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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.

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Turkish Baked Rice Pudding – Firin Sutlac

Turkish Baked Rice Pudding – Firin Sutlac

Milk based desserts have a special place in Turkish cuisine, like this Turkish Baked Rice Pudding, or Firin Sutlac, as we call in Turkish. We enjoy this comforting dessert, not only at the end of meals, but also as a day time treat. There are Pastanes, Patisseries, and  Muhallebici, Pudding Shops in Turkey, that serve this milk based dessert as well as other sweet treats. I have fond memories of stopping by our local muhallebici, pudding shop, to have enjoy our Firin Sutlac, with a glass of cay aside, with family and friends in Turkey.

Here’s my recreation of our creamy, comforting Firin Sutlac; it is a big hit with my family and friends,  I hope you enjoy it too. It  is lighter than you think, there is no butter in it and also gluten-free. Please use whole milk for a deliciously creamy taste, if you can. Traditional Turkish rice puddings are made with regular white granulated sugar but I used demerara sugar, as it is our preferred sugar in our home– hence my rice pudding is more golden in colour and less sweet than the regular Firin Sutlac. Even though Firin Sutlac is enjoyed cold in Turkey, I must say we love it warm. We also like to add crushed nuts and dried freeze berries on top; you can sprinkle ground cinnamon when serving too. My children like to have fresh berries with their Baked rice pudding; very tempting to have it for breakfast this way too!

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Turkish Baked Rice pudding, Firin Sutlac
 
Here’s my recreation of our creamy, comforting Turkish Rice Pudding, Firin Sutlac; it is a big hit with my family and friends, I hope you enjoy it too. It is lighter than you think, there is no butter in it and also gluten-free. Please use whole milk for a deliciously creamy taste, if you can. Traditional Turkish rice puddings are made with regular white granulated sugar but I used demerara sugar, as it is our preferred sugar in our home– hence my rice pudding is more golden in colour and less sweet than the regular Firin Sutlac. Even though Firin Sutlac is enjoyed cold in Turkey, I must say we love it warm. We also like to add crushed nuts and dried freeze berries on top; you can sprinkle ground cinnamon when serving too. My children like to have fresh berries with their Baked rice pudding; very tempting to have it for breakfast this way too!
Author:
Recipe type: Milk Pudding
Cuisine: Turkish cuisine
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 125g / 4⅜ oz short grain rice, rinsed
  • 450ml / 16fl oz whole milk (to cook the rice at the beginning)
  • 900ml / 32fl oz whole milk (to combine with the cooked rice and rest of ingredients)
  • 160g/ 5.6 oz demerara sugar (you can use regular white granulated sugar, if preferred)
  • 5ml / 1tsp vanilla extract
  • 45ml/ 3tbsp cornstarch
  • 80ml/ 3fl oz whole milk (to mix with the cornstarch)
  • Crushed pistachios, walnuts and/or dried berries to decorate (optional)
  • Ground cinnamon to decorate (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 200 C / 400 F
  2. Combine the rinsed short grain rice and 450ml / 16fl oz whole milk, in a medium to large heavy pot. Stir and bring to boil over medium to low heat. Once it starts bubbling, turn the heat to low, cover and cook about 20 minutes, until all the moisture is absorbed. Make sure to check and stir occasionally so the rice won’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
  3. Now add 900ml / 32fl oz whole milk to the cooked rice, stir and bring to a simmer, cooking over low to medium heat.
  4. Stir in the vanilla extract and sugar, combine well.
  5. Mix the cornstarch with 80ml/ 3fl oz whole milk in a small bowl, making sure the starch blends with the milk and form a smooth paste. Add this to the rice mixture.
  6. Combine and simmer over low to medium heat, with constant stirring, for about 25 minutes. You will notice the sauce has thickened. Turn the heat off.
  7. Pour the rice pudding into oven proof individual ramekin pots, taking care not to overfill until the top as the pudding tends to rise while baking. Place the pots on large baking dish or tray. Fill the baking tray half way with water, to provide moisture for the rice pudding.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven (200 C/ 400 F) for about 25 minutes or until the tops have a nice brown coating. Please check half way and towards the end to make sure the browning is good for your taste (and every oven is different, so it is good to keep an eye on it especially towards the end.
  9. Carefully take out the rice pudding, Firin Sutlac, from the tray. We enjoy ours warm, sprinkled with crushed pistachio, walnuts and dried freeze strawberries. You can also sprinkle cinnamon on top. If you prefer the traditional way, cool them at room temperature and refrigerate 2 -3 hours and serve cold.
  10. Afiyet Olsun.

