Thursday, 11 June 2009

Waiting for Gözleme


That’s Guy up there, on his birthday, in the little open air market in Atyaka hungrily waiting for his gözleme. Gözleme are the most delicious filled crepes that are folded over and grilled on an oiled hotplate. No matter where you are in Turkey, you’ll find a gözleme stall somewhere - even in the most remote villages of Anatolia.



Up there in her stall is Aysha, a genius with a rolling pin. These paper thin crepes are probably one of the cheapest and most satisfying feeds you can get in the entire world. Washed down with a glass of ice cold Ayran with a little mint, it is an ambrosial meal. Do try, you’ll love ‘em!

Here is a fail-safe recipe given to me by Ali, our most congenial and knowledgeable host at the beautiful little villa where we stayed for those two quite blissful weeks.



Gözleme

200g plain yogurt
pinch salt
250g self-raising flour (approximately)
100g baby spinach
50g finely chopped chives
200g feta cheese, crumbled
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
lemon wedges, to serve

Beat yogurt and salt together in a large bowl until smooth. Gradually add flour until you have a stiff dough. Tip onto a lightly floured board and gradually knead dough, incorporating any remaining flour until dough is soft and only slightly sticky. Transfer to a clean bowl and stand covered for 30 minutes.


On a floured surface, split dough into 4 equal sized round pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a circle.

Place quarter of the spinach and chives over half the circle, then sprinkle quarter of the feta over it and season. Fold dough over and press edges gently. Repeat this process with remaining dough.

Preheat a barbecue hot plate or large frying pan. Brush one side of each gözleme with olive oil and cook until base is golden. Brush top side with olive oil, turn and cook until golden.Brush with melted butter, cut into 4 and serve with lemon wedges. Heaven on a plate!





Ayran

3 cups plain yogurt
3 cups water or to taste
Salt to taste
3 tb chopped fresh mint
Plonk all the ingredients into a blender, whizz for about 30 seconds, pour into a jug and put into the fridge for about an hour. Serve in long glasses with a sprig of mint – and there you have a delicious and refreshing Turkish smoothie!


19 comments:

Debra Keirce said...

Tessa, I just finished a yummy lunch of chickpeas with raisins, and kalmata olives (left over from the tomato tart recipe I made of yours.) Now you've gone and gotten my apetite going again. I will NEVER lose weight at this rate! :)

Irene said...

You would go to Turkey and come back with a delicious recipe! Those crêpes look delicious and the description of the recipe makes my mouth water. I must find the nearest Turkish restaurant. I'm not fool enough to try making those myself.

I used to be a good cook in my other life, but I did a lot of things well then that I don't do anymore now. I don't know why, except that I do other things well now that I didn't do well then at all. I'm afraid I've become an intellectual. A thinker and not a doer. Maybe at one point in my life I will combine the two and become a complete person.

By the way, Guy is a very handsome man. He has a wonderful head of hair and the nicest face. You must be very proud of him. I'm assuming that you're equally good looking if that is a picture of you on your blog in your earlier years. Simply smashing!

So, you had a good time in Turkey? A real happy and invigorating holiday? Were you ready to come home or would another week have done you well? Turkish people are so kind, aren't they, and always so polite. Many Dutch people go there, but only with the purpose to lie on the beach and nothing else, so it makes no difference which country they are in. Oh well, we all can't be seekers of culture.

It's good to see you back here. You were missed. Quite badly by some.

XOX
Irene

Beth Kephart said...

Oh, gosh. I'm there with you.

And wishing for that landscape.

That Guy looks like a very happy birthday man. Happy Birthday to him.

Elizabeth said...

Mouthwatering!
Well, I certainly will have to get to Turkey VERY soon.

Debra Keirce said...

And Tessa - Thank you so much for the friendship award! I am so honored by your friendship, and the work of Good Shepherd in Swaziland is such a good cause, and such a great bridge to build...the fact that Good Shepherd has a presence here in Ashburn, VA is so "WOW!" to me...bridging from the east coast of the U.S. all the way to Africa. It really is such a small world, and a human is a human is a human - over all of it.

Angela said...

Hmmm, I like that recipe! Doesn`t even sound complicated! We are all glad to have you back, Tessa! When will you post a picture of you??

dianasfaria.com said...

that recipe sounds superb!

Rosaria Williams said...

What easy, nutritious recipes. Thanks.

Lori ann said...

Happy Birthday Guy! Oh My Tessa! I hope it's ok to say he's gorgeous. And he looks so friendly, you ought to make a painting of that photo!

Such a beautiful post even if i never get the time to try the recipes I love it. Your pictures are so fantastic i could probably just print out those to eat.heehee
love, lori

ceecee said...

They look delicious. I love the cuisine from that part of the world. And so healthy too!
Catherine

L'Adelaide said...

this recipe sounds delish and that happy-looking man is quite good looking as well ;)

I might not make them but will look for them if ever they are on a menu somewhere along the way...I am not so great with a rolling pin...or maybe I will try them... hmmm, yum!

Exmoorjane said...

Oh yum, yum, yummity yum. I love that combo of spinach and feta and make a fair bit of spanakopitta but haven't come across this before - now will have to try!

xxx said...

Yum... and even more delicious when someone else is cooking :-)

best wishes
Ribbon

Bee said...

Since a trip to Turkey is not on the cards, I am so glad that you have given us some instructions to make our own!

Woman in a Window said...

Beautiful photos, so full of character. And that food, ummmm.

Renee said...

Guy is so handsome.

Those crepes look delicious.

xoxoxo

sallymandy said...

Delicious! Lovely photos, too.

marjean said...

I will defiantly have to try this one. Love anything that has spinach and feta cheese!

Holly said...

Ayran sounds similar to lassi, no?