I discovered a great passion for cooking when I started traveling around the world. I couldn’t believe what I’d been missing! I wanted to learn how to cook everything so I took cooking classes wherever I went: South Korea, Japan, Thailand, India, Italy and, my favorite, a really great Tibetan momo class in Northern India. I haven’t yet taken a formal class in Turkey, but I’ve found the next best thing: a Facebook group called Cook’s Corner for Expats in Turkey. It is hands down one of the most comprehensive resources for cooking in Turkey, besides Turkish grandmothers, of course.
Are you dying to know how to make that soup you had for lunch? How about the Turkish name for kale? And what is this weird vegetable I just bought at the bazaar? With over 2,600 members, 1,500 photos of homemade dishes, and 89 files full of recipes, you can find out about almost anything you need to know about food in Turkey. The members regularly share recipes, ask questions about ingredients, and post pictures of their recent creations.
This group is not just for Turkish cuisine either. Since it’s a community of expats, it’s a wonderful resource for finding new recipes from all over the world! They’ll even tell you where to find international ingredients in Istanbul (and other cities), like kimchi or maple syrup. And if that ingredient just doesn’t exist in Turkey, don’t fret! There will most likely be some sort of substitution available. Use suzme yogurt on those quesadillas instead of sour cream. Or try unsalted ayran instead of buttermilk in those Sunday pancakes.
I’m amazed at how helpful and willing the members of this group have been. No question goes unanswered. Cooks Unite! My favorite life hack I’ve learned from the group? You can buy unbaked bread dough from your local bakery or pide shop and use it for pizza dough, cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, calzones, chicken pot pie, bread pudding, bread (I guess), the possibilities are endless!
Cook’s Corner for Expats in Turkey
Click here to go to the Facebook group and request membership
Insider Trading is our new column sharing expats’ secret finds in Istanbul. These recommendations are unsolicited and uncompensated. Have a place you want to share? Send us an email at emma@yabangee.com.
Liz Liberatore is a contributor to Yabangee
I learnt how to make the momo in Zanskar last summer. Planning on doing a Kashmiri/Ladakh pop-up restaurant dinner sometime in May and Momos will be a main feature.
I learnt how to make the momo in Zanskar last summer. Planning on doing a Kashmiri/Ladakh pop-up restaurant dinner sometime in May and Momos will be a main feature.
It’s so refreshing to see other expats getting imaginative with all those Turkish ingredients.
[…] Corner for Expats in Turkey: This is one for the foodies out there. As our contributor Liz previously wrote, Cook’s Corner is a place for novice and experienced cooks to ask questions and swap recipes. […]