Turkish traditional dessert Halvah

Turkish Traditional Dessert Halvah

Halvah (helva) is the oldest type of dessert in Turkish cuisine writes noted Turkish culinary expert, Nevin Halıcı, in her book Turkish Cookery; the earliest known recipe for halvah dates to the 11^th century. The name is derived from the Arabic root hulw, or halwa, meaning sweet, and describes a large family of confections in the Middle East, Central and South Asia and the Balkans.

Halvah has three basic ingredients: a starch, a fat and a sweetener. It most commonly is made with semolina, but several other distinct versions of halvah exist. To prepare this sweet, semolina (or equivalent) typically is toasted or fried while constantly stirring it with a wooden spoon, sometimes together with butter, until golden brown. Liquid, scalded milk for example, is then mixed in, along with sugar or reduced grape juice (pekmez) and melted butter. Frequently almonds, pine nuts or pistachios are added for flavor

Halvah has long been associated with commemorative occasions, both happy and sorrowful, and this tradition still remains strong in Turkish culture. It is served wherever people gather to recognize births, circumcisions and weddings, among others, and to mourn deaths. This sweet is also an important component of religious ceremonies and feast days.

RECIPE:

İrmik Helvası

Semolina halvah. Serves 8–10.

This adaptation of a popular dessert was provided by Ali Kemal Dincer, a business owner in Belmont, MA, who is from Gaziantep, a city in southeastern Turkey.

2 cups whole milk

1 ¼ cups granulated sugar

½ cup unsalted butter

¼ vegetable oil

¼ cup pine nuts

1 cup semolina (largest-sized grain available)

Bring milk, sugar and butter to boil in a medium-size saucepan. Set aside or keep on low heat. Put vegetable oil and pine nuts in a large saucepan and cook over moderate heat until bubbles form. Cook nuts until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Add semolina and stir vigorously for 3–6 minutes. If a darker halvah is preferred, cook a few minutes longer. It will begin to burn at about 10 minutes. Slowly add the milk, sugar and butter to the nuts and semolina. The mixture will start to boil rapidly, so watch out for spattering. Stir continuously over moderate heat for several minutes until thickened but still fluid. Pour into a shallow, 9-inch pie dish, and cool until set, about 2 hours. To serve, cut into pieces. For variation, slivered almonds or unsalted pistachios can be substituted for pine nuts.

Thaks for that article to www.eatsmartguides.com and they planing to tour to Turkey. If you interested in join that tour can visit their site  www.eatsmartguides.com/turkeytour.html.

Top Famous Turkish Drinks

Top Famous Turkish Drinks

After long time decided to write about traditional famous Turkish drinks.Turkish cuisine very famous with foods but our drinks famous and healty too.Maybe know that about them but some drinks have different features.I will try to write about their features,season,culture and how they made that drinks.I will write about turkish tea,turkish coffee, boza, sherbet,salep and turkish ayran..I hope that like it.

Turkish Tea

Tea,we call it çay in Turkish and Turkish people drink it mostly.At the least I drink it everyday.Tea's history not much old in Turkey but Turkish people liked it much and created their standarts.You cant see that tea-cup shape anywhere in the world.If see it that shape you can find a Turkish person in there too.We say that shape  '' ince belli'' in Turkish. Its mean as a thin belly.because its look like human belly.When drink it with close friends feel better too.Especially if have a amazing view while drink can enjoy much too.When use sugar with tea cant take it's taste much so I offer that drink it without sugar.I gave up to add sugar 2 years ago and I noticed that I was drinking just sugar before.When come to Turkey do not come back to hometown without drink tea with thin belly tea-cup..If want to read about turkish tea can find more information on there..turkish tea

Turkish coffee

Turkish coffee's history older than tea.Come from Ottoman ages.In Ottoman ages created coffee houses for drink coffee.Turkish coffee is  important in Turkish culture.

Turkish people have a  interesting expression for turkish coffee they say that  a couple of turkish coffee have 40 years sake its  mean a little complex.We have interesting tradition about to weddings before weddings groom's family go to bride's home for to take wedding permission.Bride preapare coffee and add to salt into groom's cup.If groom drink, it show that groom want to marry much and will not make sad his wife and will do everything for his wife.Can read about turkish coffee 

Boza

It is claimed that it was first made in 9000-8000 BC in Mesopotamia or Eastern Anatolia.However, the Greek historian Xenophon (430-355 BC) mentions in writing that people  was drinking boza  in Eastern Anatolia in 401 BC.

