Tag Archives | olive oil

Fish kebabs with lemon, pepper, red onions and bay leaves

By Ozlem Warren on April 22, 2015 in Seafood 17

Healthy, delicious fish kebabs in olive oil, lemon juice and red pepper flakes marinade.

This is such an easy and tasty fish kebab; you can use any firm fleshed fish like cod lion, tuna or salmon. Meaty swordfish, kilic baligi, is traditionally used at home and its firm, chunky flesh really works well in the kebabs. I like to roast extra vegetables by the side to complement the fish kebabs; with some boiled potatoes aside, these fish kebabs make a delicious, impressive meal for entertaining.

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

This and many other delicious, healthy Turkish recipes are included in my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland, Signed copies are now 30 % Off for a limited period at this link. It is delivered worldwide including the US.

Brush the left over marinade of olive oil, lemon juice and red pepper flakes over the skewers.

It is worth marinating the fish prior cooking; a simple marinade of olive oil, refreshing lemon juice with a little spicy kick from red pepper flakes flavor the fish kebabs beautifully. I baked my fish kebabs in the oven. You can alternatively cook them over preheated barbecue, oven grill or hot griddle for 6 – 8 minutes, until they are cooked through and lightly browned.

Lovely Fish Kebab image from Ozlem’s Turkish Table cookery book by Sian Irvine Photography

I hope you enjoy these tasty fish kebabs, Afiyet Olsun,
Ozlem

5.0 from 3 reviews

Fish kebabs with lemon, pepper, red onions and bay leaves

This is such and easy and tasty fish kebab; a simple marinade of olive oil, refreshing lemon juice with a little spicy kick from red pepper flakes flavor the fish kebabs beautifully. I like to roast extra vegetables by the side to complement the fish kebabs; with some boiled potatoes aside, these fish kebabs make a delicious, impressive meal for entertaining.

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Turkish style fish kebabs - Seafood

Cuisine: Turkish Cuisine

Serves: 2

Ingredients

350 gr/ 12 oz. skinned, boneless cod lion (or any firm fleshed fish), cut into bite size chunks
1 red onion, quartered and coarsely sliced
2 red pointy (or bell) peppers, deseeded and coarsely sliced
1 lemon, cut into small wedges
5 – 6 fresh bay leaves
2 tbsp. / 30 ml olive oil (for roasting the vegetables)
For the marinade:
30 ml / 2 tbsp. olive oil
Juice of ½ lemon
1 – 2 teaspoon Turkish red pepper flakes or chili flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Lemon wedges to serve

Instructions

Soak wooden skewers in water for 15 minutes before using.
Preheat oven to 180 C / 350 F
Cut the skinned, boneless cod lion (or your choice of firm fleshed fish) into bite size (about 3 cm/1.2” in.) chunks.
Place the fish in a bowl and stir in the olive oil, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. Season the fish with salt and ground black pepper. Gently coat the chunks of the fish with this marinade.
Cover the bowl and set aside for 15 minutes to marinate and for the fish to absorb the flavors.
Place the chopped red onion, red pointy (or bell) pepper and green pepper slices on a baking tray. Drizzle 2 tbsp. olive oil over them. Season with salt, ground black pepper and mix well.
Thread the fish on to the skewers, alternating with a wedge of lemon, red onion slice, red and green pepper slices. Thread one or two bay leaves into each skewer. Brush the kebabs with any leftover marinade.
Place the skewers at one side of your baking tray. Spread the remaining chopped vegetables next to the fish kebab skewers. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
Serve the fish kebabs hot with roasted vegetables and a wedge of lemon by the side. Boiled or roasted potatoes also complement the fish kebabs well.

Notes

Soak wooden skewers in water for 15 minutes before using.

Baked Cauliflower with feta, dill, onions; Karnabahar Mucveri

By Ozlem Warren on April 6, 2015 in Appetizers and Mezes 34

Baked Cauliflower with feta, dill, onions; Firinda Karnabahar Mucveri

Inspired by the delicious Zucchini/courgette fritters with feta; Mucver, as we call it in Turkish, this time I made this wonderful dish using cauliflowers. Rather than frying, I baked the cauliflower florets flavored with feta, dill, onions in the oven. The result has been equally delicious and lighter in flavor, served with a refreshing wedge of lemon aside.

