Tag Archives | Turkish recipes

Baked Aubergine Kebab with Meatballs – Firinda Patlican Kebabi

Baked Aubergine Kebab with Meatballs – Firinda Patlican Kebabi

We greatly enjoy this delicious southern Turkish style Baked Aubergine Kebab with Meatballs – Firinda Patlican Kebabi, especially popular in Gaziantep region in Turkey. We adore aubergine / eggplant/patlican in Turkey; one can safely say, it is our national vegetable, with over 200 recipes featuring aubergine in Turkish cuisine. Its meaty, melt in the mouth texture and naturally sweet flesh is simply fantastic here, cooked with meatballs, tomatoes and peppers. Please use long and slim variety of the purple aubergines, eggplants for this kebab.

I love the ease of this all in one bake dish. Please make sure to sprinkle salt over the aubergine slices and squeeze out their excess moisture with a paper towel. Then simply coat olive oil and seasoning over the aubergine slices. There is no need to sauté or fry the aubergine slices and the meatballs before baking. They bake all together very well, infusing their flavour to one another. You can prep this dish ahead of time and freeze leftovers successfully.

I also made a vegetarian version of this kebab, Aubergine and halloumi/hellim kebab, which worked out so deliciously. You can find this recipe at my new book, SEBZE, Vegetarian recipes from my Turkish kitchen

You can serve this dish with plain pilaf rice and cooling Cacik dip of cucumber and yoghurt aside.

Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

5.0 from 7 reviews

Baked Aubergine Kebab with Meatballs – Firinda Patlican Kebabi

We greatly enjoy this delicious southern Turkish style Baked Aubergine Kebab with Meatballs – Firinda Patlican Kebabi, especially popular in Gaziantep region in Turkey. I love the ease of this all in one bake dish. Please make sure to sprinkle salt over the aubergine slices and squeeze out their excess moisture with a paper towel. Then simply coat olive oil and seasoning over the aubergine slices. There is no need to sauté or fry the aubergine slices and the meatballs before baking. They bake all together very well, infusing their flavour to one another. You can prep this dish ahead of time and freeze leftovers successfully.

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Aubergine/eggplant and meatballs bake

Cuisine: Turkish

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

For the kofte (meatballs):
450g/1lb minced/ground lamb, beef or mixture
1 medium onion, grated
60g/2oz stale bread, soaked in water and squeezed dry
1 egg, beaten
1 small bunch finely chopped flat leaf parsley
5ml/1 teaspoon ground cumin
5ml/1 teaspoon Turkish pul biber or red pepper flakes
5ml/1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Small bowl of water for kneading kofte and getting your hands wet
And the rest:
2 medium and long (or 3, if smaller) aubergines / eggplants
1 green bell pepper, deseeded and sliced in chunky wedges
2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced
45ml / 3tbsp olive oil (to coat the aubergine slices)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the sauce:
3 garlic cloves, crushed and finely chopped
30ml/2tbsp double concentrated tomato paste
30ml/2tbsp olive oil
100ml/ 3½ fl oz lukewarm water
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat fan oven to 200C/400F
First prepare your meatball mixture. Discard the crusts of the bread, soak in the water and squeeze dry. Then crumble them into a large bowl. Add all the kofte, meatballs ingredients except the ground/minced meat and knead well. This will soften the onions and enable the spices to blend in the mixture evenly. Add the minced/ground meat and knead well again until the mixture resembles a soft dough. Cover with cling film and keep in the fridge until ready to use.
Slice the aubergines/eggplants into about 1.5cm / 0.6in circles and spread over a large tray. Sprinkle some salt over them and leave for about 10 minutes. Gently squeeze out their excess moisture with paper towel. Place them back on a clean large tray.
Drizzle 45ml / 3tbsp olive oil over the aubergine/eggplant slices. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Using your hands, gently rub the olive oil and seasoning over the aubergine/eggplant slices.
Now, shape your meatballs. Have a bowl of cold water near you. With damp hands, take a piece the size of a large walnut and roll into a round meatball, as large as your aubergine/eggplant slices, and slightly flatten. Place them on large dish or a tray side by side.
Have a round baking dish with 25cm/10in diameter near you (a 25cmx25cm square baking dish would work well too). Place a slice of aubergine upright and place a meatball alongside. Repeating this, place all the aubergine slices and meatballs side by side, quite tightly, so they can stay upright.
Gently tuck in the coarsely sliced bell peppers around the aubergine slices and meatballs. Place the tomato slices around the middle part of your round baking dish, in between aubergine and meatball layers, or if you are using a square baking dish, in between layers.
For the sauce; combine the finely chopped garlic, lukewarm water, 2tbsp tomato paste and 2tbsp olive oil in a bowl. Season with salt and ground black pepper and combine well.
Pour the sauce over the prepared aubergine, meatballs and vegetables. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes.
Then take the cover off, gently spoon the sauce in the baking dish over the aubergine and meatballs and bake further 20 – 25 minutes, until the meatballs and vegetables cooked and slightly charred.
Drizzle the sauce from the baking the dish over the aubergine and meatballs again. Serve with plain pilaf rice and cooling Cacik dip of cucumber and yoghurt aside.