Maybe many epople hear it first time because when toursits come to Turkey cant see it on summer season because boza is a winter season drink.

Boza made from white corn.It grind at the mill than clean all crusts tahn add water and keep waiting.Boza has a sourish taste.While drinking boza can add in cup roasted chickpea or cinnamon.

Turkish Sherbet

Turkish sherbet is one of the famous drink in Turkey and middle east countries.Especially in summer season people drink it much.It come from Ottoman and Seljuks ages.People was not drink alchol in Ottoman and Seljuks age so Sherbet culture risen.

Sherbet made from fruit juices or various  flowers.Some sherbets have special spices so it give different taste.Especially summer seasons, can add snow or ice.Its as a sweet syrup.When you come to Istanbul can see sherbet seller especially in the  Sultan Ahmet square.They has traditional ottoman clothes and churn..

Sherbet also has many health benefits such as lowering cholesterol, losing weight, relieving the stomach and intestines, regulating blood pressure and preventing thyroid.

Salep

If you are in the Turkey during winter season you must drink to hot traditional salep.It has a delicious taste and when drink it a cold day, warm up your body and give peace.

Winter season all of coffee add salep in menu so can find it easily.

Salep made from a type of orchids and milk.Turkey has a rich orchids area.Turkish ice creams made from that special orshids too.While drinking salep must add cinnamon into salep,it make more delicious.

Turkish Ayran

Turkish ayran, I think that every people know that delicious drink.

Especially while eat döner or kebab must drink ayran.

I prefer  goat milk's ayran because it is more delicious.Ayran is healty drink so everybody can drink it.

People can make ayra at home too, its easy but I'm not sure about its taste because churn ayran has a special taste because while doing 

churn ayran they are shake it long time so it has cream and different taste so when you come to Turkey want churn ayran not industrial ayran.Can read about ayran for more information 

I hope that like it and can taste that delicious drinks one day.Do not forget to sahre and drop messages please ...

Top Delicious Turkish Foods

Top Delicious Turkish Foods

Today I will continue to write about Turkish cuisine, last article ı wrote five piece and today I will write five foods again.But I know it will not finish again because Turkish cuisine realy rich and there are many foods.Per regions have differents delicious foods.I hope you can like top delicious Turkish foods list.

Turkish Gözleme

Gözleme is one of the traditional and old food.Especially Anatolian womans cook it much.

But its common in Turkey.Its so

delicious and satisfying.

Especailly its more delicious with ayran.There are many kind of gözleme.Womans make it with cheese, meat, vegetables.When you come to Turkey do not come back wtihout eat gözleme.

Turkish Döner

Turkish döner actually many people know that delicious food.

There are many famous is abroad too.Especailly Germany, France, Belgium and Netherland

there are many döner restaurants

Döner made from beef, lamb. chicken meats but most quality Döner made from beef meat.Most important this is meat must cut as like sheet, must be very thin. Can add sheep suet between meat layers , it could be more delicious.At economical Döners can add minced meat.Especially must eat it with ayran and coke .

Turkish Pizza Lahmacun

Why said Turkish pizza ?

because there are many things inside lahmacun but different than pizza.Pizza's ingredients are big but lahmacun's are minced.

There are meat,tomatos,pepper,

spices,parsley,onion...

Especially East Anatolian's chief  good at cooking lahmacun .But can find it every restaurants in Turkey.

İçli Köfte (stuffed meatballs)

Another famous food from east anatolia.Especailly Gaziantep cuisine really famous and UNESCO added Gaziantep in Creative Cities Network list with Gaziantep cuisine.External part made from pounded wheat and there are mince with spices,onion and oil.Of couse must eat it with ayran ..

Ayran

I m saying ayran ayran ..whats ayran.Can say that ayran is our

traditional drink.Especailly when it come from refrigerator.Ayran is a natural drink.There is no acid so your childrens can drink it too.Its easy to make ayran.We just need yogurt,blender,water and a little salt.Firstly must mix yogurt with blender about a minute than add enough water, it can be cold water I prefer cold water.Than add a little salt and mix 20 30 seconds.Ayran ready to drink.

