Turkey lies at the crossroads between Asia and Europe, offering its cuisine an appealing blend of influences from both continents. Ranging from succulent kebabs to tantalizing pastries, Turkish food boasts an irresistibly delicious array of tastes guaranteed to please even the most discriminating palate.
At Thousand Tales in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood, you can experience the rich culinary heritage of Turkey, Balkans and Middle East cuisines. Discover their culinary stories while embarking on a cultural fusion that is sure to satisfy your appetite!
Hunkar Begendi
Hunkar Begendi (literally “Sultan’s Delight”), one of Turkey’s signature dishes, will transport you back to the glory days of Ottoman Empire. The dish combines tender lamb or beef with an eggplant puree infused with milk, butter and flour for an irresistibly creamy base for the dish.
The dish can be served with either rice or pilaf, and can be garnished with parsley or mint for added flair. Lamb is typically seared before being slow-cooked with onions, garlic and tomato paste until it reaches tenderness, while eggplants are roasted before pureeing with milk and butter for a rich, creamy sauce that binds everything together beautifully. Finally, salt pepper nutmeg are added before being stirred through to complete this tasty creation with cheese as its final touch!
There are various tales surrounding the creation of this exquisite dish, but the most celebrated account states that it was prepared for Empress Eugenie (wife of Napoleon III) at Sultan Abdulaziz’s Beylerbeyi Palace when she visited in 1869 and enjoyed it so much she asked for its recipe, which the chef agreed to provide her.
Although originating in lavish establishments, this delicious yet effortless dish can easily be prepared at home. Ideal for entertaining guests with its simple preparation and delightful flavor.
Adana Kebab
Turkish cuisine is extraordinarily varied, from Mediterranean dishes that rely heavily on olive oil and hearty meals from central Anatolia, all the way east and southeast into subtle spicy tastes that create unique spicy tastes in many of their dishes, not to mention their inclusion of vegetables, spices and beans in many forms.
Adana Kebab is one of the most delicious Turkish dishes and originated in Adana city in southern Turkey. Made of lamb meat seasoned with herbs and spices, Adana Kebab can be enjoyed as street food as well.
To create this delicious kebab, the secret lies in its combination of ingredients. For optimal results, meat must come from male lambs that are younger than a year and be hand minced using a special knife called zirhlama before being seasoned with red pepper flakes, paprika and salt.
This recipe utilizes sumac onions – an exotic Middle Eastern spice known for their vibrant hue and vibrant tanginess – as an additional component to give this dish its distinctive color and taste. Sumac onions have softened significantly from raw red onion, reducing their pungent bite when mixed into meat with tahini thinned with water, garlic cloves, and flat-leaf parsley leaves.
Adana Kebabs are a delicious traditional Turkish meal typically enjoyed with flatbread and an aromatic garlic yogurt dip called Ezmek that compliments its smokey flavors perfectly. Don’t miss out if you want something truly different and authentic – give this dish a try today!
Kuzu Tandir
Kuzu Tandir is one of Turkey’s iconic lamb dishes, embodying both its pastoral heritage and appreciation for hearty meals prepared with top quality ingredients and innovative seasoning. Slow cooking makes this classic even more flavorful!
This dish resembles tandoori kebab in that it utilizes marinated, boneless lamb pieces baked in an oven called a tandir. After being coated in spices and herbs for hours on end, these succulent morsels of meat create an exquisitely tender and succulent experience that melts in your mouth – no wonder this staple of Turkish restaurants has since spread around the globe!
Turkish cuisine has long been associated with delicious mezes and succulent kebabs, yet there’s so much more to this vibrant cuisine than meets the eye. Thanks to the Ottoman Empire’s legacy of cultural exchange, its flavors include Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Greek influences; including Baklava as an exquisite dessert or Ezogelin Soup’s tart, refreshing salad option! Whatever your palate may desire Turkey offers an array of rich, flavorful foods for every sense.
Baklava
Turkish desserts are famous for being delicious treats, and baklava stands out as one of the world’s best-loved. Layering either pistachios or walnuts between sheets of phyllo dough, its signature sweet syrup (or honey) drizzled over its surface is what sets it apart from others – giving each bite an irresistibly sticky sweetness while providing moisture that creates a soft yet dense texture. Some recipes even add cinnamon or cardamom for a little warm spice in each bite!
Baklava is a beloved dessert, yet can also serve as an appetiser or light snack. Pairing perfectly with coffee, tea or Sprite; its delicate layers can be cut into diamonds, triangles and rectangles or even cut into “cigars”.
Turkey lies at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, so its cuisine draws upon both cultures. Thanks to six centuries of Ottoman regional dominance as well as their migration to Greece, Central Asia, Iran and elsewhere have contributed to creating its diverse culinary traditions – from fresh Mediterranean seafood dishes such as seafood kebabs to hearty Anatolian kebabs there is something deliciously Turkish for everyone to enjoy!
