Recipes    

Turkish cuisine provides healthy, hearty, delicious food for family and friends.
Find out more

Cookery Classes

I teach Turkish cooking classes in England,Turkey & USA, hope you can join us!,
Find Out More

Cakes and Desserts

Bitter almond cookies, Acıbadem kurabiyesi

Bitter almond cookies, Acıbadem kurabiyesi

I absolutely adore our crispy outside, chewy inside acıbadem kurabiyesi. Its origins dates back to 19th century Ottoman Palace kitchens and the traditional recipe includes a small amount of bitter almonds, hence give its name. Our world famous almonds from Datça region in southwest corner of Turkey is also traditionally used in these cookies. It has a macaron like chewy texture; crispy outside and softer inside. Living abroad, it is one of those tastes I miss so much from home and I think many Turks living abroad would feel the same. Good news is that, you can make these delicious almond cookies at home successfully, following a few curial steps carefully with this recipe.  They are absolutely delightful with Turkish coffee or tea aside.

I hope you enjoy making acıbadem kurabiyesi with my recipe, Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

5.0 from 3 reviews
Bitter almond cookies, Acıbadem kurabiyesi
 
I absolutely adore our crispy outside, chewy inside acıbadem kurabiyesi. Its origins dates back to 19th century Ottoman Palace kitchens and the traditional recipe includes a small amount of bitter almonds, hence give its name. Our world famous almonds from Datça region in southwest corner of Turkey is also traditionally used in these cookies. It has a macaron like chewy texture; crispy outside and softer inside. Living abroad, it is one of those tastes I miss so much from home and I think many Turks living abroad would feel the same. Good news is that, you can make these delicious almond cookies at home successfully, following a few curial steps carefully with this recipe. They are absolutely delightful with Turkish coffee or tea aside.
Author:
Recipe type: Almond cookies
Cuisine: Turkish cuisine
Serves: Makes 10 cookies
Ingredients
  • 3 medium free range egg whites (100g/3 ½ oz)
  • 200g/7oz sugar
  • 180g/6.3oz ground almonds
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • 10 unsalted almonds
Instructions
  1. Pour in hot water on a large pan until half way and sit a heat proof glass mixing bowl over the pan. Make sure the bowl is not touching the hot water. Bring to a gentle simmer and stir in the egg whites, sugar, pinch of salt and lemon juice to the bowl. Stir continuously to combine all the ingredients over medium heat until the sugar is melted completely and all mixed well. The mixture should be just warm enough to touch and with a gooey texture. Turn the heat off and place the bowl on a clean, cool surface.
  2. Preheat fan oven to 140C/160C/325F.
  3. Stir in the ground almonds to the bowl and combine well to turn to a very soft, sticky dough texture. Transfer the cookie mixture on another clean, wide mixing bowl; stir occasionally and let it completely cool. Once cool, spoon the mixture into a piping bag. Have a large baking tray and spread a little of the remaining cookie mixture from the bowl at the corners of the tray and place baking paper on, press gently to stick. Pipe the cookie mixture as 6cm in diameter circles over the baking paper, leaving 3cm between each cookie, as they will expand during baking. Place an almond in the middle of each cookie and bake in the preheated oven for 27-28 minutes, until the cookies look cracked and crispy outside and soft to touch inside (It is important not to overbake and keep inside soft, as this moisture will help the cookies stick together, as we traditionally do, and will give the chewy texture).
  4. Place the cookie tray on a metal rack to cool for 5 minutes. If they are sticking to the baking paper, gently turn the baking paper upside down on the tray and wipe the back of the cookies over the baking paper with damp towel, this will help cookies to peel off from the paper easily. Turn the baking paper back again and place the acıbadem kurabiyesi on a serving plate. If you like, gently press and stick 2 soft bottoms of the cookies to form one big cookie, as we traditionally do. They are best eaten on the day, though they keep well for 2-3 days, wrapped with cling film individually and stored in a cool place.
 

Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, as festive gifts

The festive season is upon us; if you like to gift a signed copy of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, you can order a copy here, it is delivered worldwide. It has over 90 authentic, delicious, easy to make Turkish recipes, along with stunning photography and stories from my homeland (please kindly note that Almond cookies,acıbadem kurabiyesi is not included at this book). You can also order this hand embroidered apron here, for a foodie gift. Thank you for your kind support and spreading the joy of wholesome, delicious Turkish cuisine.