I hope that like them and if you like please do not forget to drop comments and share it social media..

Most Delicious Turkish Foods

Turkish Cuisine

Turkish cuisine really has many deals,foods,drinks.It's a culture treasure.Turkish people saving and improving that culture treasure thousends years.Turkey has rich cuisine because there are many cities,regions and climates in Turkey.So today I will try to write about most delicious Turkish foods today and I think that ıt will be 2 episode.Because we have many delicious meals.

1-Turkish Kebab

Turkish kebab is really famous in the world.Foreign people know Turkish raki and kebab and when they saying it their pronounce is so sweet.Turkish Kebab have some different kind but especially Urfa and Adana more popular and delicious.Urfa and Adana is a city at 

southeast Anatolia.Urfa and Adana chiefs have different style so people call them different names.Urfa Kebab has less chili pepper and Adana Kebab has more chili pepper.So I prefer Urfa Kebab.

Chiefs always use sheep meat for Kebab and vegatables give flavor especially onion and tomato.When come to Turkey do not come back without taste and you can find Kebab at Turkish Restaurants which stay abroad.

2-Menemen

Turkish menemen is one of the popular meal in breakfast foods.

Everybody can do it.Its easy and

delicious.Especially when I was

university ,menemen was our first choose for breakfasts.

What we need for cook menemen

Tomato is main thing for menemen and onion.But if do not like onion can not add.than eggs, fresh green pepper,cheddar cheese,sunflower oil,black pepper and salt.If you have them can make a delicious menemen.When come to Turkey can find it every restaurants which give breakfast.

3-Yaprak Sarma (wrap grape leaves)

Yaprak sarma is really delicious especially if made with olive oil.

Its really hard to make it.

Because it nessesary skill, effort,

experience and patience.I said 

skill becaue it must be thin,effort nessary because ıt take long time wrap, experience nessesary for interior rice and another things, patience nessasary because sometime can feel boring while wrap and can give up easily.Can read my article how made Sarma

4-Baklava (Turkish dessert)

How I can describe that taste 

just can live.Just can feel it

when you hear its voice when bite a slice of baklava.Especially

people eat it special days.Every

Ramadhan eid and sacrifice eid

our mothers made handmade 

baklava.(Another times can do it

too but I think that it's as a ritual for eids).Another times can find it patisserie too.But it must be fresh.Some patisseries made everyday and sell daily.Especially Gaziantep region famous with baklava.Because Gaziantep's climate good for  pistachio nut grown at there.They can made it with walnuts too.

If you whant to learn how is made read it

5-Köfte (Meatball)

I know when see 5.th food will think that they always eat meat.

Dont worry.I will write another

foods at next article.Köfte is popular foods too.Can find it everywhere even if street foods seller doing it delicious too.But 

must be carefully about hygiene.

There are different kinds and it can change for regions.Especially its more delicious with bread and Turkish ayran.

I hope you like and do not forget to share and drop messages.

It will continue, episode 2 and 3 will coming soon...

Turkish Tea or Çay

Tea is a culture in Turkey

Before I wrote about turkish   traditional drink ayran and Turkish cofee but tea has a different status in Turkey.

Tea is the most consumed drink in Turkey.There are many tea 

addicted and they drink tea as a water.Turkis people drink it with foods or after meals but I prefer to drink while eating and after dinner which best time for to drink tea.

History of Turkish Tea in Turkey

Tea, we call it çay in Turkish language.Turkish people started to drink tea end of the 19th century.In istanbul some merchants  imported tea and 

adventure started.Tea was grown for the first time in Sultan Abdülhamit II ages.According to the documents seeds came from Japan.Than farmers continued to grown tea first years of Turkish Republic.First tea factory created at Rize in 1947.Now Black Sea region is first in tea sector.Rize tea is very popular in Turkey and it s realy has good quality.

Why tea is a culture in Turkey

A folk saying in Turkey goes, ‘A conversation without tea is like a night sky without a moon.’ Tea is completing conversation and friendship.There are teahouses every locations.That areas not only for to drink tea or cofee.That areas for to spend time with friends and communicate.

