My Turkish friend Ilgen kindly took us foodies to the Turkish market in Cheam, England (for the ones nearby the area, the address is: 565-567 London Road, SM3 9AG, North Cheam) and what a find. If you live abroad and look for local ingredients of your homeland, you know what I mean. And this market has it all; wonderful looking fresh produce, spices, Turkish cheese, olive, olive oil, red pepper paste, grains, freshly baked bread, pastries and many more!
Fresh produce at its best; artichokes, tomatoes and more
Look at these amazing artichokes! You can turn them into something very delicious with this Baby Artichokes Poached in Olive Oil with Broad Beans and Carrots recipe I posted earlier.
- Cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic and handful of dill make a simple, delicious sauce
Turkish cuisine is based on using fresh ingredients bought daily. The Turks are purists in their culinary taste; their dishes bring out the flavor of the main ingredient rather than hiding it behind sauces. For instance, these cherry tomatoes would be divine in a simple sauce of olive oil, crushed garlic and a few olives, as in this pasta recipe I posted earlier.
Penne with olives, garlic, cherry tomatoes and dill
Back to the Turkish market again. These are fresh, ripe hurma (a type of date); so sweet and juicy; peel, slice and eat as it is, simply brings back many childhood memories.
Divine, Juicy and Sunny Hurmas
How about these mouthwatering cherries, they are so inviting!
And spices; we can’t do without them, a great, healthy way to add flavour to any dish. Sumac, red pepper flakes, ground black pepper, cumin, dried mint; all major spices in Turkish cuisine.
Tangy sumac, black pepper, cumin, red pepper flakes, mint; major spices in Turkish cuisine
- Turkish flat and loaf of bread and Simit – sesame coated bread rings
Last but not least the bakery in the market; I felt I was in heaven. Smells simply guide you to the bakery and your eyes confirm that yes, this is heaven. Mouthwatering simits coated with sesame seeds (here is my version of simit, if you’d like to try), sweet and savory pastries, flat breads and more; a feast to the eye. The savory pastry with cheese filling, pogaca, was lovely. If you like to make this savory pastry using fillo pastry, here is my version.
- Delicious sweet and savory pastries
Finally; the friendly baker who filled us with delicious goods. You can create many delicious, wonderful meals using only a few fresh ingredients. I hope the recipes can give you ideas and inspire. They are easy, healthy and can be ready in no time.
The friendly baker at the Turkish Market in Cheam
Happy Cooking, Afiyet Olsun!
Wow, so glad you’ve found a good Turkish market in London. There were a few stores in Manchester where we used to live but the Turkish community there is quite small so there was nothing too extravagant. We’re looking forward to cherry season here. 🙂
Julia
Merhaba Julia,
Many thanks for the comment; it’s so wonderful to find the products you grew up with and the market in Cheam certainly hit the spot! Enjoy the cherrys at home for me too:)
Thanks for this. It’s not too far away (and near where I once lived many, many years ago). Definitely on my list of places to visit, especially for those pastries.
Hello Phil,
The market is worth a visit even for those pastries, and the pide (flat) bread is wonderful too, I am glad you’ll have a go.
Hi Özlem! Yes, I completely understand how you felt when you visited this market! How amazing! In Cheam of all places!!! Lovely pics, lovely post. Just one small comment: were the cherries from the greenhouse? It’s too cold here for cherries! xx
Merhaba Claudia 🙂
Amazing isn’t it, great that we have a Turkish market about 20 min drive to where I live 🙂 The cherries were in the box from Turkey, though I would imagine from the green house, as you say, not yet the season. They looked and tasted so good!
xx Ozlem
Hi Özlem, lucky you to have all those Turkish specialities near you. I was just given a wonderful Turkish cookbook and some things (mostly spices) are impossible to find here. I guess I will just have to go back to Istanbul sometime soon – I am still dreaming about the Spice Bazaar.
Hi Barbara,
I am so with you; there’s nothing quite like Spice Bazaar- hope you make it there soon! xx Ozlem
A veritable feast and a magic find – I can still smell the pide! Thank you for sharing with us, Ozlem.
It sure was a slice of paradise, glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
Wow…that’s a great find, Ozlem. The food looks so fresh and delicious!
Thank you Peri, look forward to going back there again!
Wonderful that you have access to such a market near you. Living in Turkey now and loving all the foods,we wonder what will it be like when we return to US in a few years and can’t find it all.
Merhaba Sherry, I know what you mean; these fresh produce markets are a life line, I am so grateful. Enjoy the pazar, markets in Turkey, nothing like them!:) Selamlar, Ozlem