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Cornucopia's Seasonal Turkish Menus

prepared for cornucopia.net by Berrin Torolsan

 

Summer Menu No 2

Kabak Kalyesi
(Courgette Stew with fresh dill and mint)

Domates Yemegi
(Tomatoes with sweet basil)

Su Muhallebisi
(Water Muhallebi sprinkled with rose water and icing sugar)

Berrin Torolsan copyright
All rights reserved, 2002

See next Summer Menu (No 3)

The recipes this week are selected from Cornucopia 4 (courgettes), Cornucopia 13 (herbs) and Cornucopia 26 (milk puddings).

Pease email your comments

 

Kabak Kalyesi is quick to prepare and goes wonderfully with fresh bread to mop up the broth. In Ottoman times, when vegetables were categorised as cooling or warming to the blood, marrows were considered cooling, and marrow dishes needed to be balanced with 'warming' herbs like dill and mint. These should be added at the very last minute to preserve their flavour and vitamins. Domates Yemegi should only be cooked in summer when tomatoes are plentiful and at their best. It makes a wonderful starter but is substantial enough to be served as a whole meal. The slightly tangy taste combines excellently with the sweet perfume of basil. Rice is sometimes added to thicken the tomato stew, but frankly more tomatoes are a better solution. Su Muhallebisi Popular Istanbul pudding shop fare. Sprinkle liberally with icing sugar and rose water.

Kabak Kalyesi

Courgette Stew

  • 5 courgettes
  • 1 generous tablespoon butter
  • 100g minced beef or mutton
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tomato, peeled and sliced
  • 1 sweet green pepper, seeded and sliced
  • Fresh dill and mint
  • 1 cup boiling water

  1. Clean the courgettes. Halve them lengthways then cut into thick slices.
  2. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the onion and fry lightly until transparent.
  3. Add the sliced pepper and mince, and stir over a moderate heat until the meat has absorbed all the juices and begins to sizzle.
  4. Add the courgettes and tomatoes. Stir-fry a little longer, then pour in the boiling water and sprinkle with salt and finely chopped fresh mint. Reduce the heat. Simmer for 20 minutes until the courgettes are soft but not soggy.
  5. Remove from the heat, stir in the chopped dill and serve hot.

 
From The Taste of An Eastern Summer: Cooking with marrows
Cornucopia 4.
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Domates Yemegi

Tomatoes with Basil

  • 10 large ripe tomatoes
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion (chopped finely)
  • Salt and sugar
  • 1 cup flat-lea parsley (chopped)
  • 1 cup dill
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 1-2 fresh chives

  1. Place the tomatoes in a basin, pour over boiling water and leave for 2-3 minutes. Then halve them and slip off the skins. Chop the flesh and set aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a pan and sauté the onion until golden.
  3. Stir in the tomatoes. When they release their juices, turn down the heat, season with salt and sugar and simmer, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes, until they are reduced to a lovely thick pulp.
  4. Stir in the parsley, the dill and half the basil; remove from the heat, cover and leave to cool.
  5. Just before serving, sprinkle the rest of the basil an snip over the chives.

 
From Thyme & Tide: a bouquet of fragrant recipes from the herb garden
Cornucopia 10
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Su Muhallebisi

Water Muhallebi
with rose water
and icing sugar

  • 3 tablespoons cornflour
  • 3 cups milk
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 tablespoons rosewater

  1. Mix the cornflour and sugar into the cold milk and cook, stirring, over a moderate heat until it thickens. Cook for a further 4-5 minutes. Rinse out a shallow dish or individual bowls and, while they are still wet, pour the mixture in to a depth of less than an inch (1.5cm).
  2. Leave to cool, then chill.
  3. Serve cut into squares or turn the bowls out onto individual dessert plates. Sprinkle each serving generously with rosewater and spoon on the icing sugar.

 
From The Milky Way: a feast of Turkish milk puddings
Cornucopia 26
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