Tukish people use different glass for drink tea and turkish people calling its name '' ince belli'' its mean slim waisted because glass have that figure.Especially in teahouses there are that figure of glass.There are another jargon in teahouese too.For example can call in ''tavşan kanı'' instead of tea.It show that tea's  quality.

These days can see different tools for to make tea but we use that tea kettle for it.

Technologhy changed everything but tea has good and different quality with that traditional tea kettle.So it not wrong to say Turkish tea has a diferent culture.

Turkey is the 4th. drink tea in the world and some regions have different tea drinking style in Turkey.For example in east Anatolia people do not throw sugar into glass.They take sugar into their mouth.Than drink tea with that sugar.They do not chewing that sugar.

Some people drink tea with lemon or Black pepper, cloves.

When I was ill (Flu, cold) its good to drink tea with lemon.

How to make good tea

• Firstly must have a tea kettle but Turkish style teapot.
• Fill into water kettle but not much because its for to add tea.
• After 20 minutes water will boill and take that water upper kettle and add tea 3 spoons (İt can change person).İf add water on tea,tea will burn so it would not give quality.
• Than add water under kettle for hot water.Until it boill water will soak tea.

Than tea is ready.Every people drink it different style but I prefer it 1/3 tea and 2/3 hot water and I never use milk into tea.

Street Foods in Turkey

Every countries has different foods culture.It can change about 
geography,economy,life,culture.Some countries like much spicy some countries like fish and seafoods and some use olive oil.But street foods differents some people can think its unhealty but ı think that some foods are delicious,satisfying and cheaper.Sometimes we cant find anough time, sometimes their's smell affect us,sometimes we hear sellers voice.Today I will write about what can eat at streets in Turkey.

1-Simit ,Turkish Bagel

Simit is really famous street food.Especially while going work people prefer to simit because its satisfying cheap and easy to find.Especially I like fresh and warm simit its more delicious and some sellers sell it with cream cheese.But simit and tea are inseparable dual.Seagulls eat simit in Turkey.Especially steamboat passengers made them simit addict.

2-Boiled or Grilled Corn

Can find both style outside but people prefer boiled version much.Some sellers give 

ketchup and mayonnaise with a cup boiled corn.It become popular at shopping centers too.Its good snack while strolling down streets.

3-Fish sandwiches

Especially its very famous at Sultan Ahmet and Eminönü area and its really so delicious still I can remember that taste.They buy fish sandwiches at boat and there are little chairs for to eat.Must eat fish sandwiches if you visit historical peninsula in Istanbul, trust me will not be disappointed.

4-Turkish Kokoreç

I m sure that just can see it at Turkey and many people like to eat that but I dont prefer much because I have a strong smelling.

Can see that food on streets can see it rarely in restaurants menu.

It Made from the intestines of lambs and cooked with a variety of spices and flavors.Some street sellers buy with sandwiches some buy with plate.

5-Roasted Chestnuts

Especially winter seasons can see street sellers on corners.Can feel chestnuts smell from a distance.Street sellers buy it with paper bag.

6-Kumpir,Baked potato

Is really famous street foods in Turkey especially in Ortaköy square.In recent years, some people started to made that job in shops.There are many things inside big potato,corn, pickled red cabbage, pickles, Olivier salad, yogurt, jalapenos, olives..

Sellers asking what do you prefer inside than they don't add what you do not like .

I hope you might like do not forget to drop messages..

To Wrap Grape Leaves With Rice

To Wrap Grape Leaves With Rice

Turkish cuisine have many different foods.All region and cities have different and delicious meals.Especially I like Gaziantep region meals and Aegean region meals are very healty, they use olive oil.All region wrap grape leaves with rice so its really famous in Turkey.Last night my mom made it too so I want to give information about that food.

Ingredients

• 500 gram grape leaves
• 500 gram rice
• 2 onion (shredded)
• 5-6 scallion (shredded)
• some parsley
• 1 tablespoon pepper sauce
• 1 tablespoon tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup  olive oil
• 2 cup water

Firstly must make inner ingredients so firstly add oil and roast onions.Than adding anothers in turn ; sauces,rice,scallion,parsley,salt and red pepper flakes and roasting mixture.After our mixture become cold a little start to wrap.Than when finish grape leaves start to put inside pressure cooker.Than add oil and lemon.Than add water and boil 10 minutes.Ready to eat..

