Olive oil vegetables
Onion in olive oil + vegetable + a little water, low heat
Key dish: zeytinyagli-taze-fasulye
Variations: Artichokes, Leeks
Dish Families
Learn twelve patterns instead of memorizing hundreds of recipes. Each family has one pattern and one key dish to learn first. If you know the pattern, you can cook the variations.
Salads
Chopped raw vegetables + salt + acid + fresh herbs
Key dish: Shepherd's Salad
Variations: Gavurdağı, Shirazi, Pico de gallo, Horiatiki, Fattoush
Open family →Pot stews
Base + main ingredient + liquid + long cooking
Key dish: kuru-fasulye
Variations: Chickpeas, Borlotti beans, Chili con carne
Soups
Base + main ingredient + purée
Key dish: Red Lentil Soup
Variations: Ezogelin, Pumpkin soup, Indian dal
Pilafs
Washed grain + fat + measured water + steam rest
Key dish: Rice Pilaf
Variations: Bulgur pilaf, Risotto
Grilling, searing, frying
Dry surface + high heat + an uncrowded pan
Key dish: tavuk-sote
Variations: Pan-seared steak, French fries, Fried calamari
Desserts
Milk or syrup + starch or dough
Key dish: muhallebi
Variations: Rice pudding, Kazandibi, Revani
Stuffed and rolled dishes
Filling + vegetable or leaf + low heat
Key dish: biber-dolmasi
Variations: Stuffed vine leaves, Stuffed zucchini
Ground meat dishes
Ground meat + onion + spice + kneading
Key dish: kuru-kofte
Variations: İzmir köfte, Börek filling, Burger
Oven dishes
Fried vegetable + filling + oven
Key dish: karniyarik
Variations: İmam bayıldı, Moussaka
Sauces
Fat + thickener + liquid
Key dish: besamel
Variations: Yogurt sauce, Tomato sauce, Mayonnaise
Dough dishes
Dough + filling + boiling
Key dish: manti
Variations: Ravioli, Pelmeni, Egg noodles