meze (appetizer) made with strained (thick) […]
May 11, 2012
Apricot Jam With their velvety skin, “melts in your mouth” taste and fantastic aroma, apricots are undoubtedly one of the delicacies of summer. Apricot jam is […]
May 10, 2012
Here we go, two purslane recipes backt o back! Spring and summer are the time a lot of olive oil based vegetable dishes are cooked in […]
May 9, 2012
Purslane Salad with Garlic Yogurt Ingredients: 1 bunch purslane (about 1 cup) 1 cup yogurt 2 cloves of garlic, crushed Salt to taste Directions: Nip tender […]
May 5, 2012
Swiss Chards with Bulgur in Olive Oil This dish is a sort of “West meets East” version of the traditional Swiss Chard dish from Turkey. Swiss […]
April 25, 2012
Mozaic Cake – Mozaik Pasta This is a light chocolate cake made with tea biscuits (or Petit Beurres). I use tea biscuits since they don’t have […]
April 22, 2012
Circassian Chicken Salad – Cerkez Tavugu This is one of classical mezes (appetizers) of the Ottoman Cuisine. It originates from the Caucasus Mountains where the Circassians […]
April 12, 2012
White Beans over Rice – Kurufasulye – Pilav is one of the most basic, traditional, comforting dishes in the Turkish Cuisine. If you go to a […]
April 10, 2012
Celery and Leeks with Garlic Yogurt Just when you think you’ve tasted all of the Turkish mezes with garlic yogurt, another one shows up on a […]
April 9, 2012
Fruit Salad with Nuts Ingredients: 1 cup blueberries 1 mango, cubed 1 orange, cubed 3 small mandarin oranges 1 cup strawberries, cut in quarters 1 cup […]
April 3, 2012
Couscous with Feta Cheese and Garbanzo Beans Couscous, originally from North Africa, is a pasta dish fairly common throughout the Middle East. In Turkey it mostly […]
April 1, 2012
Piyaz – Classic Piyaz – Antalya Style Piyaz is usually a bean salad, mostly of white beans, with lots of onions and parsley, olive oil & […]
March 29, 2012
Henny’s Famous Sunny Side Up Eggs with Mushrooms, Celery and Onions When my son asked me to go on a road trip to San Francisco together, […]
March 22, 2012
Poached Pears with Walnuts, Apricots and Currants Ingredients: Poached Pears 1 bottle of red wine 1 + 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 […]
March 20, 2012
Baked Chicken with Mixed Vegetables When our kids were young, working full time and making sure the family was properly fed was always a challenge. I […]
March 18, 2012
Orzo Pilaf with Bellpeppers Orzo is most commonly used in soups in Turkish Cuisine. Growing up, when we had a cold, mom used to make chicken […]
March 14, 2012
Müceddere – Bulgur Pilaf with Green Lentils Ingredients: 1 cup green lentils soaked in water 3+ 2 cups water 1 cup size 3 bulgur ( cracked […]
March 14, 2012
Mung Bean Salad – Maş Fasulyesi Piyazi Piyaz in general is a bean salad with chopped onions and herbs in an olive oil – vinegar dressing. […]
March 9, 2012
Red Cabbage Salad In the summer of 2009, we went on a 3 day bus trip with our friends from high school to Amasra, a small […]
March 9, 2012
Pistachio Helva Ingredients: 1 cup of semolina (farina) 1 stick of unsalted butter 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons ground unsalted […]
March 8, 2012
Here’s a great party favorite. They are bite size and go great with after dinner drinks too. No cooking involved, just mix, roll and chill. Enjoy! […]
March 5, 2012
Black Eyed Peas & Peppers in Olive Oil Here’s a simple dish that could be eaten hot or cold, either by itself or as a side […]
March 2, 2012
Ingredients: 1 medium cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets 2 cups boiling water ½ lb lean ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped 2 table spoons olive […]
February 29, 2012
I have been having fun with my blog and have been sharing it with family and friends.My beautiful niece Ece is working on her PhD and […]
February 28, 2012
Pink Sultan – Pembe Sultan Here’s a meze bursting with color and flavor. Its almost florescent pink color comes from the beets. When one day, my […]
February 25, 2012
We spend our summers in Bodrum, a popular coastal town on the Southwestern Coast of the Aegean Sea in Turkey. We are very lucky with our […]
February 23, 2012
Dolma means “stuffed” in Turkish, referring to stuffed vegetable dishes. Best known dolma by far is the stuffed grape leaves. Other vegetables that are used in […]
February 20, 2012
Zucchini Dip with Garlic Yogurt This is a “meze”, an appetizer, usually served as one of the side dishes that accompany a typical “raki dinner table” […]
February 17, 2012
Lady’s Thigh Paddies – Kadin Budu Kofte This is a kind of kofte (meat paddies or meatballs) that is made with ground beef and rice. Turkish […]
February 14, 2012
Pumpkin Glace, a heavenly dessert I thought for Valentine’s Day, I should post something sweet. This is one of my favorite non-chocolate desserts, one that is […]
February 10, 2012
Black Eyed Peas Salad – Borulce Piyazi Piyaz is a kind of salad or meze that is made from some kind of dry beans, onions, parsley, […]
February 7, 2012
Oruk – Meat and Bulgur Patties Oruk – Meat and Bulgur Patties: Before talking about ORUK, let’s first talk about BULGUR, the main ingredient in Oruk […]
February 3, 2012