Bon apetite

Turkish Traditional Drink Ayran

Turkish Traditional Drink Ayran

We are in ramadan now and fasting but today is really hot and need a cold ayran now.Today will open my fasting with ayran at evening.Want to give some information about ayran.Some nations drink some drinks much.Russians like to drink vodka, mexicans tequila and Turkish people drink much ayran so its really famous in Turkey.Can find ayran everywhere ayran in Turkey, restaurants,markets,supermarkets.




Some meals must eat with ayran, especially Turkish döner ,Turkish Kebab, meatball,toast.That meals really good with ayran.Whne come to Turkey must taste them with ayran. But can make ayran in home too.Its really easy to make it.Ayran is very healty so will tell how can make ayran

How to Make Ayran

We just need yogurt,blender,water and a little salt.Firstly must mix yogurt with blender about a minute than add enough water, it can be cold water I prefer cold water.Than add a little salt and mix 20 30 seconds.Ayran ready to drink.

Turkish Ice Cream

Turkish Maraş Ice Cream

Season is summer and weather become hot these days.While eating ice cream I decided to write about Turkish traditional ice cream because its different another factory prouct, its more delicious and hard.When say ice cream in Turkey many person say something about Maraş because it is ice cream's  fatherland so its very famous in Turkey and they export Maraş ice cream.USA,Germany, BAE, Bulgaria, England, China, Korea, Tunis,Austria,Egypt consume that ice cream.

History of Maraş İce Cream

There was a product in Ottoman Empire period and it name was Karsambaç.In winters,people digged a well and save ice inside well at the high mountains for to make Karsambaç.Than they mixed milk, fruit and ice in summers.Than they added sugar that mixture.Some pople added boiled grape juice or honey.

Osman Agha was selling orchis for Ottoman Palaces and rich mansions.One season they saved residual orchis inside ice.The next day orchis's taste attention Osman Agha because ıt was changed.He has seen that sugar,milk and orchis mixture stretched as like gum.Than that new taste become famous.

Maraş Ice Cream's Features

Especially goat milk important for Maraş ice cream.Their goats feed on Ahir mountain in Maraş.That mountain have special plants so mily give special taste for ice cream.Than that milk boil at 90 centigrade degree and add sugar, orchis.That mixture must mix until get consistency.Than mixture must wait about   6-8 hours.When ice cream frozen at -6 centigrade degree  its ready to eat.That ice cream really different, its hard to cut it but when take in mounth it start to melt easily.There are 135 mg calcium, 115 mg phosphorus, 100 mg. sodium, 160 mg. potassium, 0.1 mg. mineral iron, 130 mg. A, 0.21 mg. E 0.25 mg. B, and 0.13 mg other vitamins in 100 gram Maraş ice cream


First photo updated from neyimeshur org.

Turkish Döner

Turkish Döner

Turkish döner is very famous in Turkey and can say that its our fast food meal.There is a big competition another fast food meals (hamburger , sandwich). Especially some Europian country know that meal many Turkish working at this sector in Europa, Germany, France, Belgium.I will try to give information about that meal.

At rumors, Döner's originate came from Crimean people was broiling meats whit sword. At the 18th century travelogues can hear some meals siimiliar döner. Curently Döner's origin came from İskender Efendi and many people say that İskender efendi is inventor of Turkish Döner.

How is made Turkish Döner

 DÖner made from beef, lamb. chicken meats but most quality Döner made from beef meat.Most important this is meat must cut as like sheet, must be very thin. Can add sheep suet between meat layers , it could be more delicious.At economical Döners can add minced meat.


Meat, milk, sunflower  oil(can use another plant oils), onion juice, salt and pepper must mix and stay a night in tray. Than meats thrust on skewer.Than Döner must turn in front of fire. when meat broil, that part must cut very thin and must cut up to down.when sheep sute start to melt ,can strew that melt oil on döner again.

Döner can change at retaurant or shop types.Some restaurant serve döner on palte whit salad and pickle.

Some restaurant serve döner between bread and salad,ketchup, mayonnaise and buttermilk

Some restauran serve döner between lavash ( Turkish traditional roll bread).

I prefer to eat between bread and drink buttermilk. Especially eat beef meat its more delicious.

I hope you might like ...

