When I back-packed around Türkiye in 1988, I loved every meal – but I think breakfast, kahvaltısı, was my favourite. Turkish breakfast is so different from what I grew up with and I never tired of it. Each morning, my travelling companions and I sat down to a plate of olives, chopped cucumber and tomato (so fresh and ripe it was unlike anything I’d ever tasted before – I use grape tomatoes in Australia as I find they have the best flavour year round). Alongside was freshly baked bread, butter, jam and beyaz peynir, the ubiquitous brined fresh cheese whose name literally means ‘white cheese’ – this was also the nickname the locals gave me because of my very fair skin! Plus a boiled egg if we wanted one. This was all washed down with black tea. It was a wonderful way to start the day and still is. By mid-morning I was often snacking on some cheese & herb börek (see video below) or other Turkish street food too. Afiyet Olsun!
Serves 2
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