I love cauliflower’s firm texture and you can flavor it easily with herbs, olive oil and lemon juice. During our Culinary tour to Turkey a few years ago, we made the cauliflower fritters with feta and dill at our Aegean style cookery class in Sirince; they were scrumptious with garlic yoghurt aside. Here is also my YouTube video on how to make this lovely Baked cauliflower dish:

Stir in the chopped red onions, spring (green onions), parsley, dill, olive oil and the crumbled feta cheese to the bowl with the cauliflower florets.

Stir in the chopped red onions, spring (green onions), parsley, dill, olive oil and the crumbled feta cheese to the bowl along with the cauliflower florets.

I am happy to report that baking rather than frying works very well in this dish. It is easier, lighter and still packed with flavor. Dill, parsley, spring onions, red onions pack a punch and flavor the cauliflowers very nicely, along with feta cheese. You can add some red pepper flakes to the mixture for a pleasant heat, if you like. There’s also no need to cook the cauliflowers beforehand.

You can serve this baked cauliflower florets with Cacik dip of yoghurt with cucumber and garlic or the Shepherd’s Salad; it would make a delicious lunch or light supper with crusty bread and wedge of lemon aside. Baked Cauliflower with feta, dill, onions, Firinda Karnabahar Mucveri would also accompany grills well – delicious hot or cold.

Baked Cauliflower with feta, dill, onions; Firinda Karnabahar Mucveri

If you enjoy wonderful hot and cold mezes, vegetables cooked in olive oil like this dish and more, I have included a large variety of vegetarian courses in my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland. Signed copies are now 25 % OFF at this link and delivered worldwide including the US, for a limited time. We also have this seasonal Ozlem’s Turkish Table apron, with the embroidery of my hometown Antakya’s celebrated daphne leaves in the design. It can make a lovely gift, if you like to order here.

Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

4.8 from 13 reviews

Baked Cauliflower with feta, dill, onions; Karnabahar Mucveri

An utterly delicious vegetarian Turkish appetizer, featuring cauliflowers, flavored with feta cheese, onions, dill, parsley. Baking works very well here, the result is a lovely, light vegetarian dish; delicious hot or cold.

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Vegetarian Turkish Appetizers

Cuisine: Turkish Cuisine

Serves: 6

Ingredients

1 medium cauliflower (about 850 gr), cut into small florets
180 gr / 6 ½ oz. feta cheese, drained and crumbled
4 tbsp. / 60 ml all purpose (plain flour) – use gluten-free flour for gluten-free version
3 medium eggs, beaten
½ red onion, finely chopped
3 spring (green) onions, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Small bunch of flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
Small bunch of fresh dill, finely chopped
30 ml/ 2 tbsp. olive oil
10 ml/ 2 tsp. red pepper flakes or chili flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Wedges of lemon to serve
22 cm x 22 cm (7”x7”) baking dish recommended

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180 C / 350 F
Cut the cauliflower in small florets, wash and drain the excess water in a colander/sieve.
Beat the eggs in a small bowl.
Place the drained cauliflower florets in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the chopped red onions, garlic, spring (green onions), parsley, dill, olive oil and the crumbled feta cheese to the bowl.
Season with salt, ground black peppers and chili (red pepper flakes). Using your hands, combine all the ingredients. At this stage, you can check the seasoning – add more salt or peppers to your taste.
Stir in the beaten egg and flour to the cauliflower mixture and combine well.
Grease your baking dish with 15 ml/ 1 tbsp. olive oil and pour in the mixture to the baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven (180 C / 350 F) for 25 – 30 minutes, until the cauliflower florets have a nice light brown color on top.
Slice and serve hot with a wedge of lemon and crusty bread aside. Cacik dip of yoghurt with diced cucumber and garlic or Shepherd’s salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and spring onion in lemon juice and olive oil dressing would go well with this delicious dish.

