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About
Turkish cuisine
in
general
Turkish cuisine is to a large extent
the product of a rich historical background, resulting
from centuries of crossbreeding between East and West
and sustained by an infinite variety of fish, meat,
vegetables and fruit. When the Turks were nomads their
food was necessarily limited, but as they settled they
adopted the dishes of the conquered, refining these
continuously in the palaces of Istanbul.
Foreign guests are over and over surprised by the rich
variety and painstaking preparation of vegetable here.
The market of Bodrum makes it clear: fresh vegetables
have the highest value in the Turkish kitchen. They
can also be roasted, fried or served with yogurt.
Vegetable courses can be eaten warm by themselves or
filled with mince meat and rice (Dolma). They can also
be prepared with olive oil as a cold dish. In addition
also lamb is offered -, calf and beef and much chicken.
Pork meat is forbidden to the believing Moslem, and
fish has become very expensive over the last years. |
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The drinks
Ayran
Ayran is a beverage made out of Yoghurt,
diluted with water, salted, and must be served cool .
Very much appreciated by Turks - ideal when you are
thirsty on hot days. A must for you to try..
Raki
Among alcoholic drinks Raki as a
beverage ranks at the highest point of the popularity
scale in Turkey. It is an "anisette" which clouds when
water is added and normally you mix it with
approximately 2 thirds of water at the table. And
therefore in the common language it is also called
"Aslan süt" , (lion milk). The great thing with Raki
is that its flavour lends itself to all courses, to
the hors-d'oeuvre, the sweets, fish or meat, Raki
always fits. With "Sherefe" (cheers) you salute each
other.

Tea and coffee
Wherever you go, tea or
coffee will be offered to you, (Çay is the Turkish word for
tea, pronounced 'tschai'), it is the most preferred drink of
the Turks.
A short historical note: When the Ottoman empire
collapsed, Turkey lost the coffee supplier Yemen and thus
the actual national beverage - the coffee. Atatürk looked
for a replacement and one was discovering at the humid coast
of the black sea, favorable conditions for the cultivation
of tea. Since this time Çay is the national beverage over
all in Turkey.
The typical Turkish coffee
is traditionally
prepared in a small copper pot called Cezve. Heat together
at the same time coffee powder, water and sugar on a low
flame. When the liquid boils,
then
serve the 'Kahve' in small
mocca cups. There are three types to order : 'sade' (without sugar),
'orta' (the Turkish word for medium, in this case little
sugar) and 'sekerli' (for sweet). By the way - perhaps you
will find someone here or around Bodrum, who will read your
future from the coffee grounds. This is a very popular here
in Turkey
The
starters - or Mezeler

Hors-d'oeuvres to the full meal. Coming
for the first time to Turkey, people are surprised by
the variety of small courses, which are offered in the
restaurants. Usually the waiter brings an assortment
on a large tray of portion sized plates directly to
the table for everyone to select, whatever appeals.
More frequently however one goes to the selection bar
inside of the restaurant.
Everything that is stuffed is called Dolmas - e.g.,
there are peppers and vine leaves filled with rice,
currants and pine seeds, fried slices of eggplants
with garlic yogurt and Humus a a spicy paste made from
chick peas.

Afterwards the warm starters are served: e.g. Sigara
Böreks, filled with white cheese and parsley; fried
Zucchini and stuffed Zucchini flowers - too numerous
to mention. And the nice thing is this, if you are
full they are not bothered if you refuse to order a
main course.
Much better you
learn these names for delicious snacks before you come
to Turkey !
Doner kebab
Dönerkebab could be the Turkish answer
to Big Mac. From a big roasting *spit* very thin
sliced meat is cut and filled into a special bread
called Pide, mixed with onions and salad. (Very
inexpensive)
Gözleme
This dish consist of a thin pancake
similar to Crepes. On a curved sheet of metal this
pancake is baked and then filled mostly with a mixture
of white cheese and parsley.
Lahmacun
For sure you will see this somewhere.
Something between Pizza and Tortilla, on a thin layer
of pastry mince meat is spread - with fresh garden
herbs - spiced with red pepper from mild to hot.
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