Best Turkish Spinach Recipes

TURKISH YOGURT AND SPINACH DIP

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add the spinach and blanch for 10 to 20 seconds. Transfer to the ice water, cool for a minute, then drain and squeeze dry. Chop coarsely.
• Place the garlic in a mortar and pestle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and mash to a paste (alternatively, finely mince). Combine with the lemon juice and olive oil, and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in the yogurt.
• In a medium bowl, combine the chopped spinach, dill, parsley and mint. Stir in the yogurt and garlic mixture, and the optional scallions. Add freshly ground pepper to taste and more salt if desired. Serve with bread, pita or raw vegetables.

TURKISH SPINACH AND LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils.
• Bring them to a boil in the beef broth.
• Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a heavy soup pot. Saute the onions until translucent. Add the garlic, cayeene, bay leaves and bulgur.
• Stir the mixture on medium heat until the onions and bulgur are lightly browned.
• Mix in the parsley and tomatoes.
• When the tomatoes begin to give up their juice, gently stir in the tomato paste. Pour the lentils and their liquid into the soup pot with the onions and bulgur.
• Simmer the soup for 15 minutes.
• Add the rosemary, salt and pepper to taste. If the lentils and bulgur have absorbed too much liquid, add more broth, water or tomato juice. Remove the bay leaves.
• Just before serving, stir in the fresh spinach and let it wilt in the hot soup.
• Garnish with more fresh parsley.
• NOTES : Serve this soup with crusty bread.
• Broil the bread on both sides, rubbed with a cut garlic clove, and drizzled with olive oil.

JESSICA'S TURKISH SPINACH AND LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse lentils and bring to a boil in 5 cups salted water or stock. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer, covered for 40 minutes.
• While lentils boil, in a separate stock pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté onions and the optional bacon. When the onions just begin to soften, add garlic, cayenne, bay leaves, cumin, coriander and chili powder. Cook for a few minutes, but don't allow garlic to brown.
• Add tomatoes and crush with a spoon to your desired consistency. If lentils are ready, add them to the tomato mixture now. If not, take tomatoes off heat and wait for lentils.
• Once lentils have been added to the tomatoes, simmer for 15 minutes over medium heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. You may also want to add some more spices if you like a little more kick to it.
• Add frozen spinach and cook another five minutes. If using fresh spinach, only cook for two minutes.
• If wanted, serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream.
• The lentils do soak up a lot of liquid, so for reheating, you may need to add more stock.

TURKISH SPINACH WITH TOMATOES AND RICE

Steps:

• Wash the spinach and, working in batches if necessary, steam for about 2 minutes above an inch of boiling water, just until wilted. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, lidded skillet or casserole and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until it begins to sizzle and smell fragrant, about 30 seconds, and stir in the tomatoes. Cook, stirring often, for 5 to 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly. Add the stock or water, the lemon juice, rice, salt, paprika, cinnamon, sugar and steamed spinach and bring to a simmer.
• Cover, turn the heat to low and simmer 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until the mixture has the consistency of a thick stew, about 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve hot or warm.

TURKISH YOGURT AND SPINACH DIP

Steps:

• 1. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add the spinach and blanch for 10 to 20 seconds. Transfer to the ice water, cool for a minute, then drain and squeeze dry. Chop coarsely. 2. Place the garlic in a mortar and pestle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and mash to a paste (alternatively, finely mince). Combine with the lemon juice and olive oil, and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in the yogurt. 3. In a medium bowl, combine the chopped spinach, dill, parsley and mint. Stir in the yogurt and garlic mixture, and the optional scallions. Add freshly ground pepper to taste and more salt if desired. Serve with bread, pita or raw vegetables.

TURKISH SPINACH

Steps:

• Rinse and wash spinach very well to get all the silt off (I use all the spinach including the roots), it takes about 4-5 washes.
• In a large pot heat oil, add onions and saute until soft.
• Add all the ingredients in sequence and bring to a boil.
• Reduce to low heat and cook until the rice is cooked.
• Eat as is or add a couple of tbsp of Garlic-Yogurt sauce and enjoy!
• Garlic-Yogurt Sauce: 1 cup of plain yogurt 2-4 minced garlic (depending on how much garlic you prefer) salt to taste Method: Combine all the ingredients and serve over your meal.

ISPANAK KAVURMA (TURKISH SPINACH)

Steps:

• Sauce: Smash the garlic clove with a little bit of salt and combine with the plain yogurt. Set aside.
• In a pot boil the spinach for 3 1/2-4 minutes, drain. Squeeze as much water out of the spinach that you can then chop it on a cutting board. I used the sides of the colander to "chop" the spinach with the back of a wide spoon.
• Saute the onion in a medium sized pot with olive oil and salt until the onions are lightly browned. (Tip: cut down on dishes: use the same pot that was used to boil the spinach.).
• Add the spinach, crushed tomatoes, nutmeg, broth and salt and pepper, to taste. Cook for about 5 minutes over medium-low heat. Turn the heat off. Allow mixture to cool down for a few minutes.
• Arrange spinach on a platter. Place the yogurt sauce on top.
• Garnish: heat up the olive oil in a small pan, add in the red pepper and then turn the heat off being careful not to burn!
• Drizzle the infused red pepper over the yogurt sauce.

