Recipes | kocafare

This Turkish food (pronounced chull-ber) is great as an appetizer or side dish. It can also be prepared as a main meal for lunch or dinner. Although it is made with eggs, this isn’t a breakfast food because of its strong garlic flavor.

Çiğ Köfte

This spicy appetizer is especially good with the Turkish alcoholic drink, Rakı. It can also be served wrapped in a lettuce leaf with a little lemon juice. Be forewarned, it is time consuming to prepare but well worth the effort for a special occasion.

Creamy Yogurt Vegetable Dip

This is an excellent alternative to store-bought ranch vegetable dip and creamy dressings which are filled with preservatives. The only preservatives in this dip come from the grated parmesan cheese. Eliminate them by leaving out the cheese and add salt to taste. This sauce can be served as a dip or used as a salad dressing. Keep in the fridge for up to three days.

Snacks

Drinks

Breakfast

Spinach Watermelon Smoothie

This refreshing combination of spinach and watermelon is a great summer smoothie. It takes very little time to prepare and keeps well in the refrigerator for one day. Just shake or stir and serve cold. For an additional antioxidant boost, add some greens powder. Nutrition Information: 89 calories, 0g fat, 20g carbs (14g sugar, 3g fiber), 3g protein Percent of Daily Value: 186% Vitamin A, 71% Vitamin C, 10% Calcium, 18% Iron, 726mg Potassium

Meats

Grains

Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers

This variation of stuffed peppers is based on the Turkish food zeytinyağlı dolma (stuffed peppers with olive oil). It is a good source of many vitamins, including Vitamin C, Folate, and Vitamin K, as well as the minerals iron, magnesium, manganese, and potassium. To cut back on sugar and carbohydrates, prepare this recipe without the currants or raisins.

Chickpea-Cumin Quinoa Salad

When I first tasted quinoa, I didn’t really like the nutty flavor. Determined to like this super-food, I tried a variety of different recipes and finally found a combination of flavors that both my husband and I liked.

Fish

Soups

Asparagus Soup

I used to throw away the woody stems of asparagus but recently learned that I could make asparagus soup. This soup is best with homemade chicken stock. If making it with canned or boxed chicken broth, throw in some chopped carrots, celery, and onions to add some extra flavor.

Lentil Soup

This is one of the first Turkish foods I learned how to make. One of the great things about this soup is that it can be easily modified. On occasion I add carrots. I’ve made it without potatoes. Remove the bulgur and this is gluten-free. The butter can be replaced with olive oil to make this a vegan dish. This soup is best when served with warm, fresh bread.

Tomato-Yogurt Soup

This is a Turkish creamy soup (Domatesli Yayla Çorbası) made with yogurt instead of heavy cream or milk. It is perfect for a cold winter day. It is best when served with fresh, warm bread.

Cauliflower and Beef Stew

This is a great winter meal with lots of vegetable and a little meat. This is great served with spicy pickled vegetables or eat plain.

Tomato Basil Salad

This summer salad uses produce and herbs that are in season in Minnesota in July and August. It is a great topping for cooked poultry or fish. It can also be served as a side salad. This is very similar to the Italian sauce called cecca or checca.

Arrabbiata Sauce with Vegetables

Using fresh vegetables in this sauce significantly improves the flavor so that it isn’t necessary to add a lot of spices and seasoning. Vary the type or amount of pepper depending on your tolerance for heat. The Hungarian peppers I use give this sauce a good kick, but you could opt for banana peppers or even sweet bell peppers if you don’t like spicy food. (With bell peppers it wouldn’t really be an arrabbiata sauce!) This sauce omits onions but you could easily add them – sauté in the oil befor

Legumes

Berries with Pecans and Cinnamon

This powerful combination of foods is a great snack or dessert. Berries are lower in sugar than most other fruits and a great source of antioxidants. Serving with nuts provides some healthy fats and crunch that imitates a crumble or crisp. Cinnamon is known to help regulate blood sugar and is also anti-inflammatory.

Carrots with Guacamole

Instead of dipping chips in guacamole, try carrots. Snacking on carrots is a great way to eat more vegetables and the guacamole adds some healthy fat.

Spinach Egg Bake

Prepare this at the beginning of the week and you will have a quick breakfast ready for a few days. This makes six servings and keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days. It is a good source of both iron and calcium.

Vegetable Scrambled Eggs

Since it is difficult for many people to eat enough vegetables every day, including vegetables at breakfast is a great way to start the day. Try this variation of scrambled eggs to add some variety to your breakfast. It includes 2-3 servings of vegetables.

Turkish Breakfast

This is a traditional Turkish breakfast except that this version doesn’t include bread. This balanced breakfast includes two servings of vegetables and plenty of protein to start your day strong. It is also rich in vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins. The ingredient amounts are very specific because they were used to determine nutrition information.

Papaya-Mint Chicken with Warm Fruit

As I was cutting open a papaya the other day, I decided to save the seeds. After a little research, I discovered that the seeds can be used as a meat tenderizer and aid in digestion. In this recipe, use the seeds for the marinade and the flesh for the salsa. Mexican papayas are almost at the start of peak season (June - September) so this recipe is perfect for a summer meal.

Curried Chicken Salad

After eating salad every night for dinner for the past 2 years, we were starting to get tired of the same toppings. This is one of my solutions to our salad monotony. For this recipe, I used the chicken thighs that I poached while making chicken stock. My favorite way to serve this chicken is on a bed of salad greens with walnuts or pecans added for some extra crunch.

Chicken Coconut Curry

This balanced meal provides plenty of fat, protein, and vegetables. Serve in a bowl or on top of brown rice if you eat grains. With or without the rice, this is a great way to prepare chicken. Add or exclude the habanero pepper, depending on your tolerance for spice.

Baked Cod

This simple recipe for fish includes some vegetables and herbs to give the cod a little more flavor. Serve with cooked vegetables or salad to make this a balanced meal.

Curried Mahi Mahi

For the mild-flavored fish mahi mahi, this curry adds some spice and flavor. Since mahi mahi is also low in fat and calories, the coconut milk base in this sauce will keep you feeling full longer. Leave out the potatoes if following a lower-carb diet. This recipe is adapted from the EatingWell Curried Fish recipe (January/February 2010).

Three Bean Chili with Ground Beef

This is a basic chili, with mild flavors. Leave out the beef to make this a vegetarian meal. However, it will lose a lot of flavor without the fat from the beef so spice it up a little bit more with some cumin, chili powder, and a pinch of allspice.

Chickpeas with Ground Beef

This is a great cold-weather meal. This Turkish dish is best when served with dill pickles. It can be eaten alone or served with quinoa or brown rice.

Kuru Fasulye (White Bean Stew)

This Turkish dish is a great way to prepare beans. It can be served as a side dish or add extra vegetables and meat to serve this as the main course.

Vegetables