KAŞARLI POĞAÇA

POGACA WITH MOZZARELLA CHEESE

Makes 14 pogacas.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 cup of warm milk
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
• 1 egg+1 egg white
• 5 tbs of sugar
• 1 tbs of salt
• 1 tbs of instant yeast 

Filling:

• 1/2 lb of mozzarella

Topping:

• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tbsp of milk
  
• 2 cups of sesame seeds

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add milk, vegetable oil and eggs. Knead them all together with your hands until becoming dough. The dough should be soft. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest until the dough rises to double its size. It takes one to two hours.
Cut mozzarella into 14 equal pieces.
Take the bowl and knead the dough again until it is bubble free. Place the dough onto counter top and cut it into 14 pieces.Take one piece of dough and make it flat with your hands. Place 1 piece of mozzarella in the middle of the dough and close it up. Give the dough a shape of football with your hands

Mix egg yolk with 2 tbsp of milk in a bowl. Take sesame seeds in another bowl. Dip the pogacas first into egg yolk and then dip them into sesame seeds.Place them on a grased baking tray leaving some room between them and let it rise for half an hour.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Bake them until the color of pogacas turn to light brown.

 

ET BALIĞI

FISHY MEAT PATTIES

This recipe is another my hometown's classic...
You will find some interesting ingredients for meat patties; like orange zest and potatoes!
The taste is also interesting and so delicious.You might think, it tastes like fish but it is more than that.
Give it a try, if you like different flavors...

Makes 24 patties.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 small size of potatoes ( finely shredded )
  
• 2 tbsp of semolina
• 6 cloves of garlic ( finely shredded )
• zest of an orange
• 1 tbsp of ground chilli pepper
• 1 tbsp of ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper
• salt
• 1 cup of olive oil for frying

In a large mixing bowl, take ground beef, potatoes, semolina, garlic, orange zest, chilli pepper, cumin, black pepper, and salt. Knead until well combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
Take the bowl from refrigerator and take small parts ( about the size of an egg ) of mixing and give them a shape of ball and make them flat with your palms.
Take olive oil in frying pan and turn the heat on medium high. Fry both sides of patties.

MAKARNA SALATASI

PASTA SALAD

This salad has never disappointed me. I always prepare it to my friends with no doubt. Most of the time they ask for the recipe. It is also very easy to make. Here is my pasta salad recipe;

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb of pasta ( any kind you like )
• 1/2 cup of frozen corns
• 1/2 cup of frozen peas
• 3 tbsp of mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp of thick plain yogurt
• 1 tsp of ground red pepper
• 1/2 cup of pickle ( chopped )
  
• 1 bunch of green onion ( chopped )
  
• 5 cloves of garlic( minced )
• juice of 1 lemon
• 3 tbsp of vegetable oil
  
• salt

 Cook pasta according to package directions and let it cool for 40-50 minutes. Take pasta in a large mixing bowl. Add green onion, garlic, pickles, corns, peas, mayonnaise, yogurt, red pepper, lemon juice, vegetable oil, salt into the bowl and stir. Take it in serving bowl.

Note: 
The pickle I used was a mixture of carrot, cauliflower, cabbage pickles. If I am out of this kind of pickle, I just use the regular store bought pickles.

PATATESLİ BÖREK

 

BOREK WITH POTATO FILLING

Makes 14 boreks.

Ingredients:

• Turkish triangular fillo
  
• 3 large size of potatoes
• 1 small size onion (chopped )
  
• 2 tbsp of tomato paste
• 1/3 bunch of parsley
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper
• salt
  

Topping:

• 1 egg yolk
• nigella seeds
• 1 cup of milk
  

Take washed potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Boil it until soft over medium heat. Peel and mash potatoes. Saute chopped onion with 3 tbsp of vegetable oil over medium heat. Add tomato paste and stir for 5 minutes. Add mashed potatoes, black pepper, and salt and stir. Turn the heat down to low and continue to cook for ten minutes. Turn the heat off and add chopped parsley. Let it cool.

Take one of the triangular fillo sheets, brush with one tbsp of vegetable oil over the surface of fillo.Place the second fillo on top of first fillo . Place two tbsp of filling on top, fold the edges and roll.Place all the rolls in a baking dish side by side ( no place between them ). Pour one cup of milk on top and let it rest in the refrigerator until rolls absorb milk completly.

Place parcmant paper on a baking sheet. Take the rolls out and place them on the baking sheet. Brush with egg yolk and sprinkle some nigella seeds on top. Preheat the oven 35OF. Bake for 30 minutes or boreks are just golden brown.

DOMATES SOSLU KÖFTE & PATATES

 

MEATBALLS WITH POTATOES & TOMATO SAUCE

Makes 12 meatballs.

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 slices of bread
• 1/2 onion ( finely chopped )
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp of ground red pepper
• 1/2 tsp of ground thyme
• 1/3 tsp of ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp of baking soda
  
• salt

• 2 medium size of potatoes ( peeled and sliced )
• 2 tomatoes
  

Place sliced potatoes on a baking dish no space between them.  

Take two slices of bread into the bowl of food processor and process it until finely chopped. Take ground lamb, egg, processed bread, chopped onion, black pepper, red pepper,thyme, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl and knead it until well combined. Cover with stretch film and let it rest for 4-5 hours in the refrigerator. At the end of resting time, take the mixture out and knead it one more time. Divide the mixture into 12 equal parts.Give them a shape of egg and make them flat with your palms. Put the meatballs on top of potato slices.
Take tomatoes into the bowl of food processor and process it until finely chopped.Spread it onto meatballs.
Preheat the oven 400F and bake it for 30 minutes.
Serve it with rice and salad.