Recipes – Turkish food guides – page 2

Şekerpare recipe: soft Turkish semolina biscuits in syrup

Şekerpare are buttery semolina biscuits, each topped with an almond, baked and soaked in syrup until meltingly soft. A Ramadan favourite.

Su böreği recipe: Turkish water börek with cheese and parsley

Su böreği is the soft, buttery, layered börek made with sheets of pasta-like dough that are boiled before baking. It takes time, but it is worth every minute.

Simit recipe: Istanbul-style sesame bread rings

Simit is Istanbul's sesame-crusted bread ring, dipped in grape molasses before baking for a deep golden crust. Here is how to bake it at home.

Kuru fasulye recipe: Turkish white bean stew with lamb

Creamy white beans simmered slowly with lamb, onion and Turkish pepper paste: the everyday lokanta classic, made properly at home.

Patlıcan musakka recipe: Turkish aubergine and lamb musakka

Turkish musakka is not the Greek bake: it is silky fried aubergine cooked in a spiced minced lamb and tomato sauce, served with rice and yoghurt.

Tas kebabı recipe: slow-cooked Turkish lamb and vegetable stew

Tas kebabı is the gentle side of the kebab family: chunks of lamb braised slowly in butter, onion and tomato until they fall apart.

Mercimek köftesi recipe: Turkish red lentil and bulgur köfte

Mercimek köftesi are soft, spiced red lentil and bulgur köfte, shaped by hand and wrapped in lettuce with lemon. Vegan, cheap and a favourite at Turkish tea parties.