Baba ghanoush or Abagannuc; burnt eggplant salad with lemon, olive oil

By Ozlem Warren on July 14, 2014 in Appetizers and Mezes, Regional Signature Dishes; Mains, Sides and Desserts, Salads 34

Baba ghanoush; Abagannuc; burnt eggplant, tomatoes and peppers in garlic, olive oil and pomegranate molasses

Baba ghanoush or Abagannuc; burnt eggplant, tomatoes and peppers in garlic, olive oil and pomegranate molasses

This delicious salad or dip, Abagannuc or Baba ghanoush, is very popular in Antakya and Southern Turkish cuisine and one of our family favorites. It has many variations throughout the Middle East, where tahini maybe added or plain yoghurt and what to include or not include may invite heated debates! No matter how the finishing touch will be, the essence of this salad remains the same; the aubergines are traditionally cooked over open fire or over the burner to get the smoky flavor. The skin of aubergines and peppers burn and their flesh becomes soft, sweet and tender.

Kozmatik from home; a steel base with holes on it, a genius idea to cook/char grill the vegetables without much of a mess!

In Turkey, a very simple gadget called “Kozmatik” is used to cook the aubergines over the burner. It has a steel base with holes on it, a genius idea to cook the vegetables without much of a mess!

Leave the peeled eggplant fleshin the colander to drain its bitter juices.

You can cook the aubergines a day ahead of time; just add ½ juice of lemon after mashing and combine well, that will help to retain its color. Cover and keep in the fridge until you make the salad. I also added a drizzle of pomegranate molasses as a dressing in this version; the smoky flavor of aubergines and peppers worked really well with pomegranate molasses. When in season, pomegranate seeds would also be lovely over this salad.

Abagannuc or baba ghanoush goes very well as part of a mezze spread or with any grills. I also love this dip on crackers or toasted bread with a nice sharp cheese or feta cheese aside.

Abagannuc or baba ghannoush, a delicious smoky eggplant salad with a drizzle of pomegranate molasses.

I hope you enjoy our version of Abagannuc or baba ghannoush, packed with flavor. Its plant based version. Mutabbal with garlicky tahini sauce, along with the Begendi sauce of smoked aubergines/eggplant with bechamel sauce are at my new book SEBZE, Vegetarian recipes from my Turkish kitchen. You can get a copy of SEBZE here.

Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

5.0 from 6 reviews

Baba ghanoush-Abagannuc; burnt eggplant salad with garlic, olive oil

Abagannuc or baba ghanoush is a popular mezze or salad in southern Turkish cuisine, where eggplants are char grilled to get a delicious, smoky flavor. It has different versions throughout the Middle East. We'd like to add a little pomegranate molasses in our version for a tangy, sweet flavor. This salad / dip goes very well as part of a mezze spread or with any grills. I also love this dip on crackers or toasted bread with a nice sharp cheese or feta cheese aside.

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Turkish Mezzes, Salads

Cuisine: Regional Turkish Cuisine

Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 medium aubergines / eggplants
1 pointy red pepper or bell pepper
3 small, ripe tomatoes
1 clove of garlic, crushed with salt and finely chopped
Juice of ½ lemon
30ml/2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
A drizzle (about 10ml/2 tsp) pomegranate molasses to decorate (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to serve

Instructions

Line the base of your burners with a foil to protect, keeping only the burners exposed.
Place the eggplants or aubergines and pepper directly over the burner on medium heat and roast for about 15 - 20 minutes, turning occasionally. (You can roast the tomatoes on a barbeque or on the oven at 200 C for about 20-25 minutes, as it can get quite messy over the burner.)
If you prefer not to have the smoky flavor, you can also score the aubergines with a knife in few places and bake on a baking tray for 50 – 60 minutes. In this case, turn them around every 20 minutes or so that they would cook evenly. Pepper would need about 35-40 minutes to cook in the oven and chargrill.
If you are cooking over the burner, use metal tongs to turn the aubergines and pepper around so that all sides would cook evenly and the skin is nicely chargrilled. Cook until the skin is burnt and the flesh is soft.
Remove the cooked aubergines, tomatoes and the pepper to a colander to allow them to cool. Once cool, peel and discard their burnt skin and leave them in the colander to drain aubergine’s bitter juices. I like to gently squeeze the aubergine flesh to drain as much water as possible.
Chop the flesh of the aubergine, pepper and tomatoes coarsely and mash them with a fork.
Place the flesh in a bowl and stir in the chopped garlic, lemon juice and the extra virgin olive oil, combine well. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
When serving, drizzle with pomegranate molasses over (if you prefer to) and give a gentle mix; its tangy flavor works really well with the smoked aubergine and peppers.