Turkish coffee marble cake

By Ozlem Warren on April 29, 2021 in Cakes and Desserts, Online Turkish Cookery Course, Ozlem’s Turkish Table Cookery Book 0

Turkish coffee marble cake

I love our aromatic Turkish coffee, Turk kahvesi; it is more than a drink for us with its rituals. This is a deliciously fragrant but not overpowering Turkish coffee marble cake, ideal for coffee lovers and anyone who would enjoy a delicious slice of cake aside their favourite drink; it is especially wonderful with tea or coffee aside. Here’s my recipe for you, from my cookery book, SEBZE, Vegetarian recipes from my Turkish kichen. You can get a copy of SEBZE here worldwide.

SEBZE, Vegetarian Recipes From My Turkish Kitchen

I hope you enjoy this fragrant cake as much as we do, Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

Turkish coffee marble cake and Ozlem's Turkish Table News!

I love our aromatic Turkish coffee; it is more than a drink for us with its rituals. This is a deliciously fragrant but not overpowering Turkish coffee marble cake, ideal for coffee lovers and anyone who would enjoy a delicious slice of cake aside their favourite drink; it is especially wonderful with tea or coffee aside.

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Coffee Cake

Cuisine: Turkish cuisine

Ingredients

175 g (6 oz) unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
2 tablespoons Turkish coffee (finely ground)
90 ml (3 fl oz/6 tablespoons) warm whole milk
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
225 g (8 oz/1 cup) granulated sugar
3 medium eggs, beaten
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
230 g (8 oz/generous 1¾ cups) self-raising flour, sifted
pinch of salt
2 tablespoons cold whole milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 160°C fan/180°C/350°F/gas 4. Grease a [2 lb loaf pan or 20 cm (8 in) round cake pan (or non-stick fluted cake ring) with unsalted butter.
Combine the Turkish coffee with the warm milk and stir until completely dissolved. Stir in the cocoa powder and set aside to cool.
Using an electric whisk, cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until pale and fluffy. Add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, whisking well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract and combine well. Sift the flour and salt into a separate bowl, then fold it gently but thoroughly into the butter mixture.
Divide the cake batter into two equal portions. Add the 2 tablespoons of cold milk to one portion of the cake batter and stir gently to combine. Stir the cooled Turkish coffee mixture into the other portion of cake batter and stir gently to combine.
Spoon large blobs of each cake batter into the prepared cake pan, alternating the flavours. Swirl the batter gently with a skewer or chopstick to create a marbled effect. Bake for 42–45 minutes until the cake is springy and an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a serving plate to cool completely before slicing. This cake will keep well for up to 3 days in a container, covered.

Coiled filo pie with zucchini (courgette), cheese and dill – Kol Boregi

By Ozlem Warren on March 23, 2021 in Savory Pastries, Turkish Cooking Classes, Vegetarian recipes 8

I am delighted to share this delicious Coiled / Swirl filo pie with zucchini, dill, cheese and onions, Kol Boregi, as we call in Turkish; it has been a huge hit at my online cookery classes recently. We really enjoyed this filling; there is a lovely natural sweetness from the zucchini and onions with the saltiness from Turkish beyaz peynir (I love Pinar Foods UK’s creamy beyaz peynir) or feta cheese, that works with dill so well. You can also use spinach, sautéed leeks, kale, Swiss chard instead of zucchini/courgettes.

The trick with filo pastry sheets is that they need to be kept under slightly damp towel so they won’t dry out. Take only one sheet at a time to make the coiled shape for this recipe. I have used Jus Roll filo pastry sheets and they worked well.

The milk, egg and olive oil mixture works like a magic to keep the pastry intact while rolling. If the pastry breaks, please don’t worry, you can patch up brushing with the milk, egg and olive oil mixture. Once baked and cooled, you can cut this pastry in portions and freeze in a sealed bag (in one layer). You can also bake it ahead of time and give a gentle reheat at 180C/350F for about 8 minutes.

I love our savoury pastries and boreks in Turkish cuisine; tray bakes, filo triangles, pogacas, Pide, Flatbreads with zaatar and cheese topping and more included at my cookery book, Ozlem’s Turkish Table, Recipes from My Homeland. Signed copies available at this link and delivered worldwide.

