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Eggs with peas and tomatoes, flavored with cumin and chili flakes

Eggs with peas, tomatoes, garlic and spring onion, flavored with cumin and red pepper flakes.

Eggs with peas, tomatoes, garlic and spring onions, flavored with cumin and red pepper flakes.

Some days call for an easy, simple supper. This tasty egg dish with peas, spring onions, garlic and tomatoes is not only easy but also wholesome and gluten-free. Fresh peas work wonderfully if you can get them, though frozen peas are a great alternative too. Their natural sweetness and texture go so well with the eggs, along with garlic, tomatoes and spring (green) onions.

We Turks love eggs; for instance, Menemen, Turkish style scrambled eggs with peppers and tomatoes is a national favorite. Eggs done different ways take the centerpiece during our leisurely weekend Turkish breakfast, my favorite meal of the day. We also turn to eggs for an easy, light supper like this one with peas. Flavored with the pungent cumin and spicy red pepper flakes (if you wish), this meal gets ready in no time and so satisfying. You can serve Cacik dip with yoghurt and cucumbers or the lovely lamb’s lettuce/purslane salad with garlic yoghurt aside. Make sure to have some flat breads or a nice crusty loaf aside to mop up the delicious juices.

Eggs with peas, flavored with cumin and red pepper flakes, a delicious, easy supper, also gluten-free

Eggs with peas, flavored with cumin and red pepper flakes, a delicious, easy supper, also gluten-free

Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

5.0 from 2 reviews
Eggs with peas and tomatoes, flavored with cumin and chili flakes
 
Some days call for easy but still delicious suppers. This tasty egg dish with peas, spring onions, garlic and tomatoes is not only simple but also wholesome and gluten-free. Flavored with cumin and red pepper flakes, all you need is some crusty or flat bread to tuck in to this light and delicious meal.
Author:
Recipe type: Turkish style eggs with peas and spices - Easy Suppers
Cuisine: Turkish
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 250 gr/ 9 oz. fresh or frozen peas
  • 3 spring (green) onions, finely chopped
  • 1-2 small garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 medium tomato, finely chopped
  • 4 medium free range eggs
  • 45 ml / 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • 5 ml / 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 5 ml / 1 tsp. red pepper flakes or chili flakes
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Flat breads or crusty bread to serve
Instructions
  1. If using fresh peas, place them in a small saucepan and cover with hot water. Boil gently for 2- 3 minutes. If using frozen peas, gently boil for 3-4 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to retain their color and firmness.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a wide pan. Stir in the spring (green) onions, garlic and tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes over medium heat.
  3. Add the cooked peas to the pan and combine all the vegetables well.
  4. Crack the eggs over the vegetable mixture, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Also sprinkle ground cumin and red pepper flakes or chili flakes over the eggs.
  5. Cook the eggs for about 4-5 minutes (or a little longer if you prefer) over low to medium heat, until the eggs are just done. I like mine when the egg white is set and the yolk is a little on the runny side.
  6. Serve hot with flat breads or a nice crusty loaf aside to mop up the delicious juices.
 

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Chicken and Vegetable Bake in Pomegranate Molasses; Eksili Tavuk

Chicken and vegetables bake in pomegranate molasses and lemon sauce; Eksili Tavuk

Chicken and vegetables bake in pomegranate molasses and lemon sauce; Eksili Tavuk

Inspiration for this delicious, gluten-free recipe, Eksili Tavuk; Chicken in lemon and pomegranate molasses sauce with vegetables, came from dear Janet, who is part of the wonderful blog, Archers of Okcular. Janet and Alan have been enjoying Eksili Tavuk, traditionally made with the delicious whole chicken from the villages nearby; I can just imagine how tasty that chicken must be. She asked me the recipe and so glad she did. After some research, I came up with my version of Eksili Tavuk, using some seasonal vegetables like celeriac and chard in it. We greatly enjoyed this dish and I owe a big thanks to Janet!

