turkish – My Whisk and I

250g digestive biscuits
80g butter, melted
50ml water
10g powdered gelatine
450g cream cheese
10ml + 5ml rose water
160ml cream
2 x 80g packets jelly, cherry flavour

Spray a 22cm loose bottom cake tin with cooking spray.
Break up the digestive biscuits and add them to a food processor. Blitz to fine crumbs.
Melt the butter and drizzle it in with the engine running.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin, spread it out evenly and press down. Refrigerate until needed.
Pour the water into a smal bowl and sprinkle the gelatine on top. Set aside for 10 minutes.
Add the cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixed fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until soft.
Add the icing sugar and beat until incorporated. Scrape the bowl down every now and then.
Add the 10ml rose water and mix through. Set aside.
Add the cream to a large bowl and whisk to form soft peaks.
Fold the cream into the cream cheese mixture.
Melt the gelatine in the microwave – a few seconds!!! It should be liquid and dissolved.
Scoop 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture into the gelatine and mix well.
Now add this mixture to the cream cheese mixture and thoroughly fold through.
Pour the mixture into the cake tin and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Prepare the jelly according to packet instructions and stand to cool but not set.
Add the 5ml rose water once the mixture is cooled and pour on to the cheesecake.
Refrigerate until set.

You may poach or fry the eggs for this traditional recipe.

250ml Greek yoghurt
1 clove of garlic, minced
30ml chopped mint leaves
grated rind of 1 lemon

45ml olive oil
30g butter
5ml smoked paprika
5ml chilli flakes
5ml Szechuan pepper
1ml ground cumin

4 eggs

Add the yoghurt, garlic, mint and lemon rind to a small bowl.
Season with salt and whisk to mix.
Divide the mixture between 2 serving plates and set aside.

Pour the olive oil into a small pan, add the butter and allow to melt over a medium heat.
Add the smoked paprika, chilli flakes, Szechuan pepper and cumin to the pan and stir around for a minute or so.
Take the pan from the heat and set aside.

Place a saucepan on high heat and fill it 10cm deep with water. Bring to the boil and then reduce to a very low simmer.
Crack one egg at a time, into a cup and gently slide it into the simmering water.
Wait about 20 seconds before adding the next egg.
Poach the eggs for 3 minutes, remove them with a slotted spoon and set 2 eggs on the yoghurt mixture.
Spoon the spicy butter over the eggs and drizzle the rest on the plate.
Serve with small pita breads to mop up the sauce.

Tag: turkish

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