PIZZA WITH SELECTION OF TOPPINGS

I like making this pizza because everyone can have what topping they want on their slice, either vegetarian, meat or fish. Today i used prawns, mushrooms and peppers and spicy sausage for this pizza.

First make a dough with 200 g flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp yeast, 1/2 tsp sugar, 1 tbsp olive oil and 150 ml warm water. Mix yeast, sugar, olive oil with water and let it stand for 10 minutes or so.

Sift the flour and salt in a bowl. Make a hollow in the centre and pour in the yeast mixture.Mix and knead for 10 minutes until you have a smooth dough. Cover the dough and leave in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour or 1 and half hours.

Roll out the dough and prick with a fork. Spread thinly with tomato puree and sprinkle with grated cheese. Then top each triangle with the topping you desire. Sprinkle extra bit of cheese on top and bake in hot oven 240 C for 10-15 minutes.

VEGETARIAN RICE WITH ALMONDS

YOU NEED

• 2 shallots, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp oil
• 4 mushrooms, diced
• 1 -2 tsp currants
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 cup rice, washed 2-3 times
• 2 cups hot water or vegetable stock
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• salt
• fresh dill, chopped
• handful of flaked almonds

1) Fry the shallots in a non stick pan with oil. Add mushrooms, currants, cinnamon and black pepper, stir.

2) Add the rice and coat it well with the spices. Add hot water and salt. Mix once and bring the rice to boil.

3) Add the lemon juice and cover. Turn to heat to low and steam the rice for 12-15 minutes until it is cooked.

4) In the mean time, dry roast the almond flakes in a non stick frying pan for a minute or two, until just turning brown. Set aside.

5) Take the rice off the heat and add chopped dill and mix. Place the lid back on and  let the rice rest for 10 minutes.

6) Sprinkle the rice with roasted almonds before serving.

SPICY MUSHROOMS with sumak ( Baharatli mantar )

This spicy mushroom dish is  great for lunch over toast with some salad or serve it as a side dish to accompany a main meal. This recipe serves 1, but the ingredients can be doubled to serve 2 or more.

YOU NEED

• 1 spring onion or 1 tbsp onion, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• pinch of chili pepper
• 100 g button mushrooms
• 1 clove of garlic, diced finely
• 5 tbsp water or vegetable stock
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, and mint, chopped finely
• salt to taste
• Sumak for sprinkling and lemon slices

1) First wipe the mushrooms and leave them whole. No need to wash them. Brown the onion in olive oil in a non stick frying pan.

2) Add cumin seeds, chili pepper, mushrooms and garlic. Stir and add the water. Cook on low heat for 5-7 minutes or until all the juices absorbed. Add the fresh herbs and salt. Turn the heat off.

3) Sprinkle with pinch or two of sumak and squeeze of lemon juice before serving.

COOK'S NOTE : You can use pinch of dried herbs instead of 1 tbsp of fresh herbs. Also pinch of cumin powder to replace 1 tsp of cumin seeds, if the cumin seeds are not available.

POTATOES WITH EGG AND MUSHROOMS ( mantarli, yumurtali patates)

YOU NEED

• 350-400 g new potatoes, diced
• 2-3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion or 50 g leeks, chopped
• 50 g peppers, diced
• 50 g mushrooms, sliced
• 2-3 eggs
• Salt, pepper.

METHOD

First stir fry the onions on high heat for 5 minutes. Add potatoes, pepper and cook on medium heat with the lid on until the potatoes are cooked and golden for about 1o minutes stirring and mixing occasionally. Add mushrooms , cook for 5 more minutes. Add eggs, salt and pepper and cook for couple of minutes more until the eggs are to your taste. Serves 2-3.

VEGETARIAN TOAD IN THE HOLE

This can be eaten for brunch or afternoon tea. Add your own vegetables and herbs to suit your taste.

INGREDIENTS

• 150 g plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 260 ml mixture of milk and water
• salt, pepper

Make the batter, set aside.

• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 1 small aubergine,chopped
• 1 courgette, chopped
• 100 g mushrooms, sliced
• 50 g parsley, chopped
• salt,pepper to taste
• 3 tbsp black olives.

METHOD

First make the batter by sifting the flour into a bowl. Add the eggs and incorporate with milk, water, salt ,pepper and flour. Whisk it well with a hand held whisk or electric blender. Set aside.

