Turkish Recipes

Prior to visiting Turkey, I had never tried red lentils. But in Istanbul you can’t go to a restaurant that features local dishes without running into red lentil soup. As I’ve found out, the red lentils can be more convenient to work with than some other dried legumes because there is no need to soak …

I ran across this dish on a month-long visit to Istanbul. Eggplant was in season at the time and we were able to sample quite a few dishes that were new to me. I love traveling to places that aren’t afraid of variety, spice and flavor – Istanbul is one such place. This dish is served …

This yogurt dip recipe was inspired by a recent trip to Istanbul. In most restaurants after you are seated a waiter comes along with a tray filled with little dishes (mezze or appetizers). There is typically an assortment of hot and cold items available with flavors that vary from mild to spicy. Going out for …

When I first ordered, Köfte, or Turkish Meatballs (Kofta) in Istanbul I was completely surprised by the flavor. They were like no other meatball that I had ever tried.  The Turkish are not afraid of using exotic spices combinations and this dish is no exception. We found Kofte on most Turkish menus and were told …