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Turkish cuisine provides healthy, hearty, delicious food for family and friends.
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I teach Turkish cooking classes in England,Turkey & USA, hope you can join us!,
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Ozlem’s Turkish Table Cookery Book on its way! Hope it inspires

Ozlem’s Turkish Table Cookery Book – on its way! Here’s my sample copy 🙂

Merhaba dear All;

I wanted to share my excitement with you, as I just had a delivery of my sample hard back copy of my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland! It has been a hugely special and quite a surreal moment to hold the physical book in my hands; over 10 years in the making, a dream becoming true. And it really looks beautiful – as expressed by family and friends nearby, who had a chance to see it. Absolutely stunning colours and photography, warmth and sincerity with my family photos, personal stories, delicious, wholesome recipes and more. I am very proud of it and can not wait to share with you all!

Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery books packed ready to go!

Also, delighted to inform you that as I write this blogpost, the books are being packed at the printers in Hong Kong to be delivered!! We expect the Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery books to arrive by end February and as soon they make it to me by early March, I will be signing each and every pre-ordered copy and they will be delivered as the first priority, so very exciting 🙂 I can not thank each one of you who very kindly pre-ordered as it helped us hugely to determine the initial print run and helped finance some of our costs, my sincere thanks. Also, my very sincere thanks to Pinar for their support for my book and their help to spread the word on Turkish cuisine abroad.

My sincere thanks to Pinar for their support to Ozlem’s Turkish Table and Turkish cuisine

Contents Page, Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book

You can still pre-order your copy of my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, at this link, with 10 % pre-order discount (please enter promo code Pre-Order Special at the check out for the discount). I will gladly sign each pre-order copy and they will be mailed in March, ahead of the release date in end April. Not long know!

Turkish Breakfast Chapter – one of my favorite chapters!

As I share a few images from my sample cookery book, I also hope that this special book would inspire folks not only to try delicious, wholesome Turkish cuisine but may encourage to have a go and pursue their dreams.. This book has been my dream over 10 years and finally becoming true. I had that burning desire of not only sharing my homeland’s delicious cuisine but also wanted to leave a legacy behind for the next generations, my children and wanted to make a tribute to my southern Turkish roots and to thank to my parents, who instilled in us the love of good food, importance of sharing and hospitality. I am ever grateful to them. So I truly hope that as you hold this special book to my heart, you will feel the warmth, sincerity, hard work of over 10 years and I sincerely hope that it may inspire you to have a go at whatever in your heart. Life is too short to delay dreams and even if it is a baby step you take each and every day, it will grow and make your dream become a reality before you know it. Nothing to loose and it will provide you special rewards along the way, no doubt – a very special journey.

Back cover of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book

Ozlem’s Turkish Table book events:

We are planning many book events as of mid March and would love to see you in one of these events. March will be devoted for pre-orders and all pre-oders will be given signed copies.

On March 15th, 6.30pm, we will have Ozlem’s Turkish Table book signing and food event at Riverhouse Barn Art Centre. I will serve delicious vegetarian courses from my book and will demo the smoked aubergine salad, Patlicanli Eksileme, from my cookery book. You can also pick up your signed copy of Ozlem’s Turkish Table with 10 % pre-order discount at this event. Please kindly book at this link for this event, it is likely to sell out soon.

On 20th March, I will be teaching A Vegetarian Turkish Feast cookery class at Divertimenti Cookery School in London. I will demonstrate ‘Sebzeli Pide’ (Turkish oval flatbreads with spinach, feta, peppers), ‘Imam Bayildi’ (Stuffed aubergines with tomatoes, onions, garlic in olive oil), ‘Kisir’ (Spicy bulgur wheat salad with pomegranate molasses and pomegranate seeds), ‘Kayisi Tatlisi’ (Baked dried apricots with walnuts) and Turkish Coffee. I will also have signed copies of my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table. Please kindly book at this link, if you like to join us at this special class.

There will be more to come including more book signing and demontrations, appearance at the Edinburgh Book Festival – with huge thanks to dear Ghillie Basan-, cookery workshops in Amman – Jordan, book launch events in Turkey and fingers crossed cookery classes and book tour in the USA – Texas and hopefully more – all in the process of arranging, I will update the events here and do hope to see you in one of the events.

