MINCE WITH EGGS ( KIYMALI YUMURTA )

This is a very easy and quick dish to make if you are in a hurry. You don't need any oil or butter to cook this dish so it is HEALTHY TOO.

YOU NEED

• 200 g ( about half a pound ) lean minced beef
• 1 onion
• 1 red pepper
• 1 yellow pepper
• hand full of  mushrooms
• 1 egg per person
• salt and pepper to taste.

METHOD

Dry fry the mince in a non stick frying pan. Add the onion,chopped peppers and mushrooms. Continue to cook for 10-15 minutes on a medium heat. Add a little water if starts to stick. Crack the eggs and cover the pan for a minute or so for eggs to cook. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve it with slices of fresh bread.AFIYET OLSUN, ENJOY!!!

PASTA SAUCE

This is a lovely sauce which you can use over roasted vegetables or for meat dishes as well as  pasta sauce.

YOU NEED

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 small shallot, chopped
• 1 clove of garlic-crushed -
• 20 cherry tomatoes - left whole -
• 10 black olives ( pitted )
• 10 green olives ( pitted )
• 5-6 chestnut mushrooms -sliced -
• 8 fl oz hot water
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp fresh tyme
• some chilli (optional )
• 2 oz feta cheese
• dash of lemon juice
• black pepper
• Parmesan , to serve

METHOD

Fry the onion in olive oil add garlic, tomatoes, olives, mushrooms , tomato paste, chopped herbs,  chilli. Add water. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring. Add feta cheese and lemon juice and cook further 5 minutes  and pepper to taste.Sprinkle parmesan just before serving.

TURKISH KOFTES ( MEATBALLS )

This is  another delicious recipe - a family favourite

YOU NEED

• 400 g lean minced beef
• 1 medium onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 slice bread
• 2 tbls fresh parsley
• salt 
• oil, for frying the meatballs

METHOD

First put bread and onion in a food processor and pulse it 2-3 times. Add the mince and the rest of the ingredents in the processor and mix it well or pulse it. Now take the mixture - about 1 tsp at a time - and roll each into a small circle. You should get about 40 meatballs, using half of the mixture which should be enough for two people. You can either freeze the other half or fry it all and keep in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Shallow fry the meatballs in a pan on medium heat for about 10 minutes until they are browned.
Serve them with rice and salad or with noodles.
They are also good on little sticks as a party dish or appetizer.

CHOCOLATE

HI EVERYONE

As the Easter is nearly round the corner, lets talk CHOCOLATE !! Yummy....

As we all know eating dark chocolate lifts the mood make as feel better. Good quality chocolate is in fact full of valuable nutrients as well as pleasure. Dark chocolate contains iron, magnesium and traces of B vitamins. ENJOY AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL.

WALNUTS

WALNUTS are great source of potassium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6 and E. As well as being antioxidant they are full of essential fatty acids which is good for your heart and blood pressure.

AUBERGINE

NUTRITION TIP

AUBERGINES are full of folic acid and antioxidants. Soak the diced aubergines in salted water as they soak up too much oil during cooking.

PUF BOREK with minced meat

KIYMALI PUF BOREGI ( Puff pastry filled with minced meat.)

This is a very easy way of making borek by using ready rolled puff pastry. In Turkey filo pastry is very popular which i will give recipes in coming weeks. But this borek is my daughters favorite and lovely for an occasional treat.

YOU NEED

• 1 pack of frozen JUS.ROL ready rolled puff pastry , two sheets in a pack
  
• 1 pound of minced meat
  
• 1 onion
  
• fresh parsley or dried mix herbs
  
• salt, black pepper
• 1 egg yolk
• Little oil
  

METHOD

Defrost the pastry overnight in the fridge or at room temperature while you prepare the filling.

For the FILLING: Dice the onion, fry in little oil. Add the mince, stir fry until the meat is brown. If it sticks to the pan, add one or two tblsp of water during cooking. After 10-12 minutes of stir frying, add the parsley and the seasoning. Put aside and let it cool.

In a small bowl whisk the egg yolk. Cut one sheet of pastry in half (length-wise). Add the filling and fold (like a sausage roll). Make sure the sides stick together. Then cut the pastry in to 2inch sections. Put them face down on a greased baking tray. Do the same with the second sheet of pastry. Then brush the rolls with the egg yolk and cook in preheated oven at 180c for 20-30 minutes.