Mix all the chopped vegetables in a non stick pan with olive oil and lightly brown on a high heat for 3- 5 minutes. Then add the olives, salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the vegetables mixture into a greased baking tray, heat in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes until the tray is hot and ready for the batter. Then add the batter over the vegetables and cook on 220C, 425F, gas mark 7 for 30 minutes or until it rises and becomes crisp. Cook on the highest shelf. Serves 6-8.

Use half of ingredients to serve 4.

AUBERGINE FILLED WITH MINCE MEAT (Patlican karniyarik)

Karniyarik is a very popular summer dish in Turkey. We all love aubergines and there are 101 ways of using aubergines for wonderful Turkish recipes. This serves 2.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Aubergine
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 200 g steak mince
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 100 g fresh tomatoes, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 50 g peppers, chopped
• Handful of fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt and black pepper
• 150 ml hot water for BAKING.

INGREDIENTS FOR VEGETARIAN ALTERNATIVE

• 2 Aubergine
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 50 g peppers
• 200 g tomatoes
• 100 g mushrooms
• Parsley, salt and black pepper.

METHOD

Open the aubergine by cutting down the middle. Then shallow fry the aubergines, turning frequently OR put them into the microwave on high for 5 minutes to soften them without the oil. Set them aside.

Prepare the filling by stir frying mince with onions first until it is going brown. Then add tomatoes, garlic peppers and mix it well. Turn the heat down and simmer for 7-10 minutes. The juice from the tomatoes should be enough but if it starts to stick, add little water to make it into a nice sauce. Add the parsley, season with salt and pepper at the last minute and turn the heat off.

Spoon the filling into the aubergines. Decorate the top with sliced tomatoes. Place them into the baking tray together with 150 ml hot water. Bake them in the preheated oven 375F, 190C, 170 c fan, gas mark5 for 30-35 minutes.

NOTE

For vegetarian alternative follow the same steps.

CHICKEN WITH THYME AND LEMON ( Limonlu, kekikli tavuk)

This light and quick recipe with sharp lemon sauce ideal for summer evenings and parties. Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 150 g leeks, chopped
• 150 g red or green peppers
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 6-7 mushrooms, sliced
• 200 g tomatoes, chopped
• 250 ml vegetable stock or hot water
• juice and rind of 1 lemon
• Good handful of thyme and parsley, chopped
• Salt and black pepper
• More thyme to serve

METHOD

Wash chicken pieces under cold water, dry and cut in to strips. Heat the oil in the pan, stir fry the chicken with the leeks for 5 minutes. Add peppers, mushrooms and fry until it starts to brown. Then add garlic, tomatoes, water, lemon rind and juice, herbs and bring it to boil. Turn the heat to medium and simmer with the lid on for 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked. Season with salt and pepper and add more chopped thyme just before serving. Serve with rice or crusty bread.

SMOKED MACKEREL & HARICOT BEANS IN LEEK AND MUSHROOM SAUCE

This simple yet nutritious dish is filling, tasty and quick to make. With each portion you will have vitamins D, E, iron all the daily requirement for selenium. Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 2 leeks, chopped finely
• 50 g mushrooms, chopped
• 75 g tomatoes, chopped
• 1 fat clove of garlic, crushed
• 1 level tsp coarse black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Little salt
• Hand full of fresh thyme, chopped
• 150 g cooked haricot beans
• 2 tsp of tomato paste
• 200 ml vegetable stock or hot water
• 2 fillet of ready to eat peppered smoked mackerels
• 100 g feta cheese, crumbled

50 g of RISI ( RISONI ) pasta per person to serve.

METHOD

First add the leeks, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic in a pan with the olive oil, stir and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water for approximately 6-7 minutes. Reserve 200 ml pasta water (or vegetable stock) for the sauce. Drain the pasta.

Add thyme, beans, tomato puree and pasta water to the leek and mushroom mixture. Stir and cook for 3 minutes. Turn the heat off, add mackerel fillets, some feta cheese, mix and serve immediately with riso pasta. Sprinkle some thyme and feta just before serving.

COOK'S TIP

• If you cant find risi pasta, any small sized pasta of your choice will be just fine.
• Arpa sehriye ( risi ) pasta is produced from durum wheat semolina also called risoni. Widely available in continental food stores.
• I used haricot beans from my freezer but a can of drained beans will work just the same