Continue Reading

Turkish Shortbread Cookies with Pistachio – Fistikli Un Kurabiyesi

Turkish shortbread cookies with pistachio, Fistikli Un Kurabiyesi

This delicious, crumbly shortbread cookies, un kurabiyesi, is a national favouite; my mother would make them for her afternoon tea gatherings, bayrams and special occasions when I was a child. You will find them in our pastanes, patisseries in plain, with almond or sometimes with dried fruits in Turkey. They are delicious, enjoyed with Turkish coffee, Turk kahvesi and tea, cay.

I added coarsely ground (or very finely chopped) pistachios to mine – it is nice to feel the texture and enjoy the taste of pistachios, so take care not to ground them too finely. Turkish pistachios, as referred as green emeralds are packed with flavour and we use nuts liberally in our desserts and sweet treats. They add a delicious, fragrant nutty taste. You can use ground almonds or hazelnuts instead of pistachio too. These fistikli un kurabiyesi is a great hit with my family and friends; I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Please kindly note that this is a new recipe and not included at my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table.

Turkish Shortbread Cookies with Pistachio – Fistikli Un Kurabiyesi
 
This delicious, crumbly shortbread cookies, un kurabiyesi, is a national favouite; my mother would make them for her afternoon tea gatherings, bayrams and special occasions when I was a child. You will find them in our pastanes, patisseries in plain, with almond or sometimes with dried fruits in Turkey. They are delicious, enjoyed with Turkish coffee and tea.
Author:
Recipe type: Shortbread Cookies - Un Kurabiyesi
Cuisine: Turkish cuisine
Serves: 18 cookies
Ingredients
  • 300g/10 ¼ oz plain all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 110g/4oz icing sugar, sifted
  • 90g/3 ¼ oz shelled pistachios, coarsely ground or very finely chopped
  • 250g/9oz unsalted butter
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 5ml/1tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • Extra icing sugar for dusting
  • Sprinkle of extra coarsely ground pistachio for serving
Instructions
  1. Coarsely ground the pistachios, with a few pulses in a food processor; take care not to ground too finely, as it’s lovely to feel the texture and enjoy the taste of pistachios.
  2. Sift the flour into a large bowl and set aside. Sift the icing sugar in a separate bowl too.
  3. Put the butter in a large mixing bowl and coarsely slice. Beat using a mixer for 2 – 3 minutes, until smooth and light. Stir in the icing sugar and beat for another 2 minutes, until well combined.
  4. Add the sifted flour, baking powder, pinch of salt and vanilla extract and beat for another 2 minutes, making sure all combined well.
  5. Stir in the coarsely ground pistachio to the mix, beat another minute or two, until all combined and turned into a crumbly dough.
  6. Using your hands, gently combine and turn the mixture into a dough ball. Place in a bowl, cover with cling film and keep in the fridge for 10 minutes. This helps shaping and forming the shortbread cookie balls.
  7. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. Preheat fan oven to 160C/180C/350F
  8. Take the dough out of the fridge and pull off walnut sized pieces of dough and gently shape into balls, rolling the dough into round shape with your hands. Each dough ball will be about 3cm / 1.2in in diameter. Place the dough balls on the baking tray, with about 5cm/2in between each dough ball. You will make about 18 dough balls.
  9. Bake the Turkish shortbread cookies, un kurabiyes, in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, they will be pale golden; try not to overbake, so that they can retain their crumbly texture.
  10. Take the cookies out of the oven and let them cool completely. Once cool, sift icing sugar over them and sprinkle a little ground pistachio over when serving. They are delicious aside tea and Turkish coffee. They can be stored in a container with a lid for a good 5-6 days.
  11. Afiyet Olsun.
 

Hardback copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table in the USA- with reduced shipping rates!-

We are delighted to share that we now have significantly reduced shipping rates to the USA (approximately 14 USD), for the hardback copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table, you can order via GB Publishing, at this link.

Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table and the apron also available at this link.

Our best wishes and Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

Continue Reading

Turkish coffee marble cake and Ozlem’s Turkish Table News!

Turkish coffee marble cake

I love our aromatic Turkish coffee, Turk kahvesi; it is more than a drink for us with its rituals. This is a deliciously fragrant but not overpowering Turkish coffee marble cake, ideal for coffee lovers and anyone who would enjoy a delicious slice of cake aside their favourite drink; it is especially wonderful with tea or coffee aside.

