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Turkish cuisine provides healthy, hearty, delicious food for family and friends.
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Turkish Cooking Classes

Coiled filo pie with zucchini (courgette), cheese and dill – Kol Boregi

I am delighted to share this delicious Coiled / Swirl filo pie with zucchini, dill, cheese and onions, Kol Boregi, as we call in Turkish; it has been a huge hit at my online cookery classes recently. We really enjoyed this filling; there is a lovely natural sweetness from the zucchini and onions with the saltiness from Turkish beyaz peynir (I love Pinar Foods UK’s creamy beyaz peynir) or feta cheese, that works with dill so well.  You can also use spinach, sautéed leeks, kale, Swiss chard instead of zucchini/courgettes.

The trick with filo pastry sheets is that they need to be kept under slightly damp towel so they won’t dry out. Take only one sheet at a time to make the coiled shape for this recipe. I have used Jus Roll filo pastry sheets and they worked well.

The milk, egg and olive oil mixture works like a magic to keep the pastry intact while rolling. If the pastry breaks, please don’t worry, you can patch up brushing with the milk, egg and olive oil mixture. Once baked and cooled, you can cut this pastry in portions and freeze in a sealed bag (in one layer). You can also bake it ahead of time and give a gentle reheat at 180C/350F for about 8 minutes.

 

I love our savoury pastries and boreks in Turkish cuisine; tray bakes, filo triangles, pogacas, Pide, Flatbreads with zaatar and cheese topping and more included at my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland. Signed copies available at this link and delivered worldwide.

If you live in the US, Canada or Mexico, you can order hardback copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table here for lower shipping rates.  Please kindly note that this Coiled filo pie, Kol Boregi is a new recipe and not included at my current cookery book.

I hope you enjoy this delicious Coiled filo pie, Kol boregi, Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

Coiled filo pie with zucchini (courgette), cheese and dill – Kol Boregi
 
I hope you enjoy this moreish Coiled / Swirl filo pie with zucchini, dill, cheese and onions, Kol Boregi, as we call in Turkish. We really enjoyed this filling; there is a lovely natural sweetness from the zucchini and onions with the saltiness from Turkish beyaz peynir (or feta cheese) that works will dill so well. You can also use spinach, sautéed leeks, kale, Swiss chard instead of zucchini. The trick with filo pastry sheets is that they need to be kept under slightly damp towel so they won’t dry out. Take only one sheet at a time to make the coiled shape for this recipe. I have used Jus Roll filo pastry sheets and they worked well.
Author:
Recipe type: Savoury pastry, borek
Cuisine: Turkish cuisine
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 7 Filo pastry sheets (270g - 480mm x 255mm), thawed (I used a packet of Jus Roll filo sheets, they work well)
  • For the filling:
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 medium to large zucchini/courgettes (485g/1lb 1oz), trimmed and grated
  • 1 small bunch of dill, finely chopped
  • 200g/7 oz Turkish beyaz peynir or feta cheese, juice drained and crumbled
  • 30ml/2tbsp olive oil (to sauté the onions)
  • 5ml/1tsp pul biber
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • For the egg, milk and olive oil sauce:
  • 30ml/ 1fl oz milk
  • 1 free range medium egg, beaten
  • 15ml/1tbsp olive oil
  • For the topping of the coiled/swirl pie:
  • 1 free range medium egg, beaten
  • 10ml/2tsp olive oil
  • 1tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
  1. For the filling, place the grated courgette (zucchini) in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Set aside for 10 minutes. Using a clean tea towel or sturdy couple of sheets of kitchen paper towel, squeeze out the excess juice (this is an important step, otherwise this excess juice would make the pastry soggy). Place the squeezed zucchini/courgette in a large bowl.
  2. Pour in the 2 tbsp olive oil on wide heavy pan and stir in the chopped onions; gently sauté for 8 minutes, until they soften. Stir in the grated zucchini/courgette, combine and sauté for another 4 minutes, season with salt and ground black pepper. Turn the heat off.
  3. Place the sautéed onions and courgettes in the large mixing bowl. Stir in the crumbled cheese, dill, season (you may not need additional salt, as feta/beyaz peynir is already salty) and pul biber. Combine all ingredients well and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. The filling is ready.
  4. Preheat fan oven to 180C/200C/400F.. Line a round baking dish (with 25cm/10in diameter) with baking paper.
  5. Combine the milk, beaten egg and olive oil for the sauce in a small bowl. .For the topping, mix the beaten egg and olive oil in a small bowl
  6. Open your thawed filo pastry sheets and gently lay them on a dry, clean surface and cover with a damp towel. To coil the filo, the pastry needs to be kept moist. Only take one sheet at time and keep the rest covered.
  7. Take 2 filo sheets and lay on top of another lengthways on a clean, dry surface. Brush the top sheet with he milk, egg and olive oil mixture. Place about 145g/5oz filling in a line, along the edge near you, leaving 2cm at each end filling free. Gently roll up into a cylinder. Brush the edge with the milk, egg, olive oil mixture. Starting from one end, wind the filo into a coil and put on the baking dish with the baking paper on. Brush over and sides of the coiled pastry with the egg, milk and olive oil mixture (this also helps to patch up any broken pastry).
  8. Repeat the same procedure with the next 4 filo pastry sheets, using 2 sheets at a time .Coil each filo cylinder around the previous one to make a larger spiral. Make sure to brush the top and sides of the coiled pastry with the egg, milk and olive oil mixture.
  9. Fold the last remaining sheet, lengthways and brush the sheet with the egg, milk and olive oil mixture. Place the remaining filling (about 85g/3oz) in a line along the edge near you. Roll up again into a cylinder and coil around the previous one to complete the spiral. Brush the top and sides of the coiled pastry with the egg, milk and olive oil mixture and patch up any broken pastry.
  10. Brush the top and visible edges of the pie the beaten egg and olive oil all over, and then sprinkle the sesame seeds.
  11. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes, until the top is golden brown and cooked through. Let it slightly cool for 5 minutes. Slice in wedges. You serve with Spicy bulgur wheat salad with pomegranate molasses, Kisir, aside if you like.

