Tag: Turkish cuisine

According to scientific literature, shalgam is considered a functional food due to its rich nutritional profile and probiotic content. This traditional Turkish beverage, known for its tangy flavor and deep purple color, begs the question: is salgam drink healthy for everyone?

Originating from Turkey, salgam (also known as şalgam suyu) is a traditional fermented beverage produced through lactic acid fermentation. A notable feature is its significant probiotic content, offering a wide array of health benefits of drinking salgam, from improved gut health to a bolstered immune system.

Originally made from the ground tubers of wild orchids, salep is known by several names across different regions. This warm, creamy winter beverage has been a staple in parts of the Middle East, the Ottoman Empire, and even historical England, where it was known as saloop. Today, due to the rarity of wild orchids, many modern versions use alternative thickening agents.

To produce just one kilogram of authentic salep powder, thousands of wild orchid tubers are needed, highlighting the resource-intensive nature of this delicacy. This sweet, fragrant drink, popular across the Middle East and Europe for centuries, has a surprising and valuable origin.

According to the Vegetarian Society, a vegetarian is someone who does not eat the products or byproducts of animal slaughter, which includes poultry like turkey. However, a common source of confusion arises from the dual meaning of the word 'turkey.' This article will distinguish between the meat and the country's cuisine.

Traditionally, Turkish delight, known as lokum, relies on cornstarch for its characteristic chewy texture, not gelatin. This centuries-old method, used by authentic Turkish manufacturers, ensures the confection is naturally vegan and suitable for halal and kosher diets. However, some modern, mass-produced versions, often found outside Turkey, may take shortcuts by using gelatin.

Dating back over 4,000 years, pickling is one of the world's oldest food preservation methods, with tursu being a staple in Turkish cuisine. While its tangy flavor is a culinary delight, a key question for health-conscious foodies is whether this fermented vegetable medley truly benefits gut health.

According to Guinness World Records, Turkey leads the world in per capita bread consumption. But why do people in some countries eat more bread than others, and which nationality eats the most bread in the modern world?

Over 70% of the body's immune system resides in the gut, making gut health a critical component of overall wellness. This has led many to question, does ayran contain probiotics, and can this popular beverage support a healthy microbiome?

According to food safety standards, almost all commercially produced ayran is made with yogurt from pasteurized milk to ensure safety and extend shelf life. Understanding the distinction is key to answering whether ayran yogurt is pasteurized, as the answer varies depending on how it's made.