Turkish Breakfast + A Taste of Istanbul

Turkish Breakfast + A Taste of Istanbul

Turkish breakfast is the best reason to get out of bed in the morning! The meal consists of meats, cheeses, fruit, veggies, and a little something sweet. It’s a gluten-free and grain-free plate that is filling, healthy, satisfying, and great any time of day!

Pancake lovers out there will probably hate me for this, but I think that Americans get short-changed when it comes to breakfast. Yes, the entire menu at IHOP is satisfying, but only in a short-term-enjoyment, long-term-low-blood-sugar-misery kind of way.

The first time I had a full Turkish breakfast, it was like the clouds had parted and the plate had been sent down from the heavens. This is what breakfast should be. 

 

THERE ARE NO HARD AND FAST RULES ABOUT WHAT IS ON A TURKISH BREAKFAST PLATE.

The only rule is that there has to be a little bit of everything: protein, fat, and carbs; meat, cheese, and veggies; savory and sweet. So, please, use your creative license.

You can eat it with bread on the side if you want, but you won’t miss it if it’s not there. It compliments coffee or tea or fresh juice – whatever is your morning drink of choice. And it is easy to prep in advance and throws it all on the plate first thing in the morning.

ACTUALLY, MAYBE ONE RULE.

I might be making this up, but there must be Sumac. Sumac is a spice found in middle eastern food in general, but I especially associate it with Turkish breakfast, which – in my experience – is almost always sprinkled with a dusting of sumac.

 

Style Grilled Chicken Kabobs

 

You can, of course, leave it off. Many people do, I’m sure. Just don’t try to convince me it’s Turkish breakfast without the sumac. ????

NO MATTER WHAT…

A Turkish breakfast place is so satisfying. It’s filling, but not heavy and very balanced in terms of flavors and nutrition. Plus, even though it’s called breakfast, it is a fantastic meal for any time of day!

 

INGREDIENTS

• Hard-boiled eggs, typically one per person
• Stuffed grape leaves
• Sliced green peppers
• Sliced tomatoes
• Sliced cucumbers
• Black olives
• Green olives
• Dried apricots
• Good quality cured meat, like salami
• Good quality salty cheese, like feta
• Good quality creamy cheese, like mozzarella
• Sumac, salt, and pepper, for sprinkling
• Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

homemade chicken shawarma: Middle east recipes

INSTRUCTIONS

1.    Cut the egg(s) into quarters and place them in the center of the plate.

2.    Arrange the remaining items on the plate around the egg.

3.    Garnish the egg with sumac, salt, and pepper, and sprinkle the entire plate with flatleaf parsley.

NOTES

If you are only making one serving, you only need a few of each item. If you're making a platter to feel multiple people, assume 2-4 pieces of each item per person. With so many edibles on the plate, you'll fill up fast!

To make this vegetarian, simply omit the meat and add an additional hard-boiled egg and some extra cheese.

If you want a little bit more sweetness, serve it with a dollop of chocolate hazelnut spread and some bread or cut-up fruit to spread it on.

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