mmmmm...delicious

As stated previously, the following article will be a look at what a vegetarian would find appealing in Istanbul. Traditional Turkish cuisine is a rainbow of colors and prepared in a variety of ways. My favorite foods are called dolmas, which means to stuff in Turkish. The average American thinks of a dolma as the grape leaves wrapped around rice and spices, which are referred to here as sarmas, or to wrap. There are many different vegetables that are stuffed here such as; zucchini, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes. The filling always contains rice, but along with it can contain a world of possibilities, but most frequently have tomato paste, tomatoes, pepper paste, raisins or currants, pine nuts, and variety of spices. I have tried many of the dolmas and have even had the pleasure of learning how to make them, so you are all invited to my Turkish dining night (the date of which will be announced in the near future)!
Another food found on the tabletops of many restaurants, is pickled peppers. When I first tried these one inch to two inch peppers, the color of my face turned a shade of magenta that did not look nature. I found myself gasping for breath and hurrying to the fridge to soothe my mouth with yogurt. Now, with practice, I have reached the capacity to eat two or three before the beads of sweat start to form on my forehead. As you can see, there are many things that are pickled here besides just peppers.
Kofte is also a well known and loved food here, which translates to meatball. The kofte also comes in many forms. There is a vegetarian version that is delicious and is uncooked. It is made by kneading a couscous like grain for an hour, mixing in tomato and pepper paste, greens, parsley, and spices like, red pepper flakes, cumin, oregano, and salt and pepper. These kofte take the shape of the inside of a persons hand and they are topped with lemon. It is all very good, though looks a bit odd!
Wow, I could go on for a while about the food I find enjoyable and realize that I might do a part two for the sweets here that I have been enjoying on a daily basis, but I will conclude with drinks. There is the obvious Turkish coffee that everyone knows about, but on average a Turkish person consumes around six cups of tea a day. The main type is like the dark Ceylon tea, but there are fruity and spicy versions available (apple and licorice are my favorite). Ayran is also a popular drink, which consists of yogurt, salt, and water. I am still trying to get a taste for this drink. Well, that is all I can write at this point I am getting hungry once again and think I will go to get some chorba (lentil soup)!