Tag Archives | Ramadan

Tırnaklı Pide Ekmek; Finger-dented flatbreads

By Ozlem Warren on March 6, 2025 in Turkish Breakfast 2

These round (and sometimes oval) finger dented, Tırnaklı Pide Ekmek is a national favourite. Also known as Ramazan pidesi, it is the traditional bread we eat to break the fast during Ramadan. Happy memories of queuing at the bakery, fırın, to get our freshly baked, warm pide ekmek for our iftar, the meal we eat to break the fast during Ramadan. Most bakeries in Istanbul pretty much offer Tırnaklı Pide Ekmek all year around these days. It is a lovely bread to accompany breakfast, meze, grills, soups, casseroles, and easier than you think to make at home.

Prepare ahead and freeze: Though it tastes best on the day, you can make Tırnaklı Pide Ekmek a day ahead and wrap with a clean kitchen cloth to keep fresh and moist. You can cut the pide ekmek in quarters, wrap with foil and freeze too.

I also love our easy, puffy bread, balon ekmek, fantastic to serve with meze, casseroles, grills. You can find my easy puffy bread, balok ekmek recipe, at my new book SEBZE.

I hope you enjoy my Tırnaklı Pide Ekmek recipe, Ramadan Mubarak if you are observing and Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem x

4.0 from 1 reviews

Tırnaklı Pide Ekmek; Finger-dented flatbreads

These round (and sometimes oval) finger dented, Tırnaklı Pide Ekmek is a national favourite. Also known as Ramazan pidesi, it is the traditional bread we eat to break the fast during Ramadan. Happy memories of queuing at the bakery, fırın, to get our freshly baked, warm pide ekmek for our iftar, the meal we eat to break the fast during Ramadan. Most bakeries in Istanbul pretty much offer Tırnaklı Pide Ekmek all year around these days. It is a lovely bread to accompany breakfast, meze, grills, soups, casseroles, and easier than you think to make at home. Prepare ahead and freeze: Though it tastes best on the day, you can make Tırnaklı Pide Ekmek a day ahead and wrap with a clean kitchen cloth to keep fresh and moist. You can cut the pide ekmek in quarters, wrap with foil and freeze too.

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Flat Bread

Cuisine: Turkish cuisine

Serves: Makes 2 pide ekmek

Ingredients

500g / 1lb 1.6oz all-purpose plain flour (plus extra for shaping)
1 ½ tsp salt
11g/0.4 oz dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp olive oil
170ml/6fl oz luke warm water
155ml/5 ½ fl oz luke warm milk
for shaping:
3 tbsp room temperature water
3 tsp all-purpose plain flour
for brushing and topping::
1 tbsp whole milk yoghurt
1 egg yolk, beaten
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tsp nigella seeds
2 tsp maize flour, cornmeal or polenta, to dust the trays

Instructions

Combine the yeast, luke warm water and sugar in a small bowl and mix to dissolve. Cover with cling film and set aside for 10 minutes to get frothy.
Sift the flour into a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Pour in the yeast mixture, olive oil, salt and lukewarm milk. Using your hands, turn the mixture into a soft, sticky dough. Place the dough into a lightly floured, dry, clean surface. Knead for 5 minutes, adding a little more flour if needed, to achieve a soft, elastic and smooth dough. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with cling film or damp cloth and leave to rest in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled its size.
Place baking papers on 2 large trays and sprinkle 1 tsp maize flour, cornmeal or polenta on each tray; this will help crisp the bottom of the tırnaklı pide ekmek. Preheat fan oven to 200C/220C/430F.
For shaping, combine the flour and water in a small bowl, mix well until smooth. For brushing, combine the yoghurt, beaten egg yolk and olive oil in another bowl, mix and set aside.
Once doubled, punch the dough down, knead for 1-2 minutes on a lightly floured surface and divide into two equal pieces. Turn each dough piece into a ball, placing one in the bowl with cling film over. Flatten the other dough ball with your hands and stretch into a 25cm diameter round circle, about 1 cm thick. Place the dough circle over the prepared tray. Dip your fingertips into the flour and water mixture and indent the dough about 2 ½ cm inwards, creating a thick, circular lip around the edges. Dip your finger tips to the water and flour mixture again and indent the dough making vertical and horizontal indentations, about 4 cm apart, making diamond shapes. Repeat this process for the remaining dough, placing and shaping on the other prepared tray. Loosely cover both trays with cling film and rest for another 25-30 minutes for another rise.
Then remove the cling film, and gently brush and coat the surface of both breads with the yoghurt, egg & olive oil mixture, taking care not to press hard. Once the both tırnaklı pide ekmek surfaces coated, dip your fingers into the yoghurt mixture and press through the finger indentations on the breads again, making them visible; they will help the diamond shapes pop up. Sprinkle each tırnaklı pide ekmek with 1 tbsp sesame seeds and ½ tsp nigella seeds and bake in the preheated oven for 16-18 minutes (rotating the trays half way, for even baking, if needed), until golden with light brown patches. Take the trays out of the oven and place tırnaklı pide ekmek on top of one another and wrap them with a clean, dry kitchen cloth, to keep warm and moist. Slice to serve warm or at room temperature.

