Tasting Turkish Culture

Ingredients: 6-8 peppers (green, red, yellow), suitable size for stuffing 1 large tomato, sliced (optional) 1 cup warm water For filling: 1 cup of rice 1 medium size onion (finely chopped) 2 tbsp oil ½ lb ground beef (optional) salt black pepper paprika mint flakes allspice (optional) 1 tsp sugar Directions: 1-Take the top of the peppers off and remove the seeds. Keep the pepper tops aside. 2-Wash them thoroughly. 3-Mix ground beef, rice, oil, salt, paprika, allspice and black pepper in a bowl. 4-Stuff loosely the peppers with the mixture. 5-Put the tomato slices or the pepper tops on top of the mixture. 6-Place the peppers in a pot; put a small serving plate onto peppers, pour warm water. 7-Put the lid on, cook on medium heat. When the water boils, reduce the heat to low medium and continue cooking until the rice is done, approximately for 20 minutes. Serve hot if you have meat in the mixture. Otherwise you may serve hot or a...

Veiled Rice 1 cup rice 2 cups water Phyllo dough sheets 1 cup canned carrot and pea mixture 1 egg 1 tsp butter 2 tbsp oil 1 tbsp salt Direction 1-Add well-washed rice in a pot with melted butter and oil.Stir the rice for 2 minutes. 2Then add canned peas and carrot and sprinkle some salt on the rice. 3-Pour the water in the pot.Let it boil until rice absorbs all the water. 4-Lay the folded phyllo dough sheet in a medium size bowl. 5-In the middle of the sheet,put some rice and fold in the edges of the sheet. 6-Then lay the sheet, folded edges down on a oven tray.Spread some egg on it and bake until it turns golden brown in 350 F oven. Serve it warm with meat,chicken or vegetables. Afiyet Olsun.

Ingredients 1 c. rice 2 c. water 1/2 c. chickpeas, canned and drained 1/2 bunch fresh dill, chopped 1 t. salt 2 T. butter 1 T. oil Directions 1-Heat oil and butter over medium heat. 2- When the butter has melted, add rice and chickpeas, and stir for 3-4 minutes. 3- Then add water and salt. When the rice has absorbed the water, remove from heat and add dill.  4-Mix gently and cover with a lid. 5- Let stand about 15 minutes.  Serve hot or warm with main dish or vegetables. Afiyet olsun!

Ingredients 1 cup of jasmine rice 1- 1/2 cups of hot water 1/4 shredded carrots 1/4 chopped onion 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cumin 2 tbsp olive oil Preparation 1-Put oil in a pan, add onion and carrots. Saute them 2-3 minutes. 2- Then add rice, salt and cumin. Stir well. 3- Add water and close lid. Cook until water is gone. Let rest 20 min. Afiyet Olsun.

Ingredients  1 cup jasmine rice 1 and 1/2 cup hot water 1 cube chicken broth ( optional ) 1 can carrot and peas Salt to taste 4 tbsp olive oil Preparation 1-In a medium pot add olive oil and rice. Stir and roast it until rice gets dry. 2- Add drained can peas and carrots mixture in rice. 3- Then mix the chicken broth with hot water. Pour into the rice. 4-Cover and cook until soak all water.Turn off the heat and let rest for 20 min. Afiyet Olsun!

Ingredients  1cup jasmine rice 4 tbsp butter 3 tbsp pine nut 3 tbsp currant 1/4 pound beef cut in small cubes 1 and 1/2 cup hot water 1 onion, chopped 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground clove Salt to taste Preaparation 1- In a medium pot, saute the beef in a medium heat.  2- Then add 4tbsp butter and chopped onion.Saute them until onions get soft. 3-Then add rice and other ingredients and saute them 2-3 min. 4- Finally add water and wait until absorb all water.  5- Rest 20 min, before serve. Afiyet Olsun.

Rice with Vermicelli ( Sehriyeli Pilav ) Ingredients   1 cup of rice 1-1/2 cup water 2 tbsp olive oil 1/4 cup vermicelli 1 tbsp sal t  Direction 1-In a pot, put oil and add vermicelli when the oil gets warm. 2-Then saute the vermicelli until it gets light brown and add washed rice and salt.  3-Keep stirring for approximately 2-3 min. 4-Then add water and close the lid.Cook in a medium heat until rice absorb the water. Serve it warm . Afiyet Olsun!...

Bulgur With Green Lentils Ingredients 1 medium onion 2 cups of bulgur 1 cup of green lentils 1tbsp vegetable oil 1 tbsp butter 2 cups of hot water 1 tsp salt Preparation Wash the green lentils. Put lentils in a pot, add water (to exceed by an inch) and boil until lentils are cooked (soft). Do not over cook the lentils. Strain the lentils. In a new pot, add vegetable oil and margarine add finely chopped onions, saute until pink. Wash the buigur, and add bulgur and lentils to the onions. Add hot water and salt. Close the lid. Cook until all the water is gone. Let sit for 10-15min. before serving. Afiyet Olsun!