Turkish Cooking Classes

Spiced bulgur balls over garlic yoghurt with spinach – Arap Koftesi and more

Merhaba dear All,

Spiced Bulgur balls over garlicky yoghurt and spinach, Arap Koftesi

Our Turkish cookery course in Amman – Jordan, with wonderful participants and Panthera Jordan

It has been a very special few days, as I traveled to Amman – Jordan for our 2 day Turkish cookery course; my sincere thanks to Panthera Jordan, dear Suhair Kilani for organising our wonderful course and all the amazing participants, it was a very memorable trip. One of the recipes from our Turkish cookery course, Spiced Bulgur balls over garlicky yoghurt and spinach, Arap Koftesi, was a big hit with the participants and I wanted to share with you all here, in this post. Bulgur balls here are deliciously flavoured with dried mint, cumin and red pepper flakes; served over garlicky yoghurt with spinach, it makes a wonderful and impressive vegetarian course, hope you enjoy the recipe below.

Spiced bulgur balls over garlic yoghurt with spinach - Arap Koftesi and more

This is a wonderful, regional vegetarian recipe from southern Turkey, perfect for buffets and entertaining and you can also make the bulgur balls ahead of time and keep in the freezer.

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Vegetarian

Cuisine: Turkish cuisine

Serves: 8 people

Ingredients

For the bulgur balls:
340gr/2cups fine bulgur
11fl oz/325 ml hot water
2 eggs
45ml/3 tbsp plain flour
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon cumin
½ tablespoon red pepper flakes
Salt and black pepper to taste
For the yoghurt and greens sauce:
500gr lambs lettuce or spinach leaves, washed and roughly chopped
500gr/1 ¼ lb strained whole milk yoghurt
2 small garlic cloves, finely chopped
Salt and black pepper to taste
For the red pepper flakes and dried mint sauce:
• 30 gr butter
• 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes (please use ½ tablespoon if you like it less spicy, adjust to your taste)
• 1 tablespoon dried mint

Instructions

Rinse the bulgur and press and get rid of the excess moisture, then place in a large mixing bowl. Pour in 10 fl oz / 295ml hot water over first, stir and let the bulgur absorb the water. If bulgur (there could be different versions of fine bulgur) still looks raw, pour in about 1fl oz / 30ml more hot water and combine well. Let the bulgur absorb all the water and let it cool.
Then stir in the eggs, flour, tomato paste, salt, pepper, cumin and red pepper flakes. Have a bowl of cold water near you, wet your hands and knead the mixture well until all combined, elastic and smooth.
Sprinkle some flour on a tray where we will put our bulgur balls (this will help the bulgur balls not to stick together).
Form the bulgur balls as big as a large cherry and place on the tray with flour. Roll the bulgur balls over the flour and make sure they are coated well with the flour.
Have boiling water in a large pot, stir in a pinch of salt. Gently drop the bulgur balls in to the pan and let it cook, uncovered, on a medium heat, for 8 minutes or so; once cooked, you will see the bulgur balls rise to the top of the pan. Take out the cooked bulgur balls with a slotted spoon and place on a large plate.
For the yoghurt and greens sauce; mix the garlic with the yoghurt. In a large bowl, combine the garlicy yoghurt with the chopped greens. Season with salt and pepper.
For the red pepper flakes and dried mint sauce; melt the butter in a sauce pan and stir in the red pepper flakes and dried mint (please adjust the spice level to your taste). Gently stir in the bulgur balls and combine well with this sauce.
Serve the sautéed bulgur balls over the garlicy yoghurt with greens, immediately.
Afiyet Olsun.

We are delighted to offer 25 % off on Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book for food lovers around the world, it is delivered worldwide when ordered at this link. Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book is inspired from the lovingly made and shared traditional and authentic Turkish recipes passed down to me from my mother, parents and my grandparents and it is a joy to share with you all.

Ozlem’s Turkish Table podcast with Ghillie Basan – Now Live!

I had the huge pleasure and honor visiting dear Ghillie Basan at her magical wilderness retreat at the Cairngorms National Park last year, where she recorded our wonderful podcast talking about Turkish cuisine, my cookery journey with #ozlemsturkishtable cookery book , growing up in Turkey, my roots from Antakya, stories from home, Turkish hospitality and many more, over a scrumptious Turkish spread we cooked from my cookery book ❤️💐🇹🇷 it was a very special time and I am still full of wonderful memories of our time together in Scotland. The podcast is now live, I copied the link here; I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making the podcast.

