Practical Anatolian foods

First of all, you need enough time, even though you may be considered a skillful cook, to make su böreği (pastry with cheese and parsley), which is regarded as a difficult pastry to make. Therefore, the new generation’s young men and women do not cook Anatolian foods in their kitchen. A new book titled “Mutfakla Yeni Tanışanlara Pratik Lezzetler” (Practical Tastes for Those New to the Kitchen) prepared by Sahrap Soysal, a Turkish cookbook author, provides quick and easy recipes for delicious Anatolian food for young married couples. The book includes other recipes as well.

Nowadays, the weather is unpredictable: One day it’s cold and rainy, the next day it’s hot. People may get sick because of the changing weather; however, Soysal’s soup made with onion is an ideal and healthy soup to consume especially during this time. In addition, fresh beans have started to appear in open-air markets, which can be used to make a delicious dish.

Green beans with minced meat

Ingredients: 1 kilogram fresh green beans, 300 grams veal, 1 large onion, 6 teaspoons tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper, 2 tablespoon (20 grams) sugar, 2 coffee cups olive oil of and 3-4 cups hot water.

Preparation: Cut each fresh bean in half or in thirds. Cut the onion in half and then cut into little cubes. Place the olive oil and minced meat into a saucepan on medium heat. Add the onions, tomato sauce, fresh beans, salt, black pepper and sugar to the saucepan. Mix for approximately five minutes and add hot water. Cook in the saucepan on medium heat. After the mixture boils, turn down burner to low heat and let cook for five to 10 minutes. If you add potatoes, you should add them when you add water to the saucepan.

Did you know?

If you do not use your teapot, you should place a cube of sugar into the teapot to prevent it from smelling bad.

While you are boiling vegetables, you should boil them in a small amount of water and in a short time. The healthiest way to cook vegetables is by steaming them.

Dried fruits are nutritious and rich in potassium. Do not omit dried fruits from your diet.

Wash fruits and vegetables with cold water for approximately five minutes.

Hazelnuts are ideal if you feel tired. It helps one get over sickness.

Place slices of lemon in your refrigerator to remove bad odors.

Hawthorn berry is good for your health. It helps constipation.

Eating two apples every day protects you from cardiovascular problems.

Raspberries help get rid of stomach and intestinal gas.

Almonds are good for your body, brain and liver. It also helps prevent kidney inflammation.

Healthy soup made with onion

Ingredients: 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) dried onions, 3-4 cloves garlic, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons flour, 9-10 cups meat or chicken broth.

Sauce for soup: 2 egg yolks, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 dessert spoon chili pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper and a pinch of parsley

Preparation: Cut onions in half and cut them into little cubes. Place onions and three tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan. Cook for approximately 10 to 12 minutes on medium heat. Add flour, red pepper, salt and black pepper and cook for two to three more minutes. Then add nine to 10 cups of meat or chicken broth and leave them to cook on medium heat. After the soup starts boiling, cook it for five more minutes and then remove from heat. Take a cup of soup from the saucepan to prepare a sauce. Add two egg yolks, two tablespoons of lemon juice, one dessert spoon of chili pepper, one teaspoon of salt, black pepper and a pinch of parsley into the cup of soup. Add the sauce to the soup. If you want, you can add kaşar cheese to the soup, and it can be served with a garnish of parsley.

Pan-cooked eggplant with corn flour

Ingredients: 3-4 eggplants (thin and long), 1 cup corn flour, 1 medium-sized onion, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tea glass oil.

Preparation: Peel the eggplant and chop into small squares. Leave in a pot full of salted water for 30 minutes. Wash the pieces of eggplant after you remove them from the pot. Boil water in a saucepan for 10 minutes and place the eggplant into the saucepan. Remove eggplant from the saucepan after they boil. Cut onions in half and then into little cubes. Place oil in a Teflon pan on medium heat. Add onion, corn flour and salt. Add eggplant to the mixture of onion, corn flour and salt. Pour oil into the pan. Then flip the food continuously like you are making an omelet. It can be served with garlic, walnuts and lemon juice.