Culinary art offers numerous delicacies that are a delight for the palate and are much sought after by all connoisseurs of good food. Among them, a special place is occupied by spreads.
In the most general sense, these are appetizers of all types - thick sauces, lutenitsa, purees and pastes, bites, salads, mixtures of vegetables, nuts, spices and fats. They are often served as toppings and include dairy products and local spices specific to the respective region or country.
Turkish food arouses interest in many countries due to their interesting combination of flavors. The most delicious and preferred Turkish spreads are the following.
Haydari (Turkish Yogurt Dip)
This light spread based on condensed milk and garlic, suitable for warm summer days, is traditional in Turkish cuisine. Reminiscent of Bulgarian katak, but the Turkish version includes other spices such as dried spearmint, dill, paprika and garlic, which adds a spicy flavor to this light spread.
The products needed for it are:
Strained yogurt - 500 g
White cheese - 150 g
Butter - 50 g, which must be melted on the stove
Dry horseradish - 2 tbsp.
Dill - 1 tbsp.
Salt - 1 tsp.
Paprika - 1 tsp.
Garlic - 3 cloves
All the ingredients are mixed and stirred, and the paprika is sprinkled at the end. The spread is delicious with toast or thin bread. A fresh cucumber or carrot can be cut into strips and dipped in the spread.
Muhlama
This spread is cooked and therefore can be enjoyed not only as an appetizer, but also as a main meal, garnished with a salad.
Melt 50 g of butter in a large pan. Add 4 spoons of corn flour to it and fry for 3-4 minutes. Pour 350 ml of water, 1/3 tsp. salt and let it boil until it thickens.
Grate 150-200 g of cheese in advance and add it to the thickened mixture, by stirring to mix. The cheese should be melted and a homogeneous mixture should be obtained.
Muhlama can be consumed both hot and cold, and in both versions the taste is unique. It can be sprinkled with cinnamon, which is how it is served in Turkey, but your taste buds may appreciate the pure version better.
Çemen (Turkish Tomato Paste Dip)
Cemen is a spicy spread for vegetarians. It is suitable for sandwiches-bites, with added olives, white cheese or in a pure version as an appetizer for alcoholic drinks.
The ingredients that are in it are:
3-4 tbsp. tomato puree
3-4 tbsp. pepper puree
12-13 cloves of crushed garlic
100 g of crumbled white cheese
250 g of finely grinded walnuts
4 tbsp. olive oil or oil
1-2 tbsp. fenugreek
salt - to taste
Add breadcrumbs if desired to make it thicker. The mixed products have the consistency of a paste that is spread on a slice of bread.