What I have been cooking lately..

We have been making at lot of Lentil soup with vegetables, Mercimek Corbasi, lately. My children, whole family love it; the warming, pungent cumin and squeeze of lemon juice adds a delicious kick. My daughter has been taking the soup in her flusk as her school lunch – so it can be a wholesome lunch alternative for school or work too. Here’s my recipe link for the lentil soup; needless to say it is included at my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table too.

My sincere thanks for your company at my blog, always a pleasure to share my recipes and Turkish food news with you all.

Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

 

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Piyaz Salad with red onions, tomatoes, parsley and sumac

Piyaz Salad with red onions, tomatoes, parsley and sumac

Piyaz Salad with red onions, tomatoes, parsley and sumac

We had a delicious Turkish cookery class at the Divertimenti Cookery School in London on Jan. 29th with enthusiastic participants. This vibrant and easy Piyaz Salad with red onions, tomatoes and parsley, flavored with sumac was a big hit from the class. It is a traditional salad at home, especially popular alongside Turkish meatballs, Kofte, as well as Lahmacun, Turkish thin pizza with minced meat and vegetables topping. I love the tangy sumac with the red onions in this salad, gives a refreshing, zingy flavor, so delicious.

Rolling Piyaz Salad inside Lahmacun, delicious

Rolling Piyaz Salad inside Lahmacun, delicious

We also made Lahmacun, thin Turkish pizza with minced/ground meat topping at our Turkish cookery class – another big hit! – We then placed some Piyaz Salad in the middle of Lahmacun and rolled to eat, as we do it traditionally at home. Such a wonderful combination. Here’s my Lahmacun recipe, if you like to make it at home.

Wonderful participants of my Jan. 29th Turkish Cookery Class at Divertimenti Cookery School, London.

Wonderful participants of my Jan. 29th Turkish Cookery Class at Divertimenti Cookery School, London.

I am passionate about healthy, delicious Turkish cuisine; this recipe and over 90 healthy, authentic Turkish recipes are included at my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland. Signed copies are now 20 %  this link and delivered worldwide including USA, if you like to get a signed copy.

Ozlem’s Turkish Table; Recipes from My Homeland – can be purchased at this link (signed copies!)

I hope you enjoy this easy, delicious, healthy Piyaz Salad, Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

5.0 from 2 reviews
Piyaz Salad with red onions, tomatoes, parsley and sumac
 
This vibrant and healthy Piyaz Salad gets ready in no time and it is so delicious. Red onions and tomatoes work very well with the tangy sumac; we tradionally enjoy this salad with Lahmacun, Turkish thin pizza with minced/ground meat topping, as well as Turkish meatballs. It is also a lovely salad served with cheese, olives and hummus.
Author:
Recipe type: Salads
Cuisine: Turkish Cuisine
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 3 medium tomatoes, quartered and roughly chopped
  • 1 red onion, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1 bunch of flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 15ml/1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 10 ml/2 teaspoon ground sumac
  • ½ teaspoon paprika flakes – optional –
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Rub and work sumac and the salt into the onion slices with your hands really well (this will soften the onions and help spices infuse in well).
  2. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, parsley and paprika flakes, combine well.
  3. Wisk together the extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice and pour over the piyaz salad. Season with more salt (if needed) and freshly ground black pepper.
  4. Serve Piyaz Salad with feta cheese, olives and/or hummus for a delicious spread. Piyaz Salad is also the ultimate accompaniment of Lahmacun and Turkish meatballs, kofte.
 

 

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Gavurdagi Salad Variation with watercress, pomegranates, walnuts

Gavurdagi Salad Variation with pomegranates, watercress and walnuts – image credit; jennychef.com

There is one tomato salad that you often come across wherever you are in Turkey; Gavurdagi Salad. Named after the Gavur mountain, part of Tarsus mountains in Southeast part of Turkey, this delicious salad is from the Gaziantep region, where many wonderfully delicious and spicy Turkish dishes come from. Gavurdagi Salad won’t typically have walnuts in it but I love the marriage of sweet and juicy tomatoes with the crunchy walnuts in my version here. The sweet and sour pomegranate molasses dressing, Nar Eksisi really complements this salad too. Here’s my recipe to if you like to make pomegranate molasses, Nar Eksisi, at home.