Marinating the chicken in pomegranate molasses, red pepper paste, garlic and spices add a lot of flavor.

Marinating the chicken in pomegranate molasses, red pepper paste, garlic and spices add a lot of flavor.

Traditional Eksili Tavuk in the Aegean Region is made with cooking a whole chicken in plenty of water and adding vegetables like potato, carrots and onions to it, as well as the lemon sauce. I have seen flour being used in the broth to thicken the sauce; it is a delicious dish. I have used chicken breast in my version and added celeriac and chard to the vegetable mix. I have also added pomegranate molasses in the sauce; celeriac especially has been a perfect pair to the chicken in the tangy lemon and pomegranate sauce; the sweet and savory flavors really complemented one another very well (Pomegranate molasses, nar eksisi is widely used especially in southern Turkish cooking and add great flavor to salads, mezzes, stews. You can make your own pomegranate molasses with my recipe here, if you’d like). Marinating the chicken in cumin, red pepper flakes, garlic, tomato paste, red pepper paste, biber salcasi (if used), lemon juice and pomegranate molasses really worth the effort, add a delicious flavor to the chicken.

I baked my eksili tavuk; chicken with vegetables in pomegranate and lemon juice sauce, in the oven. It turned out to be an easy, wholesome and delicious all in one pot dish that we loved and will be revisiting often. Many thanks for the inspiration, Janet, hope you all enjoy it!

Eksili Tavuk; baked chicken and vegetables in lemon and pomegranate sauce

Eksili Tavuk; baked chicken and vegetables in lemon and pomegranate sauce

Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

4.0 from 1 reviews
Chicken and Vegetable Bake in Pomegranate Molasses; Eksili Tavuk
 
An easy, wholesome and delicious all in one pot chicken and vegetables bake with pomegranate molasses and lemon sauce, inspired by the Agean region's Eksili Tavuk. Celeriac especially here really worked well with the sweet & savory pomegranate molasses; a wonderful dish we loved and will be revisiting often. Afiyet Olsun!
Author:
Recipe type: Healthy & gluten-free chicken and vegetable casserole
Cuisine: Turkish Cuisine
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 500 gr / 1 ¼ lb. chicken breast or boneless thighs, skinned
  • 175 gr/ 6 oz. chard, washed, trimmed and roughly chopped
  • 2 small carrots, quartered and sliced in small chunks
  • 1 small celeriac root, cut in small, chunky strips (about 4 cm log, 1 cm wide)
  • 2 onions, quartered and sliced thinly
  • 3-4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 15 ml / 1 tbsp. concentrated tomato paste
  • ½ tbsp. Turkish hot pepper paste, biber salcasi (optional)
  • 30 ml/ 2 tbsp. pomegranate molasses, nar eksisi
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 30 ml/ 2 tsp. olive oil
  • 1.2 liters/2 pints/5 cups water
  • 10 ml/ 2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 10 ml / 2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 180 C / 350 F
  2. Cut the chicken into small chunks and place in a large bowl.
  3. Marinate the chicken in cumin, red pepper flakes, garlic, tomato paste, red pepper paste (if used), lemon juice and pomegranate molasses. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and mix well so that all the ingredients coat the chicken pieces. Cover and keep in the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes.
  4. While the chicken is marinating, prepare the vegetables. Cut the outer skin of celeriac root and slice in chunky strips. Rub the celeriac with 1 tbsp. lemon juice to avoid discoloring.
  5. Combine the celeriac with the other vegetables chopped, except chard, in a baking dish. Add the 2 tbsp. olive oil, season with salt and ground black pepper and mix well.
  6. Stir in the marinated chicken to the vegetables mixture and combine well.
  7. Pour in the1.2 liters/2 pints/5 cups water and mix well.
  8. Cover and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
  9. After 30 minutes, stir in the chopped chard to the mixture and give a good stir. Cover and bake 10 -15 minutes more, until the chard is tender and chicken is cooked.
  10. Serve hot with crusty bread aside.
 

