Turkish Mint Drink Recipes

TURKISH MARTINI

Steps:

• In a mixing glass, add vanilla vodka, Turkish coffee, Raki and Torani and some ice. Shake 10 times and serve in a chilled martini glass. Drink would be nice on the rocks too.

FRESH MINT TEA

Steps:

• Take a few leaves of the mint in one hand and sharply clap your other hand on top, then drop the leaves into a teapot or cafetiere. Repeat with the rest of the mint, saving a few small sprigs for each glass as a garnish.
• Fill up the pot with boiling water and let it infuse for 2-3 mins or until the liquid starts to take on a slight pale yellow/green hue. Strain the tea into cups or heatproof glasses and sweeten with honey to taste. Drop the reserved mint into the cups to decorate if you like.

TURKISH RED LENTIL SOUP WITH MINT

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over high heat. Cook and stir the onion in the hot oil until it begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Stir the garlic into the onion and cook another 2 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes to the onion mixture; continue to cook and stir another 10 minutes.
• Pour in the chicken stock, red lentils, bulgur, rice, tomato paste, paprika, cayenne pepper, and mint to the tomato mixture; season with salt and black pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until the the lentils and rice are cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Pour the soup into a blender to no more than half full. Firmly hold the lid in place and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth; pour into your serving dish. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup in cooking pot.

AYRAN

Steps:

• Pour yogurt into a bowl and beat until smooth, add water and continue beating until thoroughly blended, or combine in an electric blender and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and dried mint. Chill thoroughly and serve in tall glasses, with ice.

MINT TURKISH DELIGHT

Steps:

• Oil an 8-inch square baking pan and line with plastic wrap. Oil plastic wrap.
• In a small bowl sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water and let soften. In another small bowl stir together 1/8 cup cold water and cornstarch.
• In a 4-quart heavy kettle stir together remaining 1 1/4 cups cold water, granulated sugar, and mint and bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Stir in gelatin and cornstarch mixtures and boil over moderate heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spatula, 10 minutes (mixture will be very thick). Stir in food coloring. Pour mixture into baking pan, smoothing top with spatula, and cool. Chill confection, loosely covered, until set, about 4 hours.
• Sift 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar onto a work surface. Invert confection onto sugar and peel off plastic wrap. Cut confection into 1/8-inch cubes. Sift remaining confectioners' sugar over cubes and toss to coat. Wrap cubes in parchment paper (do not use wax paper, plastic wrap, or airtight containers because confections will weep) and chill. Turkish delight may be made 2 weeks ahead and kept chilled, wrapped in parchment paper.
• Just before serving, recoat Turkish delight in additional confectioners' sugar.

TURKISH MINT DRINK

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil, add the sugar, dissolve and then add the vinegar.
• Bring to boil again and then simmer for at least 30 minutes.
• Add the mint, remove from the heat immediately and cover pot with a firm fitting lid. Allow to cool.
• When cool, transfer to dry bottles along with the mint leaves for storage.
• Serve with water and ice in the desired proportions. Garnish with a few fresh mint or spearmint leaves.