TG Gourmet

Höşmerim: Turkey's Fresh Cheese Dessert (Recipe)

A guide to höşmerim, the Turkish dessert made by melting fresh unsalted curd cheese with semolina and sugar until it strings. Covers which cheese to buy in the US, how it differs from halva, a stovetop recipe and troubleshooting.

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Mevlit Şekeri & Kandil Simidi: Turkey's Religious Sweets

A guide to Turkey's religious sweets: what a mevlit gathering actually is, why hard candy is handed out at the door, the five kandil nights and the sesame ring baked for them, plus lokma and helva.

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Kestane Şekeri: Bursa's Candied Chestnut Treat Explained

Explainer on kestane şekeri, Bursa's candied chestnut: what it is, the city's Uludağ chestnut heritage, the multi-day candying process, how it differs from French marron glacé, serving and gifting ideas,...

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Mesir Macunu: Manisa's UNESCO Spiced Paste Explained

Culture/pantry explainer on mesir macunu, the 41-spice Ottoman paste of Manisa: the Hafsa Sultan and Merkez Efendi legend, the UNESCO-listed (2012) spring scattering festival, its sweet-then-peppery taste, and how it's...

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What Is Akide Şekeri? Ottoman Hard Candy Explained

Akide şekeri is the Ottoman Empire's original hard candy — glassy drops of boiled sugar in rose, mastic, cinnamon, and clove, named after the Janissaries' sweet pledge of loyalty. Here...

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