Quince is a funny looking, lumpy shaped fruit that is not very easy to eat. When mature, they get sweeter, but they are never very sweet. […]
January 28, 2012
Green Lentils with Carrots in Olive Oil In Turkish cuisine, like throughout the Middle East, both red and green lentils are used quite often, especially […]
January 23, 2012
Whenever I go to my sister Dilek’s house, one thing you can count on in the kitchen is their ever inviting home-made cake. This is […]
January 18, 2012
In the Aegean region, when artichokes are in season, the most common way people cook them is to stuff whole heads of fresh artichokes with seasoned […]
January 12, 2012
Ingredients: As I mentioned before, there’s supposed to be 41 different eggplant dishes in Turkish cuisine. This is one of the simplest ones. Though it is […]
January 4, 2012
Stuffed Eggplants – Karniyarik Karniyarik word by word translates as “split belly”. Eggplants are stuffed with seasoned minced meat. This is a very Turkish recipe which […]
January 4, 2012
I grew up in a small town called Atca in the Aegean region of Turkey. I was lucky to be born in a beautiful place with […]
January 4, 2012
Sautéed Mushrooms in Olive Oil This is one of the rare olive oil dishes from my kitchen that the directions does not start with “sauté onions […]
January 4, 2012
I decided that the New Year’s first entry should be a simple but a classic Turkish recipe. I couldn’t think of anything more authentic than the […]
December 18, 2011
Ezogelin Soup – Red Lentil Soup with Bulgur Ezogelin Soup Red lentils uncooked When cooking red lentils, first they turn yellow but keep their shape As […]
December 18, 2011
Celery Roots Braised in Olive Oil Ingredients: 2 celery roots 1 medium onion ½ cup olive oil 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 can organic garbanzo […]
December 17, 2011
Holiday Quinoa Salad Quinoa Salad with Red & Green Peppers Ingredients: · 1 cup organic quinoa · ½ cup olive oil · 1 medium onion · […]
December 11, 2011
Black Bean Salad I have to admit that there’s nothing Turkish about this recipe. Practically no one has heard of black beans, cilantro or quinoa in […]
December 9, 2011
Roasted Eggplant Salad When people see me buying eggplants at the supermarket, sometimes they ask “how do you cook them?, do you steam or stir […]
December 8, 2011
Lemon Frozen Yogurt Lemon Frozen Yogurt My family had a vacation home in Kusadasi, a coastal town on the Aegean. We used to spend our care-free […]
December 5, 2011
Seabass Stew If you look up “Blue Cruise”, also known as Blue Voyage, you’ll discover the beauty of the Turkey’s southwestern coast and the magical excursions […]
December 5, 2011
Green Beans Braised in Olive Oil There are several kinds of green beans in Turkey. Some are broad, some not. Fresh form of black eye beans […]
July 11, 2011
Potato Rollups This is one of my “California meets Turkey” recipes. Boiled, mashed potatoes are used as filling for many Turkish savory pastries along with cheese […]
July 11, 2011
Zucchini & Peppers Braised in Olive Oil My friend Ugur is a master magician when it comes to cooking and presenting food. Her family roots come […]
July 11, 2011
Potato Salad This is a very healthy version of potato salad. It is mayonnaise-free! Ingredients: 3-4 medium size potatoes 1 medium red onion ½ cup olive […]
July 11, 2011
Gypsy Salad (Cingen Pilavi) Although the original name, Cingen Pilavi means Gypsy Pilav when translated word by word, this is a salad. It is only known […]
July 1, 2011
This is a recipe from my sister Nuvit’s friend Ahu who lives in Istanbul. Ingredients: 1 cup dry green lentils ½ cup rice ¼ cup […]
July 1, 2011
White Roughy in Tomato-Olive Oil Sauce Ingredients: 3 pieces of white roughy, approximately 4 oz each. 2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed (optional) 2-3 medium tomatoes, coarsely […]
July 1, 2011
Cabbage Salad I had this salad at my friend Vega’s house first. Her husband Haluk is the king of salads. I came home and tried to […]
June 11, 2011
Ingredients: 1 egg 1/2 cup olive oil 1 lb lean ground beef 1 medium onion, cut into 4 pieces 3 cloves of garlic, crushed ½ cup […]
June 11, 2011
Bulgur pilaf with sautéd mushrooms Bulgur pilaf with peas Bulgur Pilaf Traditionally bulgur(cracked wheat) is commonly used in Turkey. However, it is considered as the “poor […]
June 11, 2011
Ingredients: 2 lbs leeks 2 medium carrots 5-6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons coarse size #4 bulgur (cracked wheat) 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 […]
June 11, 2011
Japan meets Turkey! Many vegetable dishes are cooked with olive oil and onions in Turkey, and most of the Mediterranean countries like Italy, Greece, Spain, France […]
June 11, 2011
At my friend Mary’s party she had a log of delicious cheese with dried apricots. She served it with slices of green apples. I decided […]
June 11, 2011
MUHAMMARA – Spicy Walnut Dip from Antep, Southeastern Turkey Muhammara with pita bread This recipe is from my mother-in-law Nevzat Ari, a retired art teacher. She […]
June 11, 2011
Savory Pastry Squares: BOREK This is a recipe from my dear late father-in-law, Vakif Ari who had many “signature dishes” from borek to omlettes, salads, and […]