New! Ozlem Turkish Table Apron on Sale and Special Offer

I am absolutely delighted to share with you that we designed this special Ozlem’s Turkish Table apron, lt is special to my heart, as it is made in Turkey, with my hometown Antakya’s celebrated daphne leaves in the hand embroidered design – this lovely apron would make a wonderful gift for a foodie, you can get yours at this link. Delivered worldwide including the US.
Signed hard back copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book are also 20 % Off, via GB Publishing, as a little gift from us to you, can be ordered at this link and delivered worldwide. I hope it helps bring many memorable Turkish feasts to your table (please kindly note the Turkish rice pudding is not included at this book).

Ozlem’s Turkish Table Interview with TRT Radio 1 (Turkish National Radio 1)

It’s been an honor to be interviewed by the Turkish National Radio, TRT Radyo 1, at the Gunebakan Program today, talking about Turkish cuisine abroad. A special moment for me, talking in Turkish, at my homeland’s national radio channel. As we talked during the interview, our  recipes are  valuable means to share our thousands years of our culinary heritage with the world and pass on to the next generations. Also living abroad, I well know how precious our food is to connect us to our homeland, our memories and bring our stories to life. It is such a privilege to share my homeland Turkey’s amazing culinary heritage, traditions, recipes, hospitality, through these precious opportunities and my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland. My sincere thanks goes to GB Publishing and Pinar Foods UK for helping me spread the word on wholesome, delicious Turkish cuisine.
Here is the link to our interview with TRT Radio 1, I hope you enjoy it:

 I am absolutely delighted  to be teaching another  joint live cookery class with dear friend, author and passionate food blogger, Peri Avari  owner of the wonderful blog Peri’s Spice Ladle on Friday, November 20th, 9 am PT (5 pm UK) .We will be teaching festive dishes with Turkish favorites and global Indian specialties for your holiday servings, including the popular Filo Triangles with vegetarian fillings, Muska Boregi. Our menu includes:

    • Muska Boregi, vegetarian savory filo triangles, ideal appetizer for holiday meals.

    • Nar eksili, cevizli salata, watercress salad with sumac, onions, walnuts and pomegranate molasses, adds freshness to your celebration servings.

    • Aloo Gobi Casserole, a festive baked twist on a popular Indian favorite made with potatoes, cauliflower and a topping of Panko breadcrumbs.

    • Pine-nut Coconut Basmati Rice, bring in a touch of Indian ethnicity with a simple side of nutty rice.

    • During the class, we will give recipe tips, ideas for variations, ahead of time prepping and of course share stories from our homelands. Do hope you can join us at this special class to make the home cooking more festive. Here is the registation link for our online cookery class on November 20th; it is open worldwide.

    • Please also check my cookery class page for new classes and events coming up, including my Turkish Meze Feast Online Cooking Class on Dec 5th, with Milk Street Cooking School.
    • I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, in good health and happiness, Afiyet Olsun,

    • Ozlem

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Ozlem’s Turkish Table at Edinburgh Book Fest, Coming to Texas and more

Merhaba all,

Our magical Turkish Supper Club at Power’s Weybridge – next one is on Aug. 17th

It’s been a very exciting few months of teaching Turkish cookery, sharing recipes from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book at our supper clubs and planning new events. I am very excited to share with you some really exciting events coming up, including being a featured author at the world’s biggest book festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival on Aug. 24th, as well as returning to Central Market Cooking Schools in TX between November 7-10th! I am utterly delighted and can’t wait to meet Turkish food lovers in one of these events below, and I hope to see you at one of the events.

Contents Page, Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, signed copies available at this link

Also delighted to report that over 1,000 copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book reached to Turkish food lovers around the world; my sincere thanks to you all for all your support and spreading the word. My special thanks also goes to Pinar Foods UK and GB Publishing for all their valuable support.  I love hearing how folks enjoy recreating recipes from the book, and their creations. Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book is still available for a limited period at this link, if you’d like to get it for yourself or give a a gift.

Here are so exciting events coming up; I hope you can join us in one of these and we enjoy Turkish cuisine together.

Turkish Meze Class with Ozlem Warren

Hands On Masterclass, Sunday 22nd July, 12:00 – 3:30pm

Divertimenti Cookery School, London

Our Turkish meze class coming up on July 22nd, at Divertimenti, London

Join Ozlem Warren to recreate a scrumptious meze feast from her homeland, with recipes from her newly released cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland. You will be making the much loved ‘Baba Ghanoush’ (Smoked aubergine, pepper and tomatoes with pomegranate molasses), ‘Filo Triangles with Spinach and White cheese, Beyaz Peynir – with thanks to Pinar Food UK-, ‘Muhammara’ (Red pepper paste and walnut dip), ‘Circassian Chicken in Garlic, Walnut and Coriander Sauce, ‘Poached Dried Figs in Light Syrup’ and completing the meal with ‘Rakı’, a Turkish aniseed based drink which is the traditional accompaniment to the meze spread in Turkey.

