Best Spices and Herbs to Buy
You have come to Turkey, heard a lot about various spices and maybe want to expand your culinary skills, what spices/herbs would you buy? Although it seems like an easy question, the choices can be overwhelming as anyone who has been to Misir Carsisi (Egyptian Bazaar) or some place similar would attest. Although I did not like him much, I follow the late President Ozal’s advice and even if I do not need any spices, I just visit Misir Carsisi to take a sniff: five minutes and I’m already tripping.
I prepared a short list for you, with my favorites.
Sage
Let us start with a common one. Officially called Salvia officinalis (lat.), it originates from Mediterranean, goes by the names Garden sage, Kitchen sage, and Dalmatian sage. It is a small perennial evergreen sub-shrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers.
You can use it when cooking game, sausages, casserole, fish (baked), soups, hamburger (that’s right), pasta, poultry, omelet, roasted meat and aubergine; plus, in salads, barbecued meat, sandwiches and when preparing sauce.
Tarhana
Native to western Asia, Tarhana herb or Turkish pickling herb (lat. Echinophora tenuifolia) is really a treat, especially when my grandmother makes a soup with it (note to self: add a recipe some time). It is difficult to find a restaurant offering Tarhana soup. If you do come across one, give it a try. Its leaves are used in pickles (central Anatolia) and meatballs (southeastern regions).
Poppy
Let us slowly shift to the wild side. Poppy, called hashas (pronounced hush-hush) in Turkish and officially dubbed as Papaver somniferum in Latin, is native to Anatolia. Apart from its use that your wicked minds dream of, it is widely used in bread, muffins, pies, bakery, cheese, salads, vegetable dishes, canapes and desserts (Now you know why we perceive time differently in this part of the world. Don’t worry, it is perfectly safe when used this way; I think).
Mahaleb
It is time to explore and be more adventurous, don’t you think so? Well, since you asked, we serve. Cerasus mahaleb as once the Romans called it (they were speaking Latin) has a strong and pleasant aroma, and slightly bitter taste. It is used in a variety of bakery products. If you like experimenting in kitchen, you are right on spot.
Salep
I wanted to finish with a nice gesture for all the diet freaks out there, wherever you are. Native to western Asia, salep or Salep Orchis in Latin is an indispensable ingredient of ice-cream proper, helping it be thicker, stronger and tasty. We also make a milkshake like drink and consume in winter. When I said thicker and stronger, I meant it. Here is the picture (Yes, it is a meat cleaver).
Anyhow, thanks for the great article!
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