Podcast

Ozlem’s Turkish Table book signing, Supper Club and Cookery Classes in Fethiye

Our Turkish breakfast and Turkish cuisine talk at the Yakamoz Hotel

Ozlem’s Turkish Table book signing at Yakamoz Hotel

We had a magical few days in Fethiye end April, where I did a talk on Turkish cuisine over a scrumptious Turkish breakfast, very kindly hosted by Yakamoz Hotel in Fethiye, followed by Ozlem’s Turkish Table book signings. We also hosted a delicious Antakya style supper club at the wonderful Mozaik Bahce restaurant, with recipes from my book; Mozaik Bahce showcases one of the best examples of Antakya and southern Turkish cuisine and it has been such a pleasure to cook in the kitchen together. Last but not least, we did a hands on Turkish cookery class at the Yakamoz Hotel with their wonderful team; it was a very memorable class – so much that I am already looking forward to being back!

Our delicious Antakya style supper club at Mozaik Bahce – Fethiye

Talking about Turkish cuisine at Mozaik Bahce

Enjoying Mozaik Bahce’s scrumptious mezes

My sincere thanks to everyone joined us in Fethiye, and Yakamoz Hotel and Mozaik Bahce for their very kind hospitality. A very sincere thanks goes to dear Lyn Ward, owner of Fethiye Times , for all her kindness and support for our events, cok tesekkurler – can’t wait to return! A few photos from our memorable time in Fethiye.

Our very memorable Turkish cookery class at Yakamoz Hotel

Strolling through magical Galata, Istanbul

I hope you enjoy the post, recipes and photos from my homeland, Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

Ozlem’s Turkish Table to Bodrum, Texas, Divertimenti-London!

By Ozlem Warren on September 30, 2018 in Ozlem’s Turkish Table Cookery Book, Turkish Cooking Classes 2

Merhaba dear All;

At the International Edinburgh Book Festival, Aug. 24th – talking about southern Turkish cuisine

Presenting Turkish cuisine at the Turkish Embassy – Amman, Jordan

It has been a busy and very special summer, sharing Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book with Turkish food lovers and teaching Turkish cookery, which took me to Amman – Jordan, International Edinburgh Book Festival – Scotland and London. Making a cookery book is a labor of love and every bit of this journey has been very special; my very sincere thanks goes to Pinar UK for their invaluable support for my book and supporting Turkish cuisine abroad.

It was a real honor to be a part of the International Edinburgh Book Festival, as a featured author with my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland. this year, on August 24th, 2018. The festival hosted a wonderful event called “The Afternoon tea with Ozlem Warren”, where dear Ghillie Basan hosted an hour long interview with me ; we talked about southern Turkish cuisine, Antakya, culinary traditions and stories of from my homeland. Over 100 Turkish food lovers attended to this event, I was very humbled and delighted with everyone’s interest and kindness. We finished off with signing copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland cookery book. A very special, unforgettable event; my sincere thanks goes to the Festival, as well as dear Ghillie Basan, for all their support and warm welcome.

Another special part of my trip to Scotland was, a chance to visit to dear Ghillie Basan at her wonderful wilderness retreat, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland. A very special highlight as she has been a huge hero of mine with her amazing cookery book and workshops. We cooked, shared, laughed and recorded 2 wonderful podcasts on Turkish cuisine and my southern Turkish roots with Ghillie, which will be released soon, will gladly share you the links. I also had the pleasure of meeting Ghillie’s wonderful children, Zeki and Yazzie; gorgeous, caring, hardworking, happy children; a huge credit to her for raising her children so beautifully. It was a very special trip that will remain always be in my heart.

Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, signed copies available to order here

It’s been a very special over 8 months of sharing my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, with Turkish food lovers around the world. It took me 10 years to write this book, dear to my heart, and you have all been so very kind for your amazing interest and positive, heartwarming comments of enjoyment for my book, my very sincere thanks to you all. Over 1,700 copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table sold and reached to Turkish food lovers, thank you so much! This was well beyond our expectations, my sincere thanks and gratitude for all your kindness and interest. Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkiah Table cookery book is still available (while the stocks last) at this link, if you’d like to get a copy. It is delivered worldwide, promptly.

