Ispanak Kavurma Turkish Spinach Recipes

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 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.

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.