Tag Archives | Turkish recipes

My new cookery book-İSTANBUL; Delicious Recipes from the Heart of the City!

By Ozlem Warren on February 11, 2026 in Cakes and Desserts, Fascinating Istanbul, ISTANBUL cookery book, Pasta – Makarna, Pilafs and Rice, Regional Signature Dishes; Mains, Sides and Desserts, Roasts and Kebaps, Salads, Savory Pastries, Seafood, Soups, Travels, Turkish Breakfast, Turkish cookery book, Turkish Street Food 0

ISTANBUL cookery book – Pre-order HERE!

My heart bursts with excitement and pride to share that I wrote a new cookery book, İstanbul; Delicious Recipes from the Heart of the City, to be published in May 2026 worldwide by Quadrille – I cannot wait for you to see this very special book, to take you to a magical culinary journey to my beloved İstanbul. The book now is ready to Pre-order HERE, and we would be very grateful if you can pre-order, as it hugely helps a new book, my sincere thanks in advance.

Breakfast plate from Istanbul cookery book, photo by Sam A Harris

Born and raised in Türkiye, I lived in İstanbul for more than 15 years. I am passionate about this magical city, where I studied, worked and even married my husband, Angus, on the banks of the Bosphorus. This special cookery book, İstanbul, is a result of my years of research, experience and memories of living, enjoying its diverse, multicultural heritage, delicious food and recreating the recipes, in an accessible way so that food lovers all round the world can make at home with ease and relive memories. As the former capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, İstanbul has a fascinating culinary heritage. Over the years, many ethnic groups have all made the city their home, each in turn contributing to its cuisine. Hence it was important to me that this book honoured the many different communities that have made the city’s food scene what it is today.

Isanbul landscape, from Istanbul cookery book, by Sam A Harris

Multi-cultural meze spread from Istanbul cookery book, image by Sam A Harris

With easy and flavourful recipes for dishes from the fırın (bakery) to the kahvaltı evi (breakfast houses), ocakbası (fireside), sokak (street), one-pot wonders and more, Istanbul cookery book is a dynamic collection of more than 80 recipes which I aim to take readers on a journey through Istanbul, showing just how delicious and satisfying the city’s food can be, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner. Vegetarian readers would be happy to know that over 50 of the recipes are vegetarian, nodding to our bountiful farmers markets, and many are gluten-free or provided options where applicable.

Sigara boregi, cheesy filo rolls from Istanbul cookery book, image by Sam A Harris

Beets with toasted hazelnuts, olives, pul biber oil from Istanbul cookery book, image by Sam A Harris

Cheat’s Lahmacun from Istanbul cookery book, image by Sam A Harris

Expect to find Ottoman classics such as Hünkar Beğendi, rolled vine leaves with sour cherries, Visneli Sarma, breakfast staples Soğanlı Menemen, Acuka dip, Yengen tost, multicultural flavours such as Topik, Borekitas and nutty Çerkez Tavuğu, delicious savoury bakes like crispy Fırında Sigara Böreği, street food classics like Kolay Gözleme, fluffy Açma, Lokma, scrumptious sweets such as Şekerpare, Mozaik Kek, Esnaf lokantası style one pot wonders like Süzme Mercimek Çorbası, Hasan Pasa Kofte, Karides Güvec, regional flavours like home-style Iskender Kebap, Fırında Patlıcan Kebabı, easy Cheat’s Mantı, Easy Lahmacun, vegetarian delights such as Fırın Sebze, Mercimekli Karnıyarık, Barbunya Pilaki, Peynirli Sebzeli Pide, easy mezes, pickles, drinks and so much more. Recipes that will transport you to the fascinating city of İstanbul.

Peynirli, Sebzeli Pide from Istanbul cookery book, image by Sam A Harris

Hunkar Begendi, from Istanbul cookery book, image by Sam A Harris

Yengen toasties from Istanbul cookery book, image by Sam A Harris

It’s been an absolute honour and privilege to write this book. A celebration of İstanbul’s diverse, delicious food, it is my heartfelt tribute to a magical city, one that I love and that has shaped so much of my cooking. I genuinely love every recipe in this book and so excited and proud to share with you all; there is something for everyone here, with stunning photography. Huge thanks to my publisher Quadrille and everyone who touched this beautiful book. I hope it brings you joy and inspiration and transports you to magical Istanbul. Pre-orders are open HERE and we would be very grateful!