Baklava 101 from the Masters & Tips to Make the Real Thing at Home

By Ozlem Warren on July 9, 2013 in Cakes and Desserts, Fascinating Istanbul, Ozlem’s culinary and cultural trip photos to Turkey, Turkish Cooking Classes 28

baklava with pistachios, walnuts – even with chocolate!

Baklava remains as one of the most popular desserts for most of us and we were delighted to have a chance to observe how the real thing is made during our culinary tour in Istanbul, back in April. Our destination was Gulluoglu Baklava in Karakoy, the master of baklava makers since 1800’s.

The irresistable baklava; we will have a go at it during my CM Turkish cooking class on 2nd August

What impresses me is the love and passion the Gulluoglu family have for their product and thrive to make each and every baklava an unforgettable experience. “Hear the crack”, says the 6^th generation baklava maker Murat, from the Gulluoglu family, as he divides the piece of baklava with his fork while we tour around the production line; “that cracking sound is the sign of freshness, a sign of the finest baklava; a must for us. Good baklava leaves a heavenly taste in your mouth; it shouldn’t be very sweet and heavy; on the contrary it should be light enough to tempt you to eat a small plateful.”

Hundred years of tradition; baklava masters, ustas, perfecting their art.

Karakoy Gulluoglu runs baklava demonstration sessions at their factory in Karakoy and watching the ustas, masters of baklava in action, is an unforgettable experience. When I say Masters, I mean it; each of the Ustas, Masters, spend 8-10 years at each phase of baklava making to perfect it; rolling the dough; turning the dough into the paper thin sheets of pastry, making the syrup, baking at the right heat..

Clouds of flour worked in baklava dough to make the paper thin sheets of pastry

The very first thing that greets you here is the clouds of flour in the air to make that paper thin sheets of pastry for baklava, all “opened”, stretched by hand with an oklava, rolling pin.

Each sheet of baklava pastry is so thin that you can read the newpaper behind it

Once the pastry is paper thin (2mm width), the Ustas, masters, start layering them on a buttered tray. The hand rolled pastry is so thin that you can read the newspaper article behind the pastry sheet.

Paper thin sheets of pastries piled to go on a well buttered tray

Emerald colored finest Gaziantep pistachios spread generously on the baklava sheet.

The baklava master layers 20 sheets of pastry ( and sprinkles melted butter on every 4 sheets) then generously spreads finely crushed Gaziantep pistachios – finest and only type used at baklava here- (or at some cases walnuts) on the 20th layer.

The Usta, master cuts the sheets first horizontally and poured melted butter over them

Once the next 20 layers of sheets added on top, the master, usta cuts the sheets first horizontally and pours melted butter over them – cutting helps the butter to penetrate every level. He then cuts vertically and splashes another dose of melted butter all around. The baklava is now ready to be baked in the oven at 165 C – 330 F.

We also had a go at baklava with clotted cream and pistachios; kaymakli, fistikli bohca baklava

We also had a go at baklava with clotted cream and pistachios; kaymakli, fistikli gelin bohcasi

We also had a go at baklava pockets with clotted cream and pistachios; kaymakli, fistikli gelin bohcasi, another amazing treat.

Having a go at fistikli gelin bohcasi; baklava pockets with thick clotted cream, kaymak, and pistachios

While baklava was baked in the oven, the syrup is prepared, consisting of pure cane sugar, lemon juice and water. In Turkey, there is no honey added in to the baklava syrup.

In the traditional baklava syrup in Turkey, there are pure cane sugar, lemon juice and water – no honey in it-

Once cooked, the hot syrup is poured over the relatively cooler baklava, and then baklava tray goes back to the oven for another 5 minutes or so to soak up the syrup. After this, the baklava is rested at a cool area.

Syrup poured on baklava; now ready to go back to the oven again

And here is the real thing; wonderful, melt in the mouth delicious baklava. It is so light that you feel like eating ta plateful! I hope you get a chance to try the baklava in Turkey.

Fistikli ve cevizli baklava; baklava with pistachios and walnuts – what a treat

History of Baklava – Baklava Parade during the Ottomans

There are many theories as to the origin of baklava; but there is one thing for sure, that baklava was perfected at the Topkapi Palace Kitchens during the Ottoman Period and it was the Sultans’ favorite dessert. The importance of baklava at the Palace was not only because it was accepted as the token of wealth and sophistication ( as in the mansion houses) but also because it was a State tradition. The baklava parade that started at the end of the 17th century or at the beginning of the 18th century is example of this tradition.
When soldiers were getting their trimonthly pay from the Sultan, they were offered a big feast and on the 15th day of Ramadan they were treated to baklava. On the 15th day of Ramadan when the Sultan visited Hırka-i Serif (the cloak of Prophet Mohammed kept in Topkapı Palace) as a Caliph , baklava from the palace was sent to the Sultan’s Janissary soldiers. It was one tray of baklava for ten soldiers. The delivery of baklava to the soldiers and carrying the baklava to the barracks had then became an imposing parade.