We made this wonderful salad at my Turkish cookery class on Dec. 14th with more variation; I added watercress and pomegranate seeds to my salad for extra freshness and texture. It really worked well and everyone greatly enjoyed it! My sincere thanks to dear Jenny for the salad image here from our Turkish cookery class. Jenny also happens to be a passionate cook and cookery teacher, please check her blog JennyChef !

Gavurdagi salad is an important part of the meze spread at kebab houses in Turkey, served with the delicious Turkish pide bread, butter and the crumbly Turkish white cheese.  You can also enjoy this delicious and easy salad as a starter or accompaniment to grills, kebabs like my home made Iskender Kebab and casseroles.

My very best wishes to you all for the Festive Season and New Year, in good health and happiness. Saglikli, Mutlu bir Yeni Yil Dilegiyle,

Ozlem

5.0 from 3 reviews
Gavurdagi Salad Variation with watercress, pomegranates, walnuts
 
Named after the Gavur mountain, part of Tarsus mountains in Southeast part of Turkey, this delicious salad originates from the Gaziantep region, where many wonderfully delicious and spicy Turkish dishes come from. This time, I made a variation of this wonderful salad and I added watercress walnuts and pomegranate seeds for extra freshness and texture, worked really well. You can enjoy this delicious and easy salad as a starter or accompaniment to grills, kebabs like my home made Iskender Kebab and casseroles.
Author:
Recipe type: Healthy Salads
Cuisine: Turkish Cuisine
Serves: 3
Ingredients
  • 3 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 200 gr watercress
  • ¼ onion, finely chopped
  • Handful of flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
  • 50gr/2oz/1/3 cup walnuts, crushed – about pea size each –
  • 15ml/1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 30ml/2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
  • 5ml/1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 5ml/1 tsp sumac – optional-
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • ⅓ pomegranate seeds to serve
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, rub the chopped onions with the spices and seasoning; salt, sumac, red pepper flakes and ground black pepper – that will soften the onion and enable the spices to blend in well.
  2. Add the tomatoes, parsley and walnuts to the onions.
  3. Then stir in the pomegranate molasses and the extra virgin olive oil and give them a good (but gentle) mix.
  4. Stir in the watercress and combine well.
  5. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds over the salad and serve.
  6. Afiyet olsun.

29th January 2017 Turkish Cookery Class -a wonderful foodie gift

Lahmacun, popular Turkish thin pizza with ground meat and vegetables topping, will be at our Jan. 29th class

Lahmacun, popular Turkish thin pizza with ground meat and vegetables topping, will be at our Jan. 29th class

Leeks, carrots, onions and rice cooked in olive oil; Zeytinyagli Pirasa

Leeks, carrots, onions and rice cooked in olive oil; Zeytinyagli Pirasa, is at our Jan. 29th class.

Get 2017 off to a healthy and wholesome start with my  selection of Turkish supper dishes from my homeland at our Turkish cookery class at Divertimenti Cookery School on Sunday, January 29th, 12 pm – 3.30 pm. Packed full of flavor and easily reproduced at home without having to spend hours at your cooker, you will be surprised at the simplicity of such stunning dishes. During the class you will also be joined by the Turkish coffee expert, Ozerlat Coffee, who will carefully demonstrate all the rituals behind Turkish coffee making whilst offering you plenty of opportunity for tastings. Menu will include ‘Mercimek Corbasi’ (Lentil soup with cumin and red pepper flakes), ‘Zeytinyagli Pirasa’ (Leeks and carrots with olive oil, rice and lemon), ‘Lahmacun’ (Turkish thin pizza with minced meat and vegetables), ‘Cezerye’ (Caramelised carrot delight with walnuts) Turkish Coffee and Turkish Delight.

Turkish coffee, enjoyed by everyone at our Turkish cookery course.

Turkish coffee, rituals and how to make it will be presented by Ozerlat Coffee at our Jan. 29th class

The classes may also make a wonderful gift for the festive season and New Year. You can view the class details and book through Divertimenti Cookery School at this link, hope you can join us!

 

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