This salad leans on contrast and balance rather than bold flavors. Peppery arugula forms the base, avocado adds a smooth, creamy note, and toasted pine nuts bring warmth and crunch. Parmesan finishes the salad with just enough sharpness, giving each ingredient a clear role and creating a bowl that feels considered, balanced, and quietly elegant without trying to impress. Ingredients 85 g arugula 1 medium ripe avocado 100 g cherry tomatoes 20–25 g pine nuts, toasted 2 tablespo

This pasta started as a quick way to use up some extra cherry tomatoes and bell peppers, and it ended up becoming a regular in our home. It’s simple to prepare, yet the flavor is bold and comforting; roasted vegetables, warm spices, and creamy feta blended into a silky sauce that coats every bite of pasta. I roast everything together in one dish: the tomatoes soften and burst, the peppers char slightly, and the feta turns golden and soft. A quick blitz in the blender with a s

Being a working mom means planning ahead wherever I can—and these freezer-friendly meatballs are one of my favourite ways to stay...

Fluffy spinach and goat cheese frittata—easy, flavorful, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a light dinner.

“Zeytinyağlı taze fasulye” is one of those dishes that instantly transports me to a Turkish summer afternoon—windows open, breeze...

There are certain dishes that instantly take you back in time. For me, kısır will always be tied to the golden glow of altın günü—those lively Turkish afternoon gatherings where women came together to share food, laughter, and, in the past, tiny pieces of gold as gifts. Nowadays, the gold may have disappeared (thanks, economy), but kısır remains a shining centerpiece of the table. Growing up, I’d often tag along with my mom to these get-togethers. The living room would be fil

Some nights, you want dinner to feel a little special—without spending hours in the kitchen. That’s where this crispy parmesan crusted...

Piyaz is one of those salads that shows up quietly on the table and somehow works with everything. It’s simple, built around white beans, but never boring. A good olive oil, lemon, sumac, and a handful of fresh herbs are really all it needs. I usually make it as a side for grilled meat or fish, but it also holds its own as a light lunch. It’s filling without being heavy, fresh without trying too hard, and easy to pull together with pantry ingredients. Ingredients 2 cups white

This is one of those pasta dishes I come back to when I want something creamy and comforting, but still built around vegetables. Roasted red peppers give the sauce its sweetness and depth, and once blended with cream, they turn into a smooth, mellow sauce that works especially well for kids. It’s simple, quick, and flexible. You can use any pasta shape you have, and the whole thing comes together while the peppers roast in the oven. A quiet weeknight dinner that doesn’t feel

Mercimek köftesi is a staple on Turkish mezze tables and one of the most popular vegan dishes in Turkish home cooking. Made with red lentils, fine bulgur, herbs, and warm spices, these soft lentil patties are filling, flavorful, and completely plant-based. They’re shaped by hand, served cold, and almost always eaten wrapped in crisp lettuce with a squeeze of lemon. No frying, no baking, and no last-minute cooking. That’s part of the appeal. Mercimek köftesi works just as well

Ezogelin soup is one of those bowls I never skip when I see it on a lokanta menu in Turkey. It’s familiar in the best way, filling, warming, and quietly comforting. The kind of soup you order without thinking, because you already know it will be good. Made with red lentils, a little rice and bulgur, tomato paste, and dried mint, it’s simple but layered. Nothing flashy, just ingredients that work well together. At home, it’s one of the most satisfying soups to make, mostly han

Red Lentil Soup (Mercimek çorbası) is one of those soups that shows up again and again in Turkish kitchens, especially on colder days. It’s simple, filling, and made with ingredients that are usually already in the pantry. Onion, lentils, a couple of vegetables, and time. What makes it special is how it’s finished. A little butter warmed with paprika and dried mint, spooned over the top just before serving. And if there’s leftover bread on the counter, turning it into quick c