TOMATO DOLMAS ( Domates dolmasi )

While browsing through the fruit and vegetable isle of my local super market, I have seen these tomatoes and came up with  the idea of this tasty dish. It is not tomato season yet but these looked so full of colour and I couldn't resist them.

For this dish I used fine bulgur wheat which require no cooking.

One of the ingredients is - pomegranate juice concentrate - which is like thick syrup and tangy. It is puree pomegranate concentrate. If it is not available where you are, mixture of 2 tsp of honey or maple syrup mixed with 4- 6 tsp of balsamic vinegar will be a good substitute.

You can serve stuffed tomatoes as they are ( picture 2 ) or grill them before serving which is very nice too. It is ideal as a vegetarian dish, meze or starter.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 medium tomatoes
• 1/2 cup fine bulgur ( bulgar ) wheat
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 tbsp pomegranate concentrate
• 1 tbsp pepper or tomato paste
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp chili flakes
• 2 spring onion, chopped
• handful of fresh mint and parsley, chopped finely
• salt and black pepper
• oil for brushing

1) Place the bulgur in bowl and pour the boiled water over it. Cover the bowl and set aside for 10 minutes.

2) Cut the tomato tops so it acts a s a lid but don't cut it completely. Scoop the flesh out with a tea spoon. Chop the tomato flesh, spring onions, mint and parsley finely.

3) After 10 minutes of soaking the bulgur, add the onion and chopped herbs into the bowl. 

4) Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Then stuff each tomato with the mixture and serve cold.

TO SERVE HOT

Brush the tomato dolmas with olive oil and place them in an oven proof dish. Then cook the dolmas under  the pre- heated grill for 10-15 minutes. Serve immediately.

EZO GELIN SOUP (EZO GELIN CORBASI)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 small onion, chopped finely
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp flour
• 3 cups stock or water
• 5 tbsp red lentils
• 1 tbsp rice
• 2 tsp tomato puree
• salt and pepper
• dried mint to serve

1) Cook the onion in a dip pan with the oil until it is lightly browned and soft. Add the flour and mix. Add the water or stock slowly making sure we don't have any  lumps and mix well with flour and onion. Bring it to boil.

2) Wash the lentils and rice together and add into the pan. Mix the tomato puree with little water and pour it into the boiling pan. Turn the heat to medium and cook for 25- 30 minutes or until the soup is cooked.

3) Turn the heat off and add salt and black pepper to taste. Serve it with sprinkled dried mint. Serves 4.

KABAK CORBASI ( COURGETTE SOUP )

This an unusual but very good soup that I discovered recently. I wasn't a big fan of courgettes but I have changed my mind now. Hope you enjoy it too.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 courgettes
• 3 cups of water
• pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp yogurt
• 1 tbsp flour
• 2 tsp dried mint
• 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 1 tsp paprika or chili pepper

First wash and peel the courgettes and grate them. Place the grated courgettes into a pan with the water and the salt. Bring it to boil then simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes until courgettes are cooked. While still simmering, mix egg, yogurt and flour in a bowl and mix it well. Transfer  this mixture into the pan of courgettes and stir. Cook it all together for  further 5- 7 minutes. Add more water if needed. Sprinkle the dried mint and take the soup of the heat. Melt the butter in a small frying pan, add paprika or hot pepper flakes and drizzle over the soup. Serve with crusty bread.

SUMMER RICE & YOGURT SOUP (Yayla Corbasi )

INGREDIENTS

• 100 g rice
• Half a tsp salt
• 750 ml water or stock
• 1 tbsp plain flour
• 1 egg, whisked
• 6 tbsp natural yogurt
• 2 tsp dried mint or handful of fresh mint, chopped
• 200 ml water
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 2 tsp paprika or chilli powder

METHOD

Wash the rice, add salt and water or stock. Bring it to boil then simmer with the lid on for about 25-30 minutes until the rice is soft and cooked. Set aside.
Whisk the egg in a bowl, add flour, yogurt, mint, water and seasoning. Add this yogurt and egg mixture into the cooked rice. Return the pan of soup to the stove and cook the soup on low heat stirring frequently to prevent it sticking to the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 10 minutes. You may add more water if the soup is too thick. While the soup simmering, heat a small frying pan with 1 tbsp oil or butter, add the paprika and drizzle over the soup just before serving. Serves 4.

CHEESE SPRING ROLLS ( Sigara boregi )

YOU NEED

• 3 Sheets of jus-rol filo pastry
• 100 g cheese, half feta, half Edam, grated
• 1 spring onion ( optional ) chopped finely
• Handful of fresh herb of mint, parsley, chopped
• Black pepper
• Oil for frying.

METHOD

Separate filo sheets. Cut each sheet in half diagonally to obtain a squire shape. Then fold them across to a triangle shape. ( This will make 6 triangles )

Grate the Edam cheese, mix with chopped herbs and the spring onion. Add crumbled feta cheese, mix it altogether in a bowl. Season with black pepper.

Divide the cheese mixture between 6 triangles, placing it on the filo. ( long side ). Fold in each side then roll it up tightly towards the last point, forming a log shape. Dip the ends in water to stick down the rolls.

Shallow fry them in a frying pan in a medium hot oil , until the pastry is golden brown on all sides. Drain them on kitchen paper and serve while it is warm. MAKES 6.

TAHINI CHICKEN SALAD ( Tahinli Tavuk salatasi )

INGREDIENTS

• 100 g cooked chicken, diced
• 1 spring onion, chopped finely
• 1/2 pepper, diced
• 10 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 tbsp sesame tahini paste
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• 1 tsp desiccated coconut
• pinch of chilli pepper
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon
• Handful of fresh mint, chopped
• Salt and pepper.

METHOD

Prepare all the salad ingredients, add to diced chicken. Add sesame seeds, coconut, mint and chilli pepper. Mix lemon juice with the tahini and pour over the chicken salad. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with pitta bread. Serves 4 as a starter - Serves 2 as a light lunch.

COURGETTE FRITTERS ( Kabak mucveri )

YOU NEED

• 2 courgettes, grated coarsely
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 small onion, chopped finely
• 1 egg
• stale breadcrumbs ( from  2 medium sliced bread )
• Handful of  fresh mixed herbs of mint, parsley, thyme, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp black pepper 
• 2-3 tbsp oil for frying.

METHOD

First grate the courgettes add salt and let it stand 10- 15 minutes. Then squeeze out all the excess liquid from the courgettes. Add sliced onions, breadcrumbs, herbs, pepper and combine everything with the beaten egg. Take a tablespoonful of the mixture and make it into round flat patties. Heat the oil in a non stick frying pan and fry them on medium heat until both sides are browned and cooked through. Transfer fritters on absorbent kitchen paper then serve it immediately. Makes 8-10

NOTE : Please also see zucchini fritters with cheese which was posted on 21st of Jan- 09.