Autumn is now in full swing and I have some very exciting events and Turkish cookery classes coming up, in Bodrum – Turkey, Texas – USA and London. I do hope you can be able to join us in one of them, if you’re in the area, here are the details:

Autumnal Southern Turkish Feast with Ozlem’s Turkish Table

Hands On Masterclass, Sunday 14th October, 12:00 – 3:30pm

Divertimenti Cookery School, London

Bulgur balls with aubergines, in tomato and pomegranate molasses, from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book

Turkish culinary expert Ozlem is born and bred in Turkey and she is passionate about her southern Turkish roots going back to the ancient Antioch, today’s Antakya. Join Ozlem to recreate an authentic Turkish autumnal feast with these scrumptious dishes from her cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, along with stories and tips of preparation. Recipes include Bulgur balls with aubergine, tomato, dried mint and pomegranate molasses (Patlicanli Eksi Asi), Flat breads with feta, za’atar, red pepper paste (Biberli Ekmek),Leafy greens with onions, peppers, pine nuts (Antakya’s Zilk Inspiration), Candied Pumpkin dessert with walnuts (Kabak Tatlisi) and Turkish coffee.

Participation limited; please book this hands on class at the Divertimenti Cookery School at this link

Ozlem’s Turkish Table Coming to Bodrum (October 25th and 26th, 2018)!

I really am so very excited to return to Bodrum, with my cookery book Ozlem’s Turkish Table, with some wonderful events on October 25th and October 26th. I love Bodrum and it will be such a pleasure to run some exciting events with wonderful groups in Bodrum. On October 25th at 3pm, I will be giving a talk on Turkish cuisine, with a focus on Southern Turkish cookery, thanks to a very kind invite by the Herodotus Academy, H3A Bodrum, at Oasis Conference Room in Bodrum. This is an open event to Turkish food lovers and all welcome. I will also sign copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book at this event. Please kindly contact Reyhan reyhandestan@gmail.com, if you would like to join us.

My sincere thanks to Herodotus Academy, H3A – Bodrum, Foodrum Culinary Park, Cooking Classes Bodrum and Karnas Vineyards for all their support for our events and having me. A very special thanks goes to dear Annie Onursan of Back to Bodrum blog for having me in Bodrum and for all her support; I am a huge fan of her and her wonderful blog, Back to Bodrum.

Delights from Antakya Hands On Cookery Class at Foodrum, – Bodrum

October 25th, 10am – 1.30pm

I am very much looking forward to our hands on southern Turkish cookery class at the Foodrum Culinary Park, Bodrum, on October 25th, 10am-1.30pm, with the lovely Pelin Dumanli and her team. We will be cooking delightful, authentic flavours from Antakya, at this hands on class, Menu includes: Muhammara – Antakya’s Cevizli Biber (Crushed walnuts with red pepper paste dip, in olive oil) Mercimekli Mualla – Aubergines cooked in olive oil with lentils, onions, peppers with dried mint, Stuffed courgettes with minced meat, chickpeas and pomegranate molasses – Antakya usulu kabak dolmasi, Bulgur pilaf with courgette, onions and tomatoes – Kabakli As, Candied pumpkin desserts with walnuts – Antakya usulu Kabak Tatlisi . Participation limited; if you’d like to join us, please reserve your spot at info@foodrum.com

Cost per person: 220 TL (includes a glass of wine or raki)

Southern flavours from Antakya and Karnas Vineyards Wine Pairing, Supper Club – Friday, October 26th

I greatly look forward to our delicious Supper Club, Antakya style and pairing the menu with wonderful local wines by Karnas Vineyard, located in Bodrum peninsula on Friday, October 26th, 7pm onwards; it will be a special night of celebrating southern Turkish cuisine and local Turkish wine by Karnas Vineyard, in their beautiful setting. We will talk about southern Turkish cuisine, wine pairing and more – I hope you can join us at this special event. Participation is limited so please kindly get in touch with asli@cookingclassesbodrum.com or call 0533 3527670 or whatsapp 05339354762 to reserve your spot.