 

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Baked beetroots, celeriac, carrots and green lentils with pomegranate molasses

We love beetroots – pancar -,  celeriac – kereviz – and carrots – havuc – in Turkish cuisine. Root vegetables, and vegetables in general feature a lot in healthy, delicious Turkish cooking, based on seasonal produce. With my roots going back to southern Turkey, Antakya, our natural condiment pomegranate molasses, nar eksisi, is used widely in our meals too. From Kisir, Spicy bulgur wheat salad with pomegranate molasses to Stuffed courgette/zucchini with chickpeas , ground meat in pomegranate sauce and more, this delicious, tangy sauce is much loved in our kitchen, very healthy too. You can make your own pomegranate molasses with my recipe here, if you’d like.

I recently baked beetroots, celeriac and carrots with red onions, and then mixed with cooked green lentils, served with a simple sauce of pomegranate molasses, olive oil and lemon juice. It turned out to be a light, healthy vegetarian course, packed with flavor. It works great with grills, pasta or as a delicious vegetarian meal on its own. Leftovers can be kept in fridge 2-3 days too. Here is also another Baked beetroot with pomegranate molasses and walnuts recipe, if you like to try out this one too.

I hope you enjoy making this delicious plant based dish, celebrating seasonal root vegetables and wholesome green lentils.

