Turkish Treats

i02709
2 days ago
2 min read

Inspired by our recent journey to Turkey, here are a few recipes to try out this winter.

Balin embek. Istanbuls fish sandwich street food

In the Emenou region of Istanbul next to the bosphorous you cant miss first the smell of frying fresh mackerel and second the endless stalls selling this staple of Istanbul’s street food scene

Here is our take on it as one bite

Flat bread. Ideally leavened(Tesco link), or tortilla will work.

Fresh mackerel fillet. From fish row

Red onion

Radish

Sumac

Pom molasses

Fresh tomato

Olive oil

Lemon zest and juice

Cut the flat bread into bite sized pieces, be generous as these are gonna shrink a little. Shape is up to you.

Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice and Aleppo pepper. Bake in the oven at 160 degrees till crisp, shift them about a couple of times to ensure even cooking. Should take 10-15 mins

In the meantime sprinkle your mackerel, top and bottom, with and even mix of sugar and salt with a teaspoon of dried lime powder, or grated lime zest, leave for 1 hour. After an hour wash off the salt and sugar and pat dry.

Blowtorch or put under a hot grill till barely cooked.

De seed the tomato and finely chop of grate the tomato flesh lightly salt and add a little garlic purée

Very finely chop the red onion and finely julienne the radish, mix together,season and add lemon zest till zingy

Now to build, take the bread, add the tomato mix( drained and squeezed thru a sieve)and give a generous sprinkle of sumac, flake a good piece of mackerel on top

Add a quarter of a teaspoon of the onion mix

Repeat

Drizzle the whole tray with a squiggle of pomegranate molasses

Serve