Tag Archives | healthy Turkish vegetarian dishes

Kestaneli İç Pilav; Pilaf with Chestnuts, Apricots and Herbs

By Ozlem Warren on December 12, 2024 in Pilafs and Rice, SEBZE 0

Kestaneli ic pilav from SEBZE cookery book – Image taken during photo shoot with Sam A Harris and Esther M Clark

This fragrant, festive pilaf, from my new cookery book SEBZE, Vegetarian recipes from my Turkish kitchen, is a specialty from the Ottoman palace kitchens and absolutely scrumptious. It encapsulates different textures and flavours – there are the earthy chestnuts and pine nuts, juicy apricots and currants, refreshing dill and parsley with a touch of lemon, and they complement one another beautifully. Although there are many versions of İç Pilav, the common feature is that it always has dried fruits and nuts in it, a legacy from the Ottoman period. Kestaneli İç Pilav appears on our tables on special occasions, religious festivities and for New Year’s Eve. Short-grain baldo rice is traditionally used in Turkey, although long-grain or basmati rice work well too. It is impressive to serve and a meal in itself with a refreshing salad and/or pickles on the side.

SEBZE, Vegetarian Recipes From My Turkish Kitchen

I hope you enjoy this delicious, fragrant pilaf from my new book SEBZE, as part of your festive gatherings or to make any day a little bit more special. My new cookery book SEBZE, is my love letter to vegetarian Turkish cuisine with 85 easy, doable, wholesome and delicious recipes and stunning photography by Sam A Harris. It can make a lovely foodie gift too – you can order a copy of SEBZE worldwide here.

My best wishes and afiyet olsun,

Ozlem x

Kestaneli İç Pilav; Pilaf with Chestnuts, Apricots and Herbs

This fragrant, festive pilaf is a specialty from the Ottoman palace kitchens and absolutely scrumptious. It encapsulates different textures and flavours – there are the earthy chestnuts and pine nuts, juicy apricots and currants, refreshing dill and parsley with a touch of lemon, and they complement one another beautifully. Although there are many versions of İç Pilav, the common feature is that it always has dried fruits and nuts in it, a legacy from the Ottoman period. Kestaneli İç Pilav appears on our tables on special occasions, religious festivities and for New Year’s Eve. Short-grain baldo rice is traditionally used in Turkey, although long-grain or basmati rice work well too. It is impressive to serve and a meal in itself with a refreshing salad and/or pickles on the side.

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Vegetarian pilaf

Cuisine: Turkish cuisine

Serves: 6

Ingredients

2 tablespoons currants
350 g (12 oz/1¾ cups) long-grain rice
2 tablespoons salted butter (use olive or vegetable oil instead for a plant-based option)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons pine nuts
170 g (6 oz) dried apricots, quartered
170 g (6 oz) cooked chestnuts, chopped into small bite-size pieces
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or more to taste)
770 ml (27 fl oz/generous 3 cups) hot water
small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
small bunch of dill, hard stalks removed, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Soak the currants in warm water for 15 minutes, then drain and set aside. Also soak the rice in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear. This helps to get rid of the extra starch and keep the rice grains separate.
Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy, medium pan over a medium heat, add the onion and cook for 7–8 minutes until softened. Add the pine nuts and sauté for about 2 minutes, stirring continuously. As they begin to turn golden, stir in the currants, apricots, chestnuts, cinnamon and the rinsed rice, and combine well for a minute. Season with salt and pepper, pour in the hot water and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for 18–20 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed. Turn the heat off, cover the pan with a clean dish towel and place the lid on firmly. Rest for 10 minutes (the towel will absorb excess moisture).
Stir in the chopped parsley, dill and lemon juice, and combine gently, ready to serve and enjoy.

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

By Ozlem Warren on November 10, 2014 in Casseroles and Stews, Gluten-free recipes, Vegetables Cooked in Olive Oil 46

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

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: Ozlem Warren

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

Pre-heat oven to 200 C / 400 F
Combine sliced zucchini (courgettes), peppers, onions and garlic on a baking tray.
Pour in the olive oil and mix with the vegetables well.
Stir in the chopped tomatoes or canned chopped tomatoes, combine well.
Pour in the water.
Stir in the oregano and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Combine well.
Bake in the preheated oven (200 C/ 400 F), uncovered for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, give the vegetables a good mix and bake for a further 20 minutes, until they start to chargrill at edges.
Serve hot as part of a mezze spread or as a side to pasta and grills.

Notes