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Baked Zucchini, Pepper, Onion, Garlic in Tomato Sauce; Firin Sebze

Baked zucchini (courgette), peppers, onion and garlic in tomato sauce - Firin Sebze

Baked zucchini (courgette), peppers, onion and garlic in tomato sauce – Firin Sebze

This baked vegetables in tomato sauce with olive oil, Firin Sebze, is a delicious, easy and healthy vegetarian course that we turn to often. Beauty of this dish is that you can use whatever vegetables you have in hand; zucchini (courgettes), peppers, onions, peas, carrots, beetroots, aubergines, beans, potatoes especially work well. In Turkish cuisine, we use tomato based sauces a lot in our casseroles, stews and baked dishes; you can use juicy, ripe tomatoes when they are in season. If you can’t get hold of ripe tomatoes, a good quality canned chopped tomatoes also work very well.

For a more substantial vegetarian course, you can add cooked chickpeas to the vegetable mixture here and bake all together. It is a delicious and gluten-free vegetarian course that complements any grills and pasta beautifully; you can also serve this vegetable bake as part of a mezze spread.

You can prepare this dish ahead of time and keep in the fridge or freezer. If left in fridge, reheat at the preheated oven at 200 C / 400 F for 15 – 20 minutes. If kept in freezer, reheat at the same temperature for about 30 minutes.

Baked vegetables with olive oil in tomato sauce; easy, healthy and gluten-free

Baked vegetables with olive oil in tomato sauce; easy, healthy and gluten-free

I hope this delicious baked vegetables with olive oil inspires for easy, healthy, delicious home cooked meals for you all.

I love wholesome, delicious Turkish cuisine; it is based on seasonal produce and offers a lot of options for vegetarian and vegan diets too. Over 90 authentic Turkish recipes are included at my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland. Signed copies are now 25 % off via GBPublishing at this link, and delivered worldwide including the US.

Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

5.0 from 10 reviews
Baked Zucchini, Pepper, Onion, Garlic in Tomato Sauce; Firin Sebze
 
This baked vegetables in tomato sauce with olive oil, Firin Sebze, is a delicious, easy and healthy vegetarian course that we turn to often. Beauty of this dish is that you can use whatever vegetables you have in hand. You can also prepare this gluten-free dish ahead of time and serve as part of mezze spread, or as a side to pasta and grills- Afiyet Olsun!
Author:
Recipe type: Baked vegetables in olive oil with tomato sauce; easy, delicious and gluten-free
Cuisine: Turkish Cuisine
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 3 medium zucchini (courgettes), quartered and sliced (about ½ cm, 0.20”)
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • Red, green and yellow bell peppers (or pointy peppers), deseeded and sliced in small chunks
  • 4 ripe tomatoes cut in small chunks or 1 can of 400 gr/14 oz. canned chopped tomatoes
  • 10 ml/ 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 8 fl oz. / 1 cup water
  • 10 ml / 2 tsp. oregano
  • Sea salt and ground black pepper to your taste
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 200 C / 400 F
  2. Combine sliced zucchini (courgettes), peppers, onions and garlic on a baking tray.
  3. Pour in the olive oil and mix with the vegetables well.
  4. Stir in the chopped tomatoes or canned chopped tomatoes, combine well.
  5. Pour in the water.
  6. Stir in the oregano and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Combine well.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven (200 C/ 400 F), uncovered for 20 minutes.
  8. After 20 minutes, give the vegetables a good mix and bake for a further 20 minutes, until they start to chargrill at edges.
  9. Serve hot as part of a mezze spread or as a side to pasta and grills.
Notes
For a more substantial vegetarian course, you can add cooked chickpeas to the vegetable mixture here and bake all together. It is a delicious and gluten-free vegetarian course that complements any grills and pasta beautifully; you can also serve this vegetable bake as part of a mezze spread.
 

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