Çökertme Kebabı, Refika Style
Ingredients
½ pound beef tenderloin
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 to 5 sprigs oregano
1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds, crushed
1 teaspoon milled four peppercorn mix
1 dried hot pepper
Salt
¼ cup olive oil
2 medium potatoes
Sunflower seed oil for frying the potatoes
2 cups tomato sauce
1 cup yoghurt
1 tablespoon crushed fresh thyme leaves
Directions…
Slice the tenderloin into strips and put it into a resealable plastic bag. Add the garlic, oregano, mustard seeds and milled
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Walnut Poppyseed Bread
According to Refika, “The best thing about having a bakery in my neighborhood is that on the way back from work you can stop by to buy bread dough. I strongly recommend this; in this way, only in ten minutes, you can make a pizza, lahmacun or pita and make a hit with your guests. Free your imagination!”
Ingredients
1 lb whole wheat dough from the bakery
2 handfuls whole walnuts
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 tablespoon butter
Directions…
Preheat
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Marinated Bluefish
Ingredients
2 small bluefish, filleted
coarse sea salt
1 tablespoon four peppercorn mix
2 tablespoons mustard seeds
3 garlic cloves
zest and juice of 2 lemons
6 to 7 thyme sprigs
olive oil for topping off the jar
Directions…
Sprinkle salt on both sides of the fish, cover and chill for 30 minutes.
Crush the peppercorn mix with the mustard seeds in a mortor and pestle and transfer the mixture to a glass jar large enough to hold the fillets.
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String Cheese and Mushroom Dip
Ingredients
10 sliced mushrooms (Refika used Fairy Ring Mushrooms, which I am not sure are easy to find in this country), your choice
2 big strips string cheese, separated into strings
5 garlic cloves
salt and pepper
3 sprigs fresh thyme
3 tablespoons olive oil
flat bread as an accompaniment
Directions…
Preheat the oven to 400F.
Combine the mushrooms with the cheese in a bowl and toss well.
Crush the garlic with some salt in a mortar. Add the leaves
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Tomato Walnut Salad
Ingredients
3 tomatoes, chopped
2 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped
½ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley leaves
1 to 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
extra-virgin olive oil to taste
salt and pepper to taste
Directions…
In a salad bowl toss together the tomatoes, peppers, walnuts, parsley, molasses, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
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Simit Kebabs
Ingredients
1/3 cup bulgur
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon oregano
¼ cup chopped pistachio
1 white onion, grated
2 small garlic cloves, minced
4 ounces ground lamb
4 ounces ground veal
Salt, pepper
Pear Salsa (recipe below) as an accompaniment
Directions…
If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 1 hour. Preheat the grill to medium.
Put the bulghur in a bowl, add hot water and let it stand for 15 minutes. Let
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Quince Liqueur
This flavored after dinner liqueur can be made with any other fruit such as apricots, figs, peaches and pears.
Ingredients
3 quinces (about 2 pounds), peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
300 grams sugar (about 1 ½ cups)
4 to 5 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
2 cups unflavored vodka
1/3 cup chardonnay
Directions…
In a 2-litre glass jar, pack the chopped quinces and cover with the sugar. Add the whole cloves and cinnamon stick. Fill the jar to
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Pumpkin Fritters
Ingredients
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 ½ lb pumpkin, grated
the green part of two scallions, finely chopped
¼ cup finely chopped parsley
¼ cup finely chopped dill
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp unbleached white flour
Salt & pepper to taste
sunflower oil for frying
Directions…
In a large skillet cook the onion in the olive oil over moderately low heat until softened. Add the pumpkin and cook,
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