These recipes are perfect for serving cold on warm summer days, especially when you want something fresh and easy. They are great for lunches, picnics, garden meals, or simple dinners you can prepare ahead. From colorful salads and yogurt dips to mezze, stuffed vegetables, and pastries, these recipes are easy to serve and taste just as good cold or at room temperature.
Stuffed Grape Leaves
Yaprak Sarma (a.k.a Dolmades) is an authentic vegan dish made from Grape Leaves Stuffed with aromatic rice, fresh Mediterranean herbs, and spices. It's a popular choice for special occasions and gatherings.
They are versatile and can be served as part of a mezze platter or as a main dish.
To learn more: Yaprak Sarma - Stuffed Grape Leaves
Courgette Fritters
Mücver (Turkish Courgette Fritters) are small vegetable pancakes that contain courgettes, egg, flour, spring onion, and fresh herbs. These crispy, savory treats are easy to make and packed with flavor, making them a perfect addition to any meal or gathering.
To learn more: Mücver (Turkish Zucchini Fritters)
Salmon and Spinach Quiche
Salmon and Spinach Quiche is a light, creamy, and indulgent treat that is perfect for delicious breakfast, brunch, lunch, or a light dinner. This flavorsome quiche features a buttery homemade pastry crust, and a creamy egg base scattered with fresh spinach and salmon filling.
It is very straightforward to make at home with simple ingredients, and impressive enough to wow your guests!
To learn more: Salmon and Spinach Quiche
Braised Green Beans
My easy Green Beans Recipe is made with fresh green beans, ripe tomatoes, onions, garlic, and good-quality olive oil. This Turkish-style green bean dish, also known as Zeytinyagli Taze Fasulye, is usually served warm or at room temperature as a side dish, light lunch, or meze.
To learn more: Green Beans Recipe
Turkish Vegetable Meze
Saksuka (Turkish Vegetable Meze) is a very much-loved vegan dish made of shallow-fried vegetables and a simple tomato sauce. The star ingredient in this plant-based dish is the aubergine, and the other vegetables vary from region to region.
To learn more: Saksuka (Turkish Vegetable Meze)
Beetroot Hummus
This homemade Beetroot Hummus recipe is simple, reliable, and honestly turns out better than anything from a store-bought container. It’s one of those dishes that quietly becomes part of your regular rotation. It works just as well as a snack with crunchy vegetables as it does spread on a sandwich or for a quick, easy addition to a picnic.
To learn more: Beet Hummus
Imam Bayildi
Imam Bayildi (Turkish Stuffed Aubergines) is a classic Ottoman dish made with aubergines cooked in a generous amount of olive oil and then stuffed with a mixture of onions, tomatoes, and garlic.
Packed with Mediterranean flavors, this plant-based dish is a very easy yet extremely delicious recipe to make.
To learn more: Imam Bayildi (Turkish Stuffed Eggplant)
Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
Türlü is a healthy and delicious Mediterranean dish made with a mix of seasonal vegetables roasted with olive oil and tomato. It’s a simple, wholesome meal that’s full of soft, tender vegetables and warm spices. Türlü is often served as a main or a side and is perfect for using up whatever vegetables you have in the kitchen.
To learn more: Türlü - Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
White Bean Salad
My White Bean Salad is based on Fasulye Piyaz, a Turkish bean salad made with cooked white beans, red onion, parsley, tomatoes, and boiled eggs, then mixed with a creamy tahini dressing. I usually serve it with Inegol Kofte, but it also goes well with kebabs, grilled chicken, or anything cooked on the barbecue.
To learn more: White Bean Salad
Vegan Lentil Meatballs
Mercimek Köftesi (Turkish Vegan Lentil Meatballs) is a healthy and flavourful Turkish dish made with fine bulgur, red lentils, onions, tomato & red pepper paste, and spices. These aromatic vegetarian meatballs are inexpensive and very easy to make. They are usually served at room temperature as an appetizer, a healthy snack, or a part of a mezze platter.
To learn more: Mercimek Köftesi (Vegan Lentil Meatballs)
Potato Salad
If you like simple, tangy, and light salads that work well year-round, Patates Salatası (Turkish Potato Salad without mayo) is a great one to try. It’s made with boiled potatoes, fresh herbs, green onions, and a lemony olive oil dressing.
To learn more: Patates Salatası - Turkish Potato Salad (no mayo)
Borlotti Beans
Barbunya Pilaki (Turkish Style Borlotti Beans) is a classic Turkish dish braised in olive oil with onions, garlic, and tomato (paste).
This delicious vegan dish is perfect to serve as a light lunch, a part of a mezze spread, or a side dish to grilled and roasted meat, fish, and vegetables.
To learn more: Barbunya (Turkish Style Borlotti Beans)
Orzo Pasta Salad
This Orzo Pasta Salad is fresh, healthy, and flavorful, easy to put together, and perfect for making ahead. It is a great dish for last-minute parties, small gatherings, or BBQs, and the leftovers are perfect for picnics and packed lunches.
And the best part is that this Mediterranean salad is made with easy-to-find fresh ingredients and is ready in just 20 minutes!
To learn more: Orzo Pasta Salad
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