Taze fasulye yahni is a wholesome Turkish stew , with green beans, potatoes and carrots in a rich tomato and onion sauce. Pronounced 'tah-zeh fah-sool-yeh yah-nee', it is similar to bezelye yahni (Turkish pea and tomato stew) as the sauce is made slightly tangy from the addition of lemon juice. However, it's less sweet as the beans provide a gentle, earthy flavour. Olive oil is a key ingredient as it adds depth to the stew and gives the sauce a silky texture. Taze fasulye yah

Patates köftesi are a family favourite. Each fried kofta is packed full of spice and flavour, with a crispy outer shell and a soft, comforting centre. Pronounced 'pah-tah-tess keuf-teh-see', they're perfect served with freshly prepared fasulye salatası (white bean salad) or chips (made with Cyprus potatoes) and salad. The dried oregano in the patates köftesi combines with cumin and black pepper to create a warm, earthy depth. A touch of ground cinnamon adds a subtle sweetnes

Taze börülce ve kabak salatası is a popular summer salad in Cyprus, made when black-eyed beans and Cyprus marrow are in abundance. In the UK, both vegetables can be found in Turkish and Greek grocery stores when in season. The Cyprus marrow pieces are slightly sweet and soft, contrasting beautifully with the firm yet tender beans and their earthy flavour. A lemon and olive oil dressing brightens and balances the dish as it soaks into the marrow. The salad can be eaten warm,

Şeftali kebab (pronounced 'shef-ta-lee') is a beautifully seasoned Cypriot beef and lamb sausage wrapped generously in lamb caul fat. The...

Sulu muhallebi is a refreshing summer dessert . Unlike classic sütlü muhallebi made with milk, this version is vegan and contains no dairy at all. Instead, it’s made simply with water thickened with cornflour (cornstarch) until the mixture becomes smooth, glossy, and lightly translucent. Though custard-like while hot, it cools and sets into a delicate jelly. A splash of rose water is also added for a subtle floral note. Once the s ulu muhallebi (soo-loo moo-hahl-leh-bee) is

Dolma (dohl-mah) is the word used to describe any stuffed dish in Turkish cuisine, from stuffed artichokes to courgettes, peppers and onions. It usually refers to dishes that involve hollowing out vegetables for stuffing. Fillings generally fall into meat-based ( etli dolma ) or vegetarian types where rice is the main ingredient, with both using a variety of herbs to add flavour. Yalancı ('yah-lahn-juh') dolma is the name of the vegetarian version of stuffed vine leaves (y a

Pazılı kuru börülce salatası (louvi in Greek) is a staple Cypriot salad that is best enjoyed when fresh chard is in season. It brings together the delicately earthy, creamy and nutty flavours of dried black-eyed beans (kuru börulce - 'kuh-ruh buh-rool-jeh') with the mellow, mildly earthy-sweet flavours of chard (pazı - 'pah-zuh'). The salad is brightened with a simple dressing of extra virgin olive oil blended with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Pazılı kuru börülce

Semizotu salatası, or purslane salad , is a delight to eat. Purslane has a fresh, tangy flavour with subtle lemony notes that blend beautifully with chopped tomatoes, cucumber and aubergine. The leaves are tender, plump and succulent, providing a unique texture that pairs perfectly with the other vegetables. We use a vinegar and olive oil dressing that enhances the brightness of the purslane - though you can also use lemon juice instead of vinegar if you prefer citrus flavour

Pazılı kuru bakla salatası is a vibrant and healthy Turkish salad . The dried broad beans (kuru bakla - 'kuh-ruh bahk-lah') have a creamy texture and a rich, earthy, nutty flavour with a subtle sweetness, similar to that of chickpeas. The beans are perfectly balanced by the mellow, mildly earthy-sweet flavours of chard and lifted by the lemon and olive oil dressing. The salad is best made when chard is in season. We use a green chard variety from Cyprus, which is available

Fasulye salatası is a classic Turkish cannellini bean salad that is often enjoyed as a refreshing meze, side dish or light lunch....

Pazı dolması (pah-zuh dohl-mah-suh) has a delicate, spinach-like flavour from the chard leaves, which pairs beautifully with the lemony rice filling. Compared to yalancı dolma (which shares its ingredients), it has a softer bite. This dish is perfect for the summer months when chard is in season, especially served with a dollop of creamy yoghurt. It can be enjoyed either warm or cold. Preparing pazı dolması can be a little fiddly at first, as the cut leaves can be triangular

Cacık is a refreshing Turkish yoghurt dish that is often served as part of a meze (appetizer), as a side dish , or enjoyed on its own with bread for dipping. Pronounced 'jah-juk', it's simple to make and combines creamy yoghurt with grated or chopped cucumber, garlic, dried mint and a drizzle of olive oil. With the cooling flavours of cucumber and mint, it is usually served in the summer, but can be eaten year round. You can coarsely grate the cucumber or finely slice it depe

Barbunya salatası is a vibrant Turkish red kidney bean salad that's packed full of Mediterranean flavours. Pronounced 'bar-boon-yah...

Sarımsaklı yoğurt, is a versatile Turkish garlic yoghurt side dish that pairs beautifully with roasted vegetable dishes like türlü and classics like mantı and dolma. Pronounced 'sah-rum-sahk-luh yoh-urt', it is easy to make, simply by blending finely chopped garlic with yoghurt. Cacık is very similar to sarımsaklı yoğurt, but the addition of cucumber provides cooler flavours that are better suited to the summer. This makes sarımsaklı yoğurt easier to use year-round, where i

Etli dolma (eht-lee dohl-mah) is a delicious dish of stuffed vine leaves with a minced beef, tomato, onion and herb filling. The addition of lemon juice, parsley and mint provide vibrant fresh flavours that balance the rich meat and earthy onions. The word dolma is used to describe any Turkish dish involving stuffing, from stuffed artichokes to courgette flowers. In Greece, stuffed vine leaves are called dolmades, while Greek Cypriots call them koupepia. However, they are all