Menu includes; Flat breads with za’atar, cheese and red pepper paste (Biberli ekmek), Antakya’s savory pastry with minced meat topping (Kaytaz boregi), Baked oval bulgur balls with walnut and minced meat (Oruk), Stuffed dried aubergines with minced meat filling (Kuru Patlican dolmasi), Olive Salad with zahtar and pomegranate molasses (Antakya’nin zeytin ufeleme salatası), Muhammara (Cevizli biber), Tray bake kebab with vegetables (Tepsi Kebabi), Kadayifi (Kunefe), served with unlimited Karnas wines.

Cost per person: 240 TL

Southern Turkish Delights from Ozlem’s Turkish Table at Texas!

Central Market Cookery Schools (Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio – TX) –

Nov 7th – 1oth, 2018

I really can’t wait to return to Central Market Cooking Schools this November! This special place is where I started my culinary journey and it is such an honor to come back, this time, with my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table. The registration for the classes starts on October 1st at Central Market Cooking School website at this link, and the classes likely to sell out quickly. So if you’d like to join us, please book your spot soon – hope to see you in Texas!

Ezo Gelin Corba; Spicy lentil and bulgur soup from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book

Turkish Culinary Expert and author Ozlem Warren, a huge fan of Central Market Cooking Schools, is back! Ozlem returns to teach a scrumptious menu with authentic recipes from her debut cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland with stories from her southern Turkish roots. Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland will be for sale; Ozlem will be happy to personalize books after the class. Menu includes: Spicy bulgur and lentil soup with dried mint and red pepper flakes (Ezo Gelin Corbasi); Walnut and red pepper paste dip (Muhammara); Eggplants, lentils and peppers cooked in olive oil (Mercimekli Mualla); Antakya’s tray bake kebab with vegetables (Tepsi Kebabi); Sauteed carrots in olive oil with garlic yoghurt (Sarimsak Yogurtlu Havuc); Antakya’s Candied Pumpkin dessert with walnuts and Turkish coffee

Ozlem’s Turkish Table Central Market cookery class dates are : Houston on Nov. 7th; Austin on Nov. 8th; Dallas on Nov 9th; San Antonio on Nov 10th. Booking will be open from Central Market Cooking School website as of October 1st at this link, and the classes likely to sell out quickly. So please kindly book your spot soon – I am very much looking forward to returning to Central Market and seeing you all!

What I have been cooking lately…

Candied pumpkin dessert with walnuts and clotted cream; Cevizli Kabak Tatlisi

It is autumn / fall, and we are all getting excited about the pumpkin season. I love this Candied pumpkin dessert with walnuts, Kabak Tatlisi, Antakya style. Here, the pumpkin is baked in its own juice – it is so delightful and easy. Here’s my recipe link, if you’d like to give it a go.

Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table book, available to order at this link

I wish you all a wonderful autumn /fall and do hope to see you at one of my cookery classes or events. If you can’t make it to the events and would like to get a Signed copy of my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, you can order at this link; I am told it makes a special gift.

My best wishes and Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table are back! Recipes and Events

By Ozlem Warren on June 1, 2018 in Ozlem’s Turkish Table Cookery Book, Turkish Cooking Classes 3

Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, available now (for a limited period)!

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

Many thanks to you all, who already got your copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table and your warm, delightful feedback on the book; so glad to see Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book has being enjoyed through your kind shares of your dishes from the book and messages you very kindly showered me. I dreamed about writing this book for over 10 years and it is such happiness to see its being enjoyed. Here’s an recent note from one of the Ozlem’s Turkish Cookery book owner; “Hi Ozlem, many thanks for a great book with fantastic recipes, it’s an invaluable inspiration to me now that I have retired and my new neighbours are amazed when I bring the Turkish food cooked by myself; maybe one day I will let them into the secret”.

Signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table book now available for limited period!

Delighted to let you know that the signed copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table is now available as of orders from June 2nd for a limited period! A great opportunity to get a copy for yourself or as a gift. If you’d like a signed copy of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, please kindly order at this link. It will be delivered promptly worldwide.

Ozlem’s Turkish Table book tour in Turkey and the UK

Ozlem’s Turkish Table book launch at Zen Seramics, Istanbul, with my parents

It’s been a very busy but magical few months launching Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book , book signings and events in the UK and in Turkey. With this note, my sincere thanks goes to Pinar Foods UK for all their kind support for my book. A special highlight has been sharing my book with my dear parents, Orhan and Gulcin, at our book launch at the lovely Zen Seramics in Istanbul. My parents have always been my inspiration with their passion for Turkish cuisine and generosity in sharing, so it was a very special moment to present the book to them. The book has a lot of personal stories and our family heritage and they joyfully grabbed Ozlem’s Turkish Table with both hands with high on emotion (and some happy tears); I think my dad bought over 10 copies to proudly gift to family and friends! Most kind and I can not thank them enough for all their love and support.