Turkish Delight

Turkish delight is in Turkish culture some centuries but I think that we are not successful publicity.Turkish delght is our life,while drink Turkish coffee, at the special days (engagement ceremony), at he Ramadhan festival (another name festival of sweets),when visitors come our house we serve Turkish delight so its in our life and culture.

Turkish delight's Turkish mean is lokum and it name came from arabian language and its mean refreshing throat. There are many rumors about Turkish delight history some people say that Turkish delight was produced since 15th century. Another idea Sultan Abdülhamit wanted soft candy and organized a competition.Hacı Bekir won competition so he was originator of Turkish delight.

Hacı Bekir moved from Kastamonu to İstanbul in 1777 and opened a candy shop near Spice Bazaar. He sold candy and Turkish delight,Sultan Abdülhamit gave award and he worked in palace Sultan's special confectioner.Hacı Bekir's shop still sell Turkish delights at ame place and it is very popular.

what is ingredients in Turkish Delight

There are many things in Turkish delight and that harmony is really delicious.Main nutrients are water , sugar and starch.But it can change kinds and add hazelnut, pistachio, walnut, rose, mint, lemon, ginger, vanilla, orange in Turkish delight.

where can buy Turkish delight

when visit Turkey can find Turkish delight everywhere because its really popular candy but some cities are more famous at that job.Especially Safranbolu Turkish delight famous in Turkey but don't worry, dont need to go Safranbolu just for to but Turkish delight ( but can visit that area for to see that wonedrfull Safranbolu houses).Cn find uality Turkish delight in Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar and around that bazaars.

I hope you might like that candy ,,,

Turkish Coffee

          Turkish Coffee

Hi everbody ,, some  nations like different drinks Russians like vodka, Mexicans like  tequila  and  Turkish people like to turkish cofee much and have different coffee culture  and  turkish  coffee is indispensable drink at happy moments.       

( when feel sad ıt could be good too ) when visit neighboors , meet friends and at the ritual of allow to bridge’s family ( ı will write about ceremony of wedding)

at this ritual bride take salt in turkish coffee if groom drink that coffee he want to marry  much. Turkish people have a  interesting expression for turkish coffee they say that  a couple of turkish coffee have 40 years sake its  mean a little complex  but it show that coffee is in life and culture.

     How to Make Turkish Coffee

• Add  water in to coffee pot ( turkish mean cezve) water can change population.
• Add sugar and coffee desires.
• Start to heat when it start to boil immediately take far pot from heat.
• Take foam on coffee in cup.
• Than start to heat and mix .
• when it start to boil , its ready to drink.

    Presentation Of Turkish Coffee

• Turkish Coffe have special cup and tray.
• A cup of water, turkish delight or chocolate muct be on tray.
• Turkish coffe must drink slowly and coffee foots must not drink.
• Bon Appetit

Some people believe coffee fortune but I dont know it could happen or not.

Turkish Traditional Sweetie Baklava

               A friend wanted to learn about our meals so I will write about Baklava, I hope that you might like it.Baklava is very famous of at he Middle East and Balkan countries, especially Greeks say that Baklava is ours.But that delicious sweetie come from Ottomans palaca kitchen and some people say that baklava is more older.


                I want to introduce baklava's requisite but its for homemade because restaurant chiefs dont say their special things.

              
dough requiste

• 3 eggs
• 1 glasscup milk
• 1 glass cup sunflower oil
• a baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 1/2  teaspoon vinegar
• flour
• pistachios or walnuts
•  cornstarch
• 200 gram margarine

sherbet requiste

• 4 glass cup sugar
• 4 glass cup water

how to make

• mix dough requiste materials and have a soft dough whit enough flour
• than cut flour 20 equal parts
• than make filo pastry as much as filo pastry
• take 10 filo pastry and pile on and take enough starch between filo pastry
• make same things another 10 filo pastry
• take first 10 filo pastry on tray
• than use pistachios and walnuts 
• take second part of 10 filo pastry
• than cut baklavas and use melted margarine
• than cook about at 200 centigrade
• after than mix sherbet and cook
• use sherbet on baklava but sherbet must be hot baklava must be cold 
• bon apetite

Most famous Baklava done at Gaziantep in Turkey but when you visit to Turkey you can find Gaziantep Baklava everywhere