Baked beetroots, celeriac, carrots and green lentils with pomegranate molasses
 
We love beetroots – pancar -, celeriac – kereviz - and carrots – havuc – in Turkish cuisine. Root vegetables, and vegetables in general feature a lot in healthy, delicious Turkish cooking, based on seasonal produce. I recently baked beetroots, celeriac and carrots with red onions, and then mixed with cooked green lentils, served with a simple sauce of pomegranate molasses, olive oil and lemon juice. It turned out to be a light, healthy vegetarian course, packed with flavor. It works great with grills, pasta or as a delicious vegetarian meal on its own. Leftovers can be kept in fridge 2-3 days too.
Author:
Recipe type: Plant based / Vegan
Cuisine: Turkish cuisine
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 690g/1lb 8oz -6 medium raw beetroots, peeled, cut into small chunks
  • 630g/1lb 6oz -1 medium celeriac, peeled and cut into small chunks
  • 600g/1lb 5oz baby carrots, washed, topped and halved lengthways (or large carrots, cut in small chunks)
  • 1 large red onion, peeled, cut into small wedges
  • 140g/5oz green lentils, rinsed
  • 60ml/4tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • For the pomegranate molasses sauce:
  • 30ml/2tbsp pomegranate molasses
  • 15ml/1tbsp water
  • 60ml/6tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ juice of lemon
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • Handful of flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped – to serve
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6
  2. Put the prepared vegetables on a large baking tray. Drizzle with 4 tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt and ground black pepper.
  3. Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.
  4. While the vegetables are baking, cook the green lentils. Place the rinsed green lentils on a medium pan. Pour in hot water and boil for 25 minutes over medium heat. Stir once in a while so the lentils won’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Once cooked, drain and rinse over cold water over colander/sieve. Set the cooked green lentils aside in a bowl.
  5. After 35 minutes of roasting, check the vegetables and gently mix. Remove the foil and roast for a further 15 minutes, until tender and starting to colour at the edges.
  6. Once baked, combine the cooked green lentils with the baked vegetables.
  7. For the pomegranate molasses sauce; mix the pomegranate molasses, nar eksisi, with water, lemon juice and the extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  8. Pour the sauce over the baked vegetables and green lentils and combine gently.
  9. Place the baked vegetables and lentils on a serving plate. Scatter over the chopped parsley and serve immediately.
  10. Afiyet Olsun.

New Online Cookery Classes

Ozlem’s Turkish Table ~ Peri’s Spice Ladle – Healthy Lentils and Beans Virtual Cooking Class ; Friday January 8th 2021

Please join us to kick start the New Year at virtual cooking session on Friday, January 8th across time zones (9a Pacific Time, that’s 5p UK time) as we will be teaching healthy, plant-forward, family-friendly lentil and beans dishes from the Turkish and Indian cuisines. Prominent food writer and amazing cookery instructor Perinaz Avari is passionate about her native Parsi and Indian food, as I am about wholesome Turkish Cuisine. We would be delighted to have you with us at this delicous, wholesome, comforting class.

Please kindly see the class details and register at this link to join the class, we look forward to cooking together and taking you to a culinary journey to our homelands.

Please visit my Cookery Classes page for more upcoming Turkish cookery classes.

Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book and Apron

My sincere thanks to you all for your amazing response and support for Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book this year. This special book has been my way of celebrating my southern Turkish roots, passing down my mother and grandmother’s delicious, wholesome recipes as well as popular, authentic Turkish recipes to food lovers. It sold over 7,000 copies worldwide, won Gourmands Best in the World Award in Food Heritage category. I am delighted to share that its 4th print run now on its way. My very sincere thanks to GB Publishing and Pinar Foods UK and to you dear readers, for your amazing support. It’s been very special to share my homeland’s delicious, healthy recipes with you all and I can’t wait to keep on sharing even more.

Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book are available at this link here, it is delivered worldwide including the US. We are also delighted to offer you this special Ozlem’s Turkish Table apron. It 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 could also make a wonderful gift for; you can get yours at this link. Delivered worldwide including the US.

Turkish Breakfast spread from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book; photo credit: Sian Irvine Food Photography

My very best wishes to you all for the New Year, in good health, happiness and delicious food.

Mutlu Yillar, Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

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Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book now available in hardback, kindle and eBook!

Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, now on Amazon!

Merhaba dear All,

I am delighted to let you know that my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table is available in hardback, as well as kindle and eBook versions on Amazon and other online bookstores worldwide. It’s been a special journey; over 3,000 (mostly signed) copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table have been sold and, thanks to the wonderful feedback we’ve received from readers, we have plenty more on the way. Links to online stores are: hardback and kindle Amazon UK; kindle or eBook Amazon US, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple, Kobo; and for all these and more online bookstores wordwide GB Publishing Org

Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book is available via GB Publishing at this link, and it is delivered worldwide including USA – signed copies are now 20 % off for the holiday season and can be a wonderful gift for a food lover.

Already lots of folks very kindly left 5* reviews for Ozlem’s Turkish Table on Amazon UK -my sincere thanks to each and everyone – here is one of the reviews; if you enjoyed Ozlem’s Turkish Table, and could kindly leave a review here or here, I would be very grateful, thank you very much in advance:

 * * * * * Wonderful cookery book (by Dr E. R. Salter) – review on Amazon

“If you’re from Turkey or have ever travelled there on holidays and enjoyed the food….and want to learn how to prepare traditional dishes from the country, then this book is for you. This is a beautifully presented book on Turkish cooking. The photographs are stunning and the cook’s love of her family’s country is woven into the book’s fabric. One aspect that struck me was how healthy many of the dishes were, whether vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian or carnivore, there’s a dish for you. I thoroughly recommend this book for your cookery book collection or simply your coffee table.”