Ozlem’s Turkish Table book signing at Fethiye!

Happy owners of Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book in Fethiye

I visited Fethiye at early May as part of Ozlem’s Turkish Table book tour; it was a very special visit meeting Turkish food lovers at the lovely Yakamoz Hotel over a delicious Turkish breakfast and at the delightful Mozaik Bahce, at our Antakya style dinner. It was a very memorable trip and I can not thank dear Lyn Ward from Fethiye Times enough for arranging our events in Fethiye and all her support. My sincere thanks to everyone who joined our events and their kind interest for my book and to Yakamoz Hotel and Mozaik Bahce for their amazing Turkish hospitality – I can’t wait to be back!

Ozlem’s Turkish Table book signing at One Tree Books, Petersfield

We have done lots of events and book signings in the UK too and it was so lovely to see everyone’s interest for Turkish cuisine and Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book. One of these book signings were at the One Tree Book Store in Petersfield; a delightful book store at the heart of the community with the lovely Madeleine’s Kitchen Cafe attached to it. One Tree Book Store arranged a lovely book talk and interview with me and the Madeleine’s Kitchen served Spicy bulgur and Lentil Soup, Ezo Gelin Corbasi, Courgette fritters with feta and dill, Mucver and Revani, Semolina Sponge cake from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, to a very enthusiastic crowd of 35 folks. It was a magical evening meeting Turkish food lovers and exchanging stories. You can get copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table at One Tree Book Store.

Ozlem’s Turkish Table podcast interview at the Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Cookery School and Radio Station

Milk Street Radio Station podcast interview

We also had a delightful podcast interview with Christopher Kimball of Milk Street Cookery School and Radio based in Boston – MA, talking about southern Turkish cuisine, stories from my homeland and my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table. You can listen to this podcast at this link (my interview starts at about 17. minutes onwards), hope you enjoy it.

Ozlem’s Turkish Table Events Coming Up

Many more events, classes, supper clubs (as well as a special Turkish cookery master class and book signing in Amman in July) coming up, so stayed tuned.

Turkish Meze Class with Ozlem Warren, Divertimenti Cookery School, London

Hands On Masterclass, Saturday 23rd June, 11:00am – 2:30pm

Please join us to recreate a scrumptious meze feast from my homeland, with recipes from my 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 Feta’, ‘Muhammara’ (Red pepper paste and walnut dip), ‘Circassian Chicken in Garlic, Walnut and Coriander Sauce, ‘Poached Dried Figs in Light Syrup’. We will be pairing each course with various Yeni Rakı, a Turkish aniseed based drink which is the traditional accompaniment to the meze spread in Turkey. Each participant will also get a Yeni Rakı traditional glass and bottle; a special class not to be missed!

Participation is limited, please book your spot at Divertimenti this link, under June 23rd, hope to see you there!

Some Popular Recipes from Ozlem’s Turkish Table to share

Here are some of the recipes that have been popular from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, I hope you enjoy recreating them:

Pide bread, from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book, image by Sian Irvine Food Photography

Pide bread (pide ekmek), Turkish round flat breads are a personal favorite and special especially during Ramadan, as we traditionally break the fast with pide. Many of my readers have been making Pide ekmek at home from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book (page 107). Here’s also the link to my Pide bread recipe if you’d like to make it.

Baked Turkish meatballs casserole from Ozlem’s Turkish Table, image by Sian Irvine Food Photography

This Turkish meatballs with vegetables casserole, Firinda Sebzeli Kofte, has been another favourite from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book (page 179); I love that you can made this all-in-one pot easy, delicious meal ahead of time and left overs freeze beautifully, a real crowd pleaser – here’s the link to my recipe.

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

This simple Baked cauliflower with red onions, feta and dill is my family’s favorite from Ozlem’s Turkish Table (page 165) – as a matter of fact, I made twice this week! – Such a lovely and easy way to enjoy and flavour cauliflower, great as a side or as part of your meze spread, here’s the link to my recipe.