If you live in the US, Canada or Mexico, you can order hardback copies of Ozlem’s Turkish Table here for lower shipping rates. Please kindly note that this Coiled filo pie, Kol Boregi is a new recipe and not included at my current cookery book.

I hope you enjoy this delicious Coiled filo pie, Kol boregi, Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

Coiled filo pie with zucchini (courgette), cheese and dill – Kol Boregi

I hope you enjoy this moreish Coiled / Swirl filo pie with zucchini, dill, cheese and onions, Kol Boregi, as we call in Turkish. We really enjoyed this filling; there is a lovely natural sweetness from the zucchini and onions with the saltiness from Turkish beyaz peynir (or feta cheese) that works will dill so well. You can also use spinach, sautéed leeks, kale, Swiss chard instead of zucchini. The trick with filo pastry sheets is that they need to be kept under slightly damp towel so they won’t dry out. Take only one sheet at a time to make the coiled shape for this recipe. I have used Jus Roll filo pastry sheets and they worked well.

Author: Ozlem Warren

Recipe type: Savoury pastry, borek

Cuisine: Turkish cuisine

Serves: 6

Ingredients

7 Filo pastry sheets (270g - 480mm x 255mm), thawed (I used a packet of Jus Roll filo sheets, they work well)
For the filling:
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 medium to large zucchini/courgettes (485g/1lb 1oz), trimmed and grated
1 small bunch of dill, finely chopped
200g/7 oz Turkish beyaz peynir or feta cheese, juice drained and crumbled
30ml/2tbsp olive oil (to sauté the onions)
5ml/1tsp pul biber
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the egg, milk and olive oil sauce:
30ml/ 1fl oz milk
1 free range medium egg, beaten
15ml/1tbsp olive oil
For the topping of the coiled/swirl pie:
1 free range medium egg, beaten
10ml/2tsp olive oil
1tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

For the filling, place the grated courgette (zucchini) in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Set aside for 10 minutes. Using a clean tea towel or sturdy couple of sheets of kitchen paper towel, squeeze out the excess juice (this is an important step, otherwise this excess juice would make the pastry soggy). Place the squeezed zucchini/courgette in a large bowl.
Pour in the 2 tbsp olive oil on wide heavy pan and stir in the chopped onions; gently sauté for 8 minutes, until they soften. Stir in the grated zucchini/courgette, combine and sauté for another 4 minutes, season with salt and ground black pepper. Turn the heat off.
Place the sautéed onions and courgettes in the large mixing bowl. Stir in the crumbled cheese, dill, season (you may not need additional salt, as feta/beyaz peynir is already salty) and pul biber. Combine all ingredients well and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. The filling is ready.
Preheat fan oven to 180C/200C/400F.. Line a round baking dish (with 25cm/10in diameter) with baking paper.
Combine the milk, beaten egg and olive oil for the sauce in a small bowl. .For the topping, mix the beaten egg and olive oil in a small bowl
Open your thawed filo pastry sheets and gently lay them on a dry, clean surface and cover with a damp towel. To coil the filo, the pastry needs to be kept moist. Only take one sheet at time and keep the rest covered.
Take 2 filo sheets and lay on top of another lengthways on a clean, dry surface. Brush the top sheet with he milk, egg and olive oil mixture. Place about 145g/5oz filling in a line, along the edge near you, leaving 2cm at each end filling free. Gently roll up into a cylinder. Brush the edge with the milk, egg, olive oil mixture. Starting from one end, wind the filo into a coil and put on the baking dish with the baking paper on. Brush over and sides of the coiled pastry with the egg, milk and olive oil mixture (this also helps to patch up any broken pastry).
Repeat the same procedure with the next 4 filo pastry sheets, using 2 sheets at a time .Coil each filo cylinder around the previous one to make a larger spiral. Make sure to brush the top and sides of the coiled pastry with the egg, milk and olive oil mixture.
Fold the last remaining sheet, lengthways and brush the sheet with the egg, milk and olive oil mixture. Place the remaining filling (about 85g/3oz) in a line along the edge near you. Roll up again into a cylinder and coil around the previous one to complete the spiral. Brush the top and sides of the coiled pastry with the egg, milk and olive oil mixture and patch up any broken pastry.
Brush the top and visible edges of the pie the beaten egg and olive oil all over, and then sprinkle the sesame seeds.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes, until the top is golden brown and cooked through. Let it slightly cool for 5 minutes. Slice in wedges. You serve with Spicy bulgur wheat salad with pomegranate molasses, Kisir, aside if you like.