Turkish Breakfast spread from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book

Prestigious Observer Food Monthly Awards is the equivalent of the food industry’s Oscars and are open to votes right now; if you enjoyed Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book and  could you kindly vote here, many thanks in advance!

Ozlem’s Turkish Table – Upcoming Events

Hope to meet you in one of the upcoming events and classes; more events added periodically here so please check out the latest activities at the Cookery Classes page:

Sunday June 23rd, 2019 – Ozlem’s Turkish Table Meze Feast Hands On Class- Divertimenti Cookery School, London  last few spots left for this scrumptious class; if you’d like to join us, please kindly sign up via Divertimenti at this link

Saturday, Sept 7th, 2019 – Ozlem’s Turkish Table book signing, interview and demonstration at De Vries Van Stockum Bookstore – Holland : So look forward to be at the amazing Van Stockum bookstore in den Haag, Holland to meet Turkish food lovers! Details will follow shortly.

Monday, September 30th, 2019 – I look forward to visiting Mozaik Bahce in Fethiye, showcasing the very best examples of southern Turkish cuisine, for an Antakya style dinner and will sign copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table, look forward to meeting Turkish food lovers.

Tuesday, Oct 1, 2019 Hands on Turkish Cookery Class at Yakamoz Hotel and Turkish Style Afternoon Tea and Ozlem’s Turkish Table book signing – Fethiye, Turkey : Always a pleasure to return and teach Turkish cookery at Yakamoz Hotel; hope you can join our delicious hands on class there; booking essential and the class promises to sell out soon, you can see the class and booking details here.

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019Ozlem Warren Turkish cookery demonstration and lunch at Villa Cennet
Bahcesi, Kalkan, Turkey: I am greatly looking forward to visiting Kalkan and series of events, do hope to see you at our cookery demonstration and lunch; booking essential, you can see more information here.

Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 – Ozlem Warren Hands On Cookery Classes with Guru’s Place Cookery School, Kalkan-Turkey : Hope you can join us our delicious hands-on cookery class at Guru’s Place Kalkan; we will shop for the ingredients at local markets, cook our Turkish feast and enjoy together; booking essential, you can see more information here

What I have been cooking lately ..

Courgette/zucchini fritters from Ozlem’s Turkish Table

My family loves this Courgette/zucchini fritters with feta and dill, Kabak Mucveri from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book (page 163). These fritters are a fantastic way to enjoy courgettes/zucchini, you can serve with garlicy yoghurt or with a green salad by the side. If you are after a lighter flavour, you can bake the spread. like my mother does, in a greased baking dish at 180 C / 350 F for about 35-40 minutes – so delicious.

Crumbled feta salad with cumin and red pepper flakes, Cokelek Salatasi

This light and healthy salad, Crumbled white cheese (or feta) salad with cumin and red pepper flakes, Cokelek Salatasi from Ozlem’s Turkish Table (page 105) has been another favourite with the weather warming up. Antakya has a special dried cheese blend with spices called kuru cokelek (also known as surk), that is traditionally used in this salad. Cumin, red pepper flakes and oregano is mixed in kuru cokelek and readily available there. If kuru cokelek is not available, the Turkish white cheese or feta will work just as well. Cumin and red pepper flakes amazingly transform the delicate flavour of Turkish white cheese (beyaz peynir), of feta, to a new level.

Last but not least, my very sincere thanks to you all for joining me at this very special journey of sharing delights from my homeland. Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book has been my dream of over 10 years and it gives me so much happiness to have a chance to pass along the legacy of our wonderful Turkish cuisine, recipes, stories, traditions from my homeland to the next generation and Turkish food lovers around the world. Many thanks for for all your support and your special company. My very special thanks goes to all dear readers, my dearest family, GB Publishing and Pinar UK for all their support.

Cok tesekkurlerimle, Afiyet Olsun; look forward to being in touch with new recipes,

Ozlem

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