Meze Magic: Summer Edition

Cooking course in German
Meze Magic: Summer Edition
Vegetarian treasures of Turkish summer cuisine
with Aysegül Öztekin

Turkish cuisine is more present in Berlin than almost any other. Yet many people only know a small part of its impressive diversity. Yet behind it lies a culinary culture full of vegetarian treasures.

In the summer edition, we learn how to make fresh Turkish meze with everything that summer has to offer: Eggplants, tomatoes, green beans, lots of different peppers, zucchinis and of course lemons, lots of fresh herbs as well as good olive oil. The recipes are perfect for barbecues or a classic meze evening with friends and family.

Together we will learn Mediterranean cooking techniques and prepare incredibly aromatic dishes that are wonderful to share: in the spirit of Turkish food culture.

Menu:

• Sigara Börek - crispy börek with feta cheese
• Zeytinyağlı Taze Yeşil Fasulye - Stewed green beans in olive oil
• Hatay-style babagannuş
• Fırında Sebze - Baked vegetables with garlic yogurt
• Kısır - Turkish bulgur salad with herbs and pomegranate
• Crispy kadayıf with walnuts and vanilla ice cream

Aysegül Öztekin

Ayşegül became a vegetarian at the age of 13 in a Turkish-German family where good food has always played an important role. Together with her mother and aunts, she rediscovered the vegetarian treasures of Anatolian cuisine. Some recipes were lovingly refined, others, such as lahmacun, were creatively "vegetarianized".

From her neighbor from Hatay, her grandmother from Central Anatolia and her other grandmother from the Black Sea, she not only got to know different flavors, but also a variety of techniques and traditions.

Between 2019 and 2021, she brought these inspirations to a wider audience at pop-up events. Since then, she has regularly cooked in various formats and shares her enthusiasm for vegetarian Turkish cuisine with great joy and knowledge.