Turkish Cooking Classes
Do not dismiss the dish saying that it is just, simply food. The blessed thing is an entire civilization in itself."
- Abdulhak Sinasi, Turkish Poet
Turkish cuisine is the legacy of the country's rich history. Around 5000 BCE, in Catalhoyuk, people harvested wheat and baked bread. Hittites were making beer in 1700 BCE while Cappadocians were advancing the production of wine. Turkish cuisine started in Central Asia, where the roots of Turkish people are, and traveled over the centuries, interchanging culinary habits and recipes. Therefore, it is rich in variety, tasty to different palates, and very healthy. All of the civilizations that settled in Asia Minor contributed to modern day Turkish cuisine. At the Topkapi Palace kitchens in Istanbul the cuisine was refined over 700 years to the delight of well-fed Sultans of the Ottoman Empire.
Join Jale in the kitchen as she unveils the rich aromas of Turkish cuisine. Learn to prepare healthy eastern Mediterranean meals focusing on whole grains and greens. Jale will share her knowledge of each dish’s history and key ingredients.
Location: Classes are provided at either Jale’s home in Corte Madera or at a site of your choice (limited to San Francisco Bay Area).
Menu: From easy mezzes to flavorful soups, hearth stews to bulgur pilafs, olive oil dishes to yogurt dips, eggplant spreads to feta salads....
Here is a list of dishes which became people's favorite at these classes:
Kisir (fine bulgur salad with pomegranate molasses, tomatoes, fresh mint)
Kofte (beef meatballs with cumin and parsley), served with onion sumac salad
Roasted eggplant with yogurt
Roasted eggplant with tahini
Ispanakli borek (pyillo dough with spinach, caramelized onions and feta)
Muhammara (walnut and red pepper spread)
Bulgur and lamb pilaf
Semolina halva with saffron
Jale will customize the menu for private groups including the possibility of wine pairings prepared by a Turkish wine specialist.
What’s included: Instruction & Preparation, Sourcing Ingredients, Sit down meal, Recipes
Each class will end with a conversation about Turkish culture accompanied by tea served in tulip shaped glass or Turkish coffee.
Cost: Please contact us for exact quotes and details.
