CILBIR ( Poached egg in garlic yogurt )

Hi all, this is  a simple yet tasty dish which is great as a starter, side dish, hot meze or snack at any time of the day. In Turkish cooking, natural yogurt used and  served with many dishes including, vegetables, rice dishes, kebab dishes, cacik( cucumber, garlic, dill yogurt mixture), as a desert, and very popular, national cooling  summer drink" Ayran". One other  popular way of serving yogurt is with crushed garlic. Yogurt is the  part of Turkish culture and has been made at home  by our mothers for centuries but  nowadays, different variety of yogurts and ayrans available in the shops, widely all over Turkey.

YOU NEED

• 1 egg 
• 1 cup water
• 2 tsp vinegar

YOGURT DRESSING

• 4-5 tbsp natural yogurt
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• salt and pepper

TO SERVE

• 2 tsp butter or oil
• 1 dried red peeper or pinch of paprika.

1) Place the vinegar with the water in a pan and bring it to boil. Crack the egg in the water, turn the heat to low and poach the egg for 3-4 minutes with the lid on. 

2) Mix crushed garlic with the yogurt. Add salt and pepper to taste.Spoon  the yogurt into the serving dish. Lift the egg out of the water with slotted spoon and place it on the yogurt.

3) Heat butter or oil in a frying pan add the chopped dried peppers or paprika quickly and spoon over the egg. Serve immediately. Serves 1.

NOT:  Frying  the egg rather than poaching, is another nice way of serving cilbir.

AYRAN

• 2 cups of natural yogurt
• pinch of salt
• cold water

Whisk the yogurt, cold water  and salt together in a blender until it is smooth and frothy. Add more salt if needed and serve cold. 

GRIDDLED SALMON WITH PEPPERS(Biberli Somon Baligi)

INGREDIENTS for  2 servings

• 2 salmon steaks
• 1 red, 1 yellow capsicum peppers, cut roughly
• 1 onion, sliced roughly
• spray of olive oil

FOR THE SAUCE

• 1 tbsp sherry vinegar 
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tsp runny honey
• 2 tbsp hot water
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• pinch of chilli flakes ( optional )

GARNISH

• 1 spring onion, sliced thinly
• toasted sesame seeds

1) Griddle or pan fry the salmon, peppers and onion in spray of olive oil until the fish cooked to your taste and the vegetables are browned and tender.

2) Make the sauce in a bowl. Mix all the sauce ingredients and set aside.

3)Place the vegetables into a serving plate and the fish on top.

4) Garnish with the slices of onion .

5) Pour the sauce over and sprinkle with sesame seeds just before serving.

CRUNCHY VEGETABLES WITH CHICK PEAS AND SESAME SEEDS(Susamli karisik sebze)

Hi all, this is great healthy  vegetarian , low fat dish which is easy to make and feel good food for the cold evenings. It serves 2.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups chopped curly kale
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1 stalk of celery
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, diced
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 cup drained chick peas
• pinch of turmeric, coriander and chili powder
• dash of soy sauce
• 1-2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp sesame seeds for sprinkling.

1) Wash all the vegetables in vinegar water to get rid of the pesticides. Chopped them roughly. 

2) Place curly kale, red pepper, onion,and garlic in a shallow frying pan together with water. Bring it to boil, stirring. Turn the heat down and stem the vegetables for 5 minutes.

3) Add tomato puree, chick peas, and the spices. Stir. Cook for further 2-3 minutes.  

4) Turn the heat off. Add sesame oil and soy sauce to taste.

5) Transfer it to a serving plate and sprinkle with sesame seeds just before serving.