April 4, 2025
This vibrant salad draws inspiration from traditional Turkish cuisine, where beets are often cooked before being added to dishes. However, in recent years, raw beet recipes […]
Mostly Mediterranean and Aegean appetizers (mezes) that would add delicate flavors to any party, meal.
September 22, 2024
When I was a child, most mothers had a “tea party day” once a month. Her friends and neighbors would come for an afternoon tea. We […]
August 16, 2024
Another refreshing salad both for summer or winter. It has a very short ingredient list, full of nutrition and tastes great. Enjoy! Ingredients: 1 lb (4-6 […]
July 20, 2024
There’s long list of Turkish mezes (appetizers) that thick strained yogurt and garlic are used as the base. This refreshing yogurt dip happens to be one […]
June 8, 2024
Lentils, red and green are used in soups, salads, appetizers, and main dishes in Turkish cuisine, especially in Southeastern Turkey. Mixing them with spices, herbs, and […]
May 25, 2024
Fava bean paste/dip is definitely an appetizer favorite. Typically it is made with dried fava beans. It requires that you soak the beans overnight, then cook […]
March 30, 2024
Here’s an appetizer (meze) bursting with color and flavor. Its almost florescent pink color comes from red beets. Beets are a great source of nitric oxide, so […]
March 23, 2024
A traditional Turkish appetizer that happens to be vegan. It is loaded with flavors and with lentil & bulgur,it is rich in protein too. Typically served […]
March 9, 2024
This is definitely not a Turkish dish, unless you replace the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt and drizzle some olive oil on top, then it could pass […]
February 24, 2024
Here comes a delicious appetizer that is surely one of the favorites for Turkish mezze platters. Phyllo dough sheets with cheese filling are rolled like a […]
February 17, 2024
Turkish fish cakes are similar to crab cakes. They are very easy to make, full of nutrition and taste good. Kids like them as well. I […]
November 25, 2023
Some of us favor savory treats to sweets. I’m definitely one of those people. This savory cookie is late Ozcan Hanim teyze’s special family recipe. It’s […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 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 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 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 […]
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 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 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 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 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 […]
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 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 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 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 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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]