TURKISH YOGURT AND SPINACH DIP (NY TIMES RECIPE)

Steps:

• 1. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add the spinach and blanch for 10 to 20 seconds. Transfer to the ice water, cool for a minute, then drain and squeeze dry. Chop coarsely. 2. Place the garlic in a mortar and pestle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and mash to a paste (alternatively, finely mince). Combine with the lemon juice and olive oil, and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in the yogurt. 3. In a medium bowl, combine the chopped spinach, dill, parsley and mint. Stir in the yogurt and garlic mixture, and the optional scallions. Add freshly ground pepper to taste and more salt if desired. Serve with bread, pita or raw vegetables.

TURKISH SPINACH & FETA BOREK

Steps:

• To make the filling: Fry the onion in the olive oil on a medium heat for a few minutes until a pale golden colour. Add the salt & pepper, followed by the spinache & cook for a further couple of minutes. Remove from the heat & stir in the feta then set aside to cool.
• In a bowl, whisk the eggs, olive oil & milk.
• Grease a 2L casserole dish. Place 2 sheets of the phyllo in the bottom of the casserole - the phyllo should cover the bottom & the sides of the casserole. Brush 2-3 tbsp of the eggy mix over the top of the phyllo.
• Take another 2 sheets of phyllo, this time folding them so that they cover the bottom of the casserole only & brush with the eggy mix.
• Spread the spinach & feta filling over the phyllo & level gently with the back of a spoon.
• Cover the filling with another 2 sheets of phyllo, remebering to brush with the eggy mix. Contine layering the phyllo until it is used up. When you have used the last 2 sheets of phyllo, brush with the eggy mix then gently pull up the bottom sheet of phyllo & place it over the top sheet.
• Use the rest of the eggy mix to cover the top of the borek - this is important to stop it from burning.
• Place in the fridge to set for 3 hours then cook in a preheated oven at 1750c / 350f. Bake in the middle of the oven until it is golden brown.

SPINACH AND CHEESE TURKISH PIDES

Steps:

• Melt butter in frying pan over medium heat,add garlic and spinach. Cook,stirring for 30 - 60 seconds until spinach just wilts.
• Transfer to bowl and cool for 10 minutes.
• Add the scallions, ricotta, feta, pine nuts and breadcrumbs to the spinach. Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 200°C Lightly grease two large baking trays.
• Cut pizza dough into four. Roll out to a 25cm oval shape.
• Spoon filling onto centre of each oval, fold in sides and twist ends (don't totally enclose the filling - the shape should look sort of like boats).
• Place onto prepared trays, allowing room for spreading. Spray lightly with oil.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until crisp and golden.
• Serve with lemon wedges.

CHICKEN AND SPINACH TURKISH STYLE PIZZA

Steps:

• Combine chicken with lemon juice, oil, garlic and half the mint in a bowl.
• Marinate chicken for at least 3 hours.
• Remove chicken from the marinade and keep the marinade.
• Cook chicken in a non-stick pan until browned on both sides.
• Do not overcook, it can still be a bit pink in the middle.
• Remove the breasts and cut into 1cm slices.
• Heat reserved marinade in same pan.
• Add the onion and cook until soft.
• Add undrained tomatoes and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes until thickened and saucy.
• Boil, steam or microwave the spinach until wilted and squeeze out excess liquid.
• Top the turkish breads evenly with tomato sauce mixture, spinach, chicken, crumbled feta and remaining mint.
• Bake in hot oven about 20 minutes until lightly browned and hot.
• Cut each bread into 3 pieces to serve 6 or into small squares or slices to make fingerfood.

SPINACH TURKISH PIDE

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in a large bowl.
• Add wheat flour and one cup of all purpose flour, and stir.
• Cover the mixture and put aside for 10 minutes, up to 3 hours.
• Add oil and salt.
• Slowly add the remaining flour until it is hard to stir.
• Turn the dough over the slightly floured surface, and knead it for 6-8 minutes. The dough should not stick to your hands while you are kneading. If necessary add more flour.
• Cover the dough with a plastic film and put it aside for 1.5-2 hours, until the dough doubles its initial size.
• Prepare the fillings at another bowl. Just put all the ingredients and mix.
• When the dough is ready, turn the dough over the slightly floured surface.
• Slice the dough into 10 slices and make balls. Cover the pieces with a damp cloth.
• Take the first piece and flat the dough into a circle (D=6-9 in.) with using a rolling pin.
• Brush the surface with olive oil.
• Sprinkle 2-3 tbsp stuffing onto the dough. Cover the sides, and shape it as a boat.
• Brush the top with olive oil again.
• Put the pide on preheated skillet and cook the bottom at medium temperature.
• Once the bottom is cooked, transfer the pide to an oven dish and place it to the oven which is set to broil.
• Cook the top until the surface turn to light brown-golden.

TURKISH LENTIL, SPINACH, CUCUMBER AND WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse lentils under cool running water before cooking (to remove debris). Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to low, add lentils and simmer until lentils are tender, about 25 to 30 minutes for green Puy lentils (or 30 to 45 minutes for French green lentils). Be sure the pan is large enough, as lentils will double or triple in size after cooking. Do not add salt to the water or it can make the lentils tough. Drain in colander when cooked.
• Meanwhile, as lentils are cooking, toast the cuming seeds in a skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a mortar and pestle, and coarsely grind the toasted cumin seeds.
• In a small bowl, whisk 3 Tbsp of the oil with the lemon juice, honey, garlic, ground cumin, parsley, salt and pepper. Toss 2 Tbsp of the dressing with the cooked lentils; set lentils aside.
• Heat remaining 1 Tbsp oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté about 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
• In a large salad bowl, toss together the lentils, cooled onion, tomato halves, cucumber, spinach, walnuts, and remaining dressing. Garnish with shredded mint and crumbled feta, and serve immediately.