Round tray baklava, cut in triangular slices

Testing the Baklava

Here are some of the tests the masters, ustas at Gulluoglu carries out for a perfect baklava:

Hearing Test
When you place a fork into a baklava you should hear a rustling sound. This means that the thin layers of dough are really thin and baklava is well cooked. The thinner the layers of dough the better the baklava.
Smelling test
When you lift to your mouth, you must smell the butter and the nut or peanut used as a filling. A good baklava should have fine ingredients.
Tasting test
You can feel the good baklava in your mouth. Good baklava leaves a heavenly taste in your mouth and does not hurt the stomach.

My home made baklava with walnuts; delicious and easier than you think

I hope all these inspire you; would you like to have a go at making baklava at home? I make it with filo pastry sheets; it is easier than you think and very satisfying. My version is a little less sweeter and fragrant with a touch of lemon taste, here is the recipe if you would like to have a go. The real thing shouldn’t be very sweet and heavy; on the contrary it should be light enough to tempt you to eat a small plateful. I think this version achieves that.

Enjoying boreks and baklavas in Gulluoglu Karakoy, Istanbul

I will be demonstrating how to make baklava at my next Turkish Cookery class, at Central Market Cooking School, Austin – Texas on 2^nd August.

The Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Camii, Istanbul

9^th July marks the start of the holy month of Ramadan this year; best wishes to all observing Ramadan; Ramazaniniz Mubarek Olsun. Baklava is one of the traditional desserts enjoyed during Ramadan, I hope you enjoy this special treat and have a chance to make it at home.

Treats for Seker Bayrami, Eid Al-Fitr – Gullac, Baklava and more

By Ozlem Warren on August 16, 2012 in Cakes and Desserts, Fascinating Istanbul 12

Wonderful blue tiles at the Blue Mosque

There is a wonderful excitement in my parent’s home in Istanbul, as the holy month of Ramadan is now reaching to its end soon. My mother has been fasting, and we are all look forward to being together this year to celebrate the end of Ramadan in Istanbul. Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, improvement, charity, as well as increased devotion and worship. I love seeing family and friends visiting each other, elderly eagerly waiting for the young ones to pay a visit; little ones eagerly waiting for their sweet treats. Ramadan is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community, share what you have and visit one another. A wonderful time when feelings of tolerance and charity are foremost in people’s minds.

Inside of the Blue Mosque; a special time to visit during Ramadan

Gullac

My mother has so many treats in her mind for the family and friends to share. One of her favorite dessert for this time of the year is the traditional dessert, Gullac. This lovely, light dessert is prepared with Gullac wafers which is made with corn starch and wheat flour. You can find Gullac wafers at specialty or Middle Eastern stores, or at Turkish online shops like Tulumba or Marketurk in the UK.

Güllaç contains walnuts or almonds between the layers which are soaked in milk. It is light and wonderful dessert for warm summer days. You can decorate Gullac with pomegranate seeds in winter or dried fruits like apricots in summer; crushed pistachios are also wonderful over gullac.

Delicious and refreshing Gullac dessert, very light too

Ingredients:

1 pack gullac wafers

600gr sugar

3kg milk

6 tbsp rose water

400gr crushed almonds

Chopped dried apricots and crushed pistachios to decorate

Combine milk and sugar in a heavy pan and bring to a boil. Add the rose water to the boiling milk.

Moisten the gullac wafers with milk. Spread the half of the wafers on top of each other on a wide tray. Sprinkle crushed walnuts or almonds in the middle, and stack the rest of gullac layers, soaked in the milk mixture. Pour the rest of the milk mixture over the top wafer and let it cool. Garnish with dried apricot and crushed pistachio and serve.

Here are some more ideas for end of Ramadan treats; who can resist baklava? It is easy to make home made baklava using fillo sheets.

Scrumptious baklava with pistachios

Here is Ekmek Kadayifi – Turkish bread pudding dessert, served with kaymak, our thick clotted cream.

Ekmek Kadayifi; a traditional dessert especially at the southern Turkey

How about our dried fig dessert with stuffed with walnuts? Here, the dried fig is first poached in hot water for a few minutes to soften up then stuffed with nuts.

Poached dried figs stuffed with nuts, decorated with pistachio nuts

As you see, the sweets are the stars for the end of Ramadan festivities. If you rather prefer savory to sweet, then boreks are your best bet. Su borek made with paper thin yufka sheets or with fillo pastry sheets, with cheese and parsley filling, may be just the thing.