I used Ozerlat UK’s fragrant heritage blend Turkish coffee in this cake, it worked beautifully. If you like to order Turkish coffee or other goods from Ozerlat UK, you can use code OZLEM10 at their check out here to get 10 % discount.

I hope you enjoy this fragrant cake as much as we did, Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

Turkish coffee marble cake and Ozlem's Turkish Table News!
 
I love our aromatic Turkish coffee; it is more than a drink for us with its rituals. This is a deliciously fragrant but not overpowering Turkish coffee marble cake, ideal for coffee lovers and anyone who would enjoy a delicious slice of cake aside their favourite drink; it is especially wonderful with tea or coffee aside.
Author:
Recipe type: Coffee Cake
Cuisine: Turkish cuisine
Ingredients
  • 230g/8 ¼ oz self-raising flour
  • 175g/6oz unsalted butter
  • 3 medium free range eggs, beaten
  • 225g/8oz sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 30ml/2 tbsp (finely ground) Turkish coffee
  • 90ml/3fl oz warm whole milk (to be combined with Turkish coffee)
  • 15ml/1tbsp cocoa powder
  • 30ml/2tbsp whole milk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 180C/160C Fan/350F
  2. Grease a loaf baking tin or round 20cm/8in tin (or non-stick fluted cake ring) with unsalted butter.
  3. Combine the ground Turkish coffee with warm milk, stir and make sure Turkish coffee is dissolved and blended well with the milk. Then stir in the coca powder, combine well. Set aside to cool.
  4. Stir in the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric whisk, cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, whisking well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract and combine well.
  5. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Fold it gently into the butter, sugar and egg mixture.
  6. Divide the cake batter into two equal portions. Add the 2tbsp whole milk to one portion of the cake batter, stir gently and combine well.
  7. Stir in the combined Turkish coffee, cocoa powder and milk mixture into the other portion of the cake batter. Stir gently and combine well.
  8. Spoon tablespoonfuls of large blobs of the each cake batter into the greased tin, alternating the flavours. Position each spoonful on top of each other to give a rippled effect. Swirl the mixture gently with a skewer or chop stick to give a marble effect.
  9. Bake for 40 – 45 minutes until the cake is springy and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
  10. Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Then turn into a serving plate to cool completely before slicing. This cake will keep well for up to 3 days in a cake tin.
 

4th print run of Ozlem’s Turkish Table arrives!

I am absolutely delighted to share that the 4th print run of my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table has arrived! This special book has been tribute to my southern Turkish roots and we are thrilled for the global interest for Ozlem’s Turkish Table. Over 8,000 hard back copies already sold and growing; my sincere thanks to all the readers for their continued interest and to GB Publishing and Pinar Foods UK for all their support to spread the word on healthy, delicious Turkish cuisine globally.

Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book are 25 % off via GB Publishing at this link and it is delivered worldwide. This lovely apron, made in Turkey with  the embroidery of my hometown Antakya’s daphne leaves in front, also available via GB Publishing, at this link; they would make a lovely gift to a foodie or for Mother’s Day.

Gozleme, (Anatolian flatbreads with spinach and cheese), Baked cauliflower with cheese, onion and herbs and Turkish bean salad Zoom Cooking Class

Saturday, May 15th, 2021, 6 pm – 7.45 pm (BST)

Anatolian flat breads with cheese and spinach, Ispanakli Peynirli Gozleme, at our zoom cooking class

I am delighted to be teaching this delicious online Turkish cookery class,on  Saturday, May 15th, 2021, 6 pm – 7.45 pm (BST)  showcasing our popular street food, Gozleme (Anatolian flatbreadswith cheese and spinach filling), along with Baked cauliflower with herbs, onion and dill (Karnabahar mucveri) and Turkish bean salad with olives, sumac onions and tomatoes, Fasulye Piyazi. Turkish cuisine is healthy and packed with flavour, I hope you can join us to make these delicious dishes at home.

Date: Saturday, May 15th 2021

Time: 6pm- 7.45pm (BST)

Cost: 30 GBP per person

To register for the class, please kindly make the payment of 30 GBP  per person via the PayPal button under May 15th class at my Cookery Classes page. The classes tend to sell out quickly therefore early registration is recommended.

Baked cauliflower with red onions, feta and dill, from Ozlem’s Turkish Table; image by Sian Irvine Photography

You will get plenty of ahead of time preparation tips, ideas for substitution and with stories from my homeland. Recording of the class will also be sent to the participants for limited viewing. The class would also make a wonderful gift for a foodie.

Continue Reading