Turkish Ingredient Dictionary

One of my favorite cheese shops @cankurtarangida has been serving some of highest quality Turkish cheeses along with sucuk and pastırma.
If you are in the area make sure to ask for a tasting plate of various cheese and meats.
#spooninmypocket #istanbulfoodtours #cheeseshop #istanbulfinds #spicemarket #egyptianbazaaristanbul

If you get overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle of the Spice Market area, you can find little peace and quiet in Beta Han (the entrance is near the Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi corner store) and enjoy a cup of frothy Turkish coffee.

#spooninmypocket #egyptianbazaaristanbul #spicemarket #betahan #turkishcoffeebreak

If you go lokum (Turkish delight) shopping in the Spice Market you will be amazed at the different types now available from traditional to new generation with all types of flavors and fillings.
What is your favorite type/flavor of Turkish delight?
#spooninmypocket #turkishdelight #spicemarket #lokum

This is the secret to making perfectly cooked dolmas, it is called “dolma taşı” in Turkish. Once you have a pot full of wrapped and rolled leaves (grape leaves, cabbage leaves, Swiss chard leaves etc.) then you place this over the dolmas like a lid inside the pot and it prevents the leaves from unravelling and the fillings to stroll around the pot freely😁
You can find these in many of the shops located on Tahtakale street near the Spice Market.
#spooninmypocket #dolmataşı #dolma #stuffedgrapeleaves #turkishcooking #usefulkitchengadgets #cookingsecrets #spicemarket

Who is looking forward to the fig season??? Lets see show of hands✋

#spooninmypocket #figseason

“Açma” is a thing of beauty.
This savory pastry is soft, flaky and buttery. Almost like eating a cloud.
🥄🥄🥄
I do love a good “açma” especially when it is done with the right technique of buttering the dough and spreading it on a preferably marble surface and strechting by hand or by flapping it against the marble surface. Then the dough is buttered further and rolled into a rope form, two ends are brought together while twisting, giving its unique twisted ring form.
🥄🥄🥄
Some of my favorite places that sell a good “açma” are:
Çifte Fırın in Üsküdar
Hacı Bekir in Eminönü
Beyaz Fırın in Kadıköy
But you can find this pastry in all the bakeries as well as in the red street carts that sell simit.
🥄🥄🥄
I also do think that “açma” makes for a great sandwich bread. So usually I eat mine filled with essentials of a typical Turkish breakfast. So the 2nd photo is my “mini Turkish breakfast” açma sandwich. Filled with white cheese, tomatoes, scrambled eggs and parsley.
Great for a Sunday breakfast😋
#spooninmypocket #açma #breakfastsandwich #turkishbreakfast #sundaybreakfast #getcreative #bestpastries #savorybread #sandwichsunday #sandwichbread #sandwichgram

Some of my favorite mezes from a wonderful dinner at @karakoy.lokantasi
Smoked eggplant salad, muhammara, marinated raw seabass, purslane in yogurt and a spring salad with fava beans.
#spooninmypocket #mezenight #istanbul #karaköy

When life throws you 🌶gochujang🌶you make creamy gochujang pasta…

Unexpectedly it was really smooth and tasty with subtle spiciness and creaminess🥄

#spooninmypocket #gochujangpasta #unexpectedflavors #thursdaynightdinner #easydinner #comfortfood

Weekend can only mean one thing…time to indulge in that special breakfast that you’ve been craving.
This specific breakfast is regional Erzincan style, a city that is located near the eastern part of Anatolia.
And you can have it right here in İstanbul at #erzincanyılmaztandırevi in Kurtuluş district.
#spooninmypocket #turkishbreakfast #erzincan #weekend #saturdayvibes #enjoylife #breakfastmakeshappy