My family photo from Istanbul cookery book, image by Sam A Harris

Srumptious sweets such as Sekerpare cookies in Istanbul cookery book too. Image by Sam A Harris

My chilchood favourite Mozaik Cake with dried cherries and pistachios from Istanbul cookery book, image by Sam A Harris

I can’t wait for you to cook from my new book, Istanbul! We would be grateful if you can pre-order HERE, as it helps new books so much (you only pay when it is delivered at lowest price). Cok teşekkür ederim, afiyetler olsun,

Özlem xxx

ISTANBUL cookery book – Pre-order HERE!

Yufka Mantısı – Easy mantı rolls with filo sheets

By Ozlem Warren on January 13, 2026 in Turkish cookery book, Turkish Festive Dishes, Uncategorised 2

This is a scrumptious and easy version of mantı, using filo sheets; a popular one in my homeland in Türkiye, made with yufka sheets. I like to use minced/ground lamb in the filling and loads of grated onions for flavour and moisture. As the filling is much more substantial than in traditional mantı, I add a bit of bread crumbs to give it a kofte like soft texture and avoid it to be dry (traditional mantı wouldn’t have breadcrumbs in filling). It makes a gorgeous, melt in the mouth moist filling and makes a lovely contrast to the crispy filo when baked. With garlic yoghurt and spiced oil, it is an easy, scrumptious and impressive mantı rolls feast.

Alternative fillings: You could use ground beef; please make sure it has 20% fat content so it won’t be dry. For vegetarian filling, you can use loads of sauteed onions, combined with green lentils, herbs, mashed potatoes, for instance, with a good seasoning. Make ahead: You can bake the first stage of this dish a day ahead and keep in the fridge. Add the sauce and cook further, then serve with the garlic yoghurt and spiced oil just before eating.

Tray bake Mantı with spiced chickpeas, Nohutlu Tepsi Mantı from SEBZE cookbook. Image credit Sam A Harris

I hope you enjoy this delicious, easy mantı rolls feast, Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem x

5.0 from 1 reviews

Yufka Mantısı – Easy mantı rolls with filo sheets

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Manti rolls with filo sheets

Cuisine: Turkish cuisine

Serves: 4

Ingredients

5 filo sheets, thawed (each 480mm x 255 mm)
450g/1lb minced/ground lamb
2 medium onions, grated
55g/2oz breadcrumbs
3tbsp olive oil
small bowl of water with a drizzle of oil for brushing
small bunch of parsley, finely chopped (reserve 1 tbsp for decorating)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the sauce:
2tbsp olive oil
1tbsp Turkish pepper paste
1tbsp double concentrated tomato paste
155ml/ 5 ½ oz water
For the garlic yoghurt:
2-3 garlic cloves, crushed with salt and finely chopped
400g/14oz full fat yoghurt
For the spiced oil:
2tbsp olive oil
30g/1lb butter
1tsp pul biber
2tsp dried mint

