Mehmets Ottoman Eggs Turkish Food

TURKISH EGGS WITH OLIVES, FETA AND TOMATOES (MENEMEN)

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add half the scallions and cook until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the bell peppers and cook until slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, red-pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook until some of the liquid from the tomatoes evaporates, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast the pita or flatbread on an open flame on the stovetop over low heat, turning with long metal tongs, until toasted and warmed on all sides. Wrap well in a kitchen towel to keep warm.
• When most of the liquid has evaporated from the tomatoes, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Add the eggs and let them cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until large curds form and the eggs are mostly cooked through but still slightly runny, about 3 minutes. Stir in the feta and cook until scrambled eggs are just cooked and feta is slightly melted, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with the parsley, cilantro and remaining scallions. Serve warm, with olives and pita on the side.

MENEMEN (TURKISH SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH TOMATO)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a nonstick medium skillet over medium-high. Add the onion, oregano and Aleppo pepper, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 7 to 9 minutes. Stir in the green pepper and cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes.
• While the onions and peppers are cooking, purée half the tomatoes in a food processor or blender. Once the onions and peppers are soft, add the remaining chopped tomatoes to the onions and peppers. Crack the eggs into a medium bowl, add the puréed tomatoes and whisk until foamy.
• Once the mixture in the skillet comes to a simmer, stir in the 1/4 cup parsley and the butter, if using. Reduce heat to low, add the egg mixture on top and cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggs are set but still soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Taste, adding a little more salt, oregano or Aleppo pepper, if needed. Sprinkle with remaining parsley and serve directly from the skillet, with flatbread alongside.

TURKISH ONE-PAN EGGS & PEPPERS (MENEMEN)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy-based frying pan. Stir in the onions, pepper and chillies. Cook until they begin to soften. Add the tomatoes and sugar, mixing well. Cook until the liquid has reduced, season.
• Using a wooden spoon, create 4 pockets in the tomato mixture and crack the eggs into them. Cover the pan and cook the eggs over a low heat until just set.
• Beat the yogurt with the garlic and season. Sprinkle the menemen with parsley and serve from the frying pan with a dollop of the garlic-flavoured yogurt.

MEHMET'S BROAD BEANS

Steps:

• Fry the onions in the olive oil, and add the garlic for the last few seconds.
• Add the beans and tomatoes and cook uncovered until the beans are tender.
• Add water towards the end if necessary.
• When the beans are cooked, add yoghurt off the heat and in small amounts at a time.
• Add the tomato paste.
• Re-heat gently, season and serve as a side dish, or cool and serve as a salad.

MENEMEN (TURKISH SCRAMBLED EGGS)

Steps:

• Sauce: Roughly chop the peppers by slicing off the tops, then cut strips lengthwise around the core. Dice strips, discarding the core with some of the rib and most of the seeds. Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add peppers, a pinch of salt, tomato paste, harissa, Maras (or Aleppo) pepper, and sauté until soft, 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the scallions and add to the peppers when they're soft, after about 3 minutes.
• Halve tomatoes crosswise and pull out some of the seeds. Put a box grater in a bowl and grate the tomatoes over the largest holes until all that's left is the flattened tomato skin. Stir grated tomatoes into the peppers along with the remaining tablespoon of oil and simmer until the tomatoes are cooked and the sauce is thickened, 3-4 minutes. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
• Eggs: Whisk eggs with a pinch of salt. Set aside. Stir parsley and remaining tablespoon of butter into the pepper-tomato mixture. Slowly pour in the eggs, stopping and stirring in 4 additions. The eggs will scramble right away but also make the sauce creamy. Stir until eggs are still slightly runny but set, 1-2 minutes. Turn off heat and let rest (eggs will continue cooking) while you prepare the garnish.
• Assembly: Thinly slice cucumbers on a mandoline. Set aside. Untwist string cheese, pulling it apart into thin strands. Set aside. Spoon eggs evenly into pita bread. Garnish with string cheese and cucumbers (or leave on the side) and enjoy like a breakfast burrito.