Best 3 Turkish Tomatoes Recipes

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.

TURKISH HERBED BEEF AND RICE STUFFED ZUCCHINI, TOMATOES, PEPPERS

Steps:

• Slice tops of 6 tomatoes, reserve. Scoop out pulp, drain in sieve, chop. (Save 2 tomatoes.) Cook onions in oil, stirring occasionally, 8-10 mins. until soft, not brown. Add chopped tomato, 3/4 C chopped tomato pulp and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid evaporates and tomato begins to break down, 5 min. Add rice and cook, stirring, 2 min. Add water, boil, then simmer, covered, over low heat until rice tender and water absorbed, 20 min. Transfer rice mixture to bowl, chill until cool, about 20 min. Add beef, herbs, 1 3/4 tsp salt, and 1 tsp pepper to cooled rice, kneading until smooth. Trim and cut zucchini crosswise in half to fit upright in a deep 7-qt heavy pot with lid. Hollow out each zucchini halfl leave 1/2 inch at bottom. Cut tops off peppers, reserve and hollow. Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. Fill veggies. Arrange tomatoes in cake pan lined with foil. Stir tomato paste into water; add 1/2 cup to pan, reserve rest. Put tops on tomatoes and cover tightly with foil. Bake 45 min. Cut 2 tomatoes into thin slices and layer in 7-qt pot; drizzle with oil. Stand zucchini and peppers in pot, leaning against each another and wedge pepper lids to keep them upright. Sprinkle chopped tomato pulp over and pour tomato water around veggies. Bring to boil then simmer, covered, 20-25 min./140°F. Transfer stuffed vegetables to a serving dish and add sugar and lemon juice to cooking liquid in pot. Boil until reduced to about 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Season with salt. Spoon a little cooking liquid over each stuffed vegetable.

TURKISH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C (or 350F).
• Cut the tops off the tomatoes and scoop out the pulp, reserving the pulp.
• Heat the oil in a pan and saute onions until lightly browned.
• Add tomato pulp and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Stir in eggplant and simmer for 5 minutes until tender.
• Add breadcrumbs, parsley and season to taste.
• Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat and beat in cheese.
• Stir in eggs and mix thoroughly.
• Spoon mixture into each tomato shell and arrange in a greased, ovenproof dish.
• Bake for 30 minutes.