Instructions

Grease the base and sides of 20cm diameter round baking dish with 6 cm height with 1tbsp olive oil. Preheat fan oven to 180C/200C/400F.
Combine the grated onions, breadcrumbs, parsley, 1 tsp salt and generous grind of black pepper in a large bowl. Knead with your hands to combine well, then stir in the minced meat and knead to combine thoroughly. Divide the filling into 5 equal portions (about 80g/2.8oz each).
Place the filo sheets on a clean, dry surface and cover with damp towel. Take one sheet out and place on a dry surface, the long edge nearest to you. Place ⅕ of the filling in a line, then roll up into a log; dip pastry brush into the water& oil mixture and brush the edge of the pastry, complete the log to seal. Make 4 more logs this way, then slice the logs into 5cm rolls.
Place the rolls up right, side by side, quite tightly, until all placed in the dish. Brush the tops and sides of the rolls with the olive oil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, the rolls will crisp up nicely round the edges.
Take the yoghurt out of the fridge, stir in the garlic, season and combine well. Set a side to bring to room temperature.
While the mantı rolls are baking, also make the sauce. Combine the olive oil, pepper paste and tomato paste in a small pan over a medium heat and pour in the water. Season with salt and pepper, bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes, turn the heat off.
After 30 minutes, take out the dish from the oven and gently pour the sauce all over the crispy rolls. Return the dish to the oven for another 10 minutes.
Use the same small pan to make the spiced oil. Stir in the olive oil and butter and melt, warm up over medium/low heat. Then stir in dried mint and pul biber and gently infuse for 30 seconds.
Serve mantı rolls hot, with blobs of garlic yoghurt, a drizzle of spiced oil and sprinkle of chopped parsley over immediately.

Poached Dried Apricots in Light Syrup with Kaymak

By Ozlem Warren on July 11, 2025 in SEBZE, Vegetarian recipes 0

This delicious Kuru Kayısı Tatlısı, Poached Dried Apricots in Light Syrup with Clotted Cream , from my book SEBZE is a light, delicious and easy dessert for entertaining. Turkiye is one of the largest producers of apricots, kayısı. They are grown in abundance during the summer months, and some of the yearly harvest is dried in the sun to be enjoyed all year round. Malatya, a city in southeast Turkiye, is particularly famous for the quality of its dried apricots, which are exported all over the world. When I was a child, we lived in Elazığ, a town next to Malatya and my father would bring home cases of juicy apricots after work. We would eagerly wait for my father’s return and the apricots would soon disappear. Poaching dried apricots in light syrup brings out their beautiful fragrance and they are luscious served with cream.

Prepare ahead: You can poach the dried apricots in syrup 1–2 days ahead. Once cool, keep in a container, covered, in the refrigerator.

Variation and leftovers: Instead of clotted cream, you can stuff the dried apricots with 85 g (3 oz/2/3 cup) chopped walnuts for a plant-based feast. Leftovers can be enjoyed for breakfast or you can serve the leftover syrup as a light sherbet drink, with ice cubes and fresh mint in small glasses.

Here’s my recipe from my book SEBZE; if you are after delicious, easy, wholesome vegetarian Turkish recipes, there are 85 scrumptious recipes are on offer in SEBZE, along with stunning photography, stories, heritage – you can get a copy here worldwide.

Afiyet olsun,

Ozlem x

Poached Dried Apricots in Light Syrup with Kaymak

This is a light, delicious and easy dessert for entertaining. Turkey is one of the largest producers of apricots, kayısı. They are grown in abundance during the summer months, and some of the yearly harvest is dried in the sun to be enjoyed all year round. Malatya, a city in southeast Turkey, is particularly famous for the quality of its dried apricots, which are exported all over the world. When I was a child, we lived in Elazığ, a town next to Malatya and my father would bring home cases of juicy apricots after work. We would eagerly wait for my father’s return and the apricots would soon disappear. Poaching dried apricots in light syrup brings out their beautiful fragrance and they are luscious served with cream.

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Easy Desserts

Cuisine: Turkish cuisine

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

150 g (5 oz/2/3 cup) granulated sugar
450 ml (15 fl oz/1¾ cups) hot water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
250 g (9 oz) soft dried apricots
130 g (4½ oz/½ cup) Turkish thick cream (kaymak) or clotted cream (or plant-based clotted cream)
2 tablespoons crushed pistachios

Instructions

Combine the sugar and hot water in a medium pan and bring to the boil. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves, then reduce to a simmer. Pour in the lemon juice and add the dried apricots, and poach for 20 minutes over a low–medium heat. The apricots will plump up and the syrup will thicken, infused with the apricots’ beautiful fragrance. Leave to cool.
Once cool, gently open the split of the apricot and fill each with about ⅓ teaspoon kaymak or clotted cream. Place the stuffed apricots on a serving dish, spoon the syrup around them and sprinkle with crushed pistachios to serve.