Booking at Divertimenti Cookery School at this link

Turkish Cookery Course at Amoun College, Amman – Jordan,

July 9th and 10th, 2018

I am delighted to be returning to Amman, Jordan to teach a 2 day Turkish Cookery Course on July 9th and 10th 2018.  We will be covering a feast of classic Turkish recipes during our course. My special thanks to Mrs Suhair Kilani, la Panthera for organising our course, I greatly look forward to sharing delicious Turkish cuisine with food lovers in Amman. For the details of the course and registration, please email Marketing@panhtera-jo.com to reserve your spot, as the participation is limited. I hope you can join us at this rare opportunity to learn classic Turkish recipes.

Ozlem’s Turkish Table at the International Edinburgh Book Festival!

What a true honor to be a part of this world’s biggest book festival, the International Edinburgh Book Festival, with my cookery book Ozlem’s Turkish Table, on Aug. 24th, Friday, 2.30pm – 3.15pm, with the Afternoon Tea with Ozlem Warren event. Even more special is that Ghillie Basan will be conducting the interview, I am a huge fan of her and can’t thank her enough for all her support. Do hope you can join us as we will talk about Antakya, southern Turkish cuisine, recipe tips and more! Booking at this link please, hope to see you there!

A Turkish Summer Feast Supper Club, Power’s Weybridge – Friday, Aug. 17th, 2018

Please join us for a delicious evening of Turkish food and stories from my homeland on Aug 17th, Friday evening, as of 7.30pm at Power’s Weybridge. Pistachio lamb kebabs as well as many vegetarian choices and baklava on offer, as well as my tips on recipes and stories, booking at Power’s Weybridge please – and promises to sell out again soon!

 Returning Central Market Cooking Schools, TX – USA on Nov. 7 – 10th, 2018!

Absolutely delighted to be returning to Central Market Cooking Schools on Nov 7th through 10th to teach a series of cookery classes, this time with my book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table – do hope you can join us! I lived in Austin over 5 years and tought at this wonderful cookery school as a guest chef so I am really excited to return, it will be very special classes. Registration at Central Market Cooking School opens online on 1st October, and classes likely to sell out qucikly, so please save the dates. Here are my teaching dates and venues at Central Market Cooking Schools:

Central Market Houston on Nov. 7th; Austin on Nov. 8th; Dallas on Nov 9th; San Antonio on Nov 10th.

What I have been cooking lately..

Leafy greens with onions, peppers and pine nuts, from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book

We have been enjoying more vegetables with the sunnier weather and this Leafy greens with onions, peppers and pine nuts, from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book (page 153),  inspired from Antakya, fits the bill perfectly. There is leafy vegetable called zilk in Antakya, similar to Swiss chard and locals use either zilk or spinach to make this recipe; you can use kale instead too. Bulgur or lentils are often added to make it more substantial. In my version, I included sweet, red bell peppers and pine nuts instead of bulgur. Adding a splash of fresh lemon juice or a little heat from red pepper flakes, you can serve this warm or cold, as in our Zeytinyaglis, Vegetables cooked in olive oil. Here’s also the link for my recipe in my blog.

Scrumptious Turkish bean salad with onions, olives, eggs

We love this tasty, easy and nourishing Turkish bean salad with olives and eggs, Fasulye Piyazi. It is the traditional accompaniment to Turkish meatballs, our kofte, but I love it as it is for lunch or as a light supper with pide bread and some hummus. It is also vegan and gluten-free so caters for a wide range of dietary needs. This lovely salad is on page 90 at the Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, if you have it. Here’s also the link to my recipe in my blog.

One of the happy Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book owner, posting this lovely photo

“Thank you so much for producing this wonderful book; I spent many happy holidays in Turkey and I love Turkish cuisine. It’s a joy to be able to recreate the dishes with your recipes and share with my family – your book is a treasure and I love my signed copy! This was a recent feedback from the Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book owner. I hoped my book would inspire folks to enjoy Turkish cuisine and bring happy memories of their visit to Turkey, so these kind feedback means the world to me. Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book is still available for a limited period at this link, if you’d like to get a copy.

Many thanks and Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

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