Istanbulian Meatballs With Tomato Sauce

Istanbulian Meatballs With Tomato Sauce is another traditional recipe from Bulgaria. The name "Istanbulian" comes from the relevant region, where Turkish capital is located nowadays. The dish combines slight and juicy meatballs with tomato chili pepper sauce. It's an explosion of natural taste and perfect companion for a cup of red wine.

Ingredients:

Meatballs:
600g minced meat, beef and pork
1 spring onion, chopped
1 egg
1 slice of bread
1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
1/2 tablespoon savory
1/2 teaspoon
1 teaspoon paprika
100g vegetable oil
1 cup of flour
Pepper
Cumin
Salt

Tomato Sauce:
1 spring onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 pinches of fine salt
1 pinch of hot paprika (chili pepper)
Salt
1 can of whole peeled tomatoes
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped

Preparation:
1. Put the minced meat in a bowl. Add all seasonings - parsley, savory, paprika, pepper, cumin and salt.
2. Soak bread in water for about 5 minutes. Squeeze water from bread.
3.  Chop the onion.
4. Mix all the ingredients from the first 3 steps, add the egg and knead. Then leave the minced meat mixture in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
5. Make slight meatballs from the minced meat. Flatten and roll in flour for frying. Fry the balls on each side.
6. Put some vegetable oil in the pen for the tomato sauce. Add the onion and the garlic. After 3-4 minutes inset the parsley and salt, then add whole peeled tomatoes and chili pepper. Fry for about 20 minutes.

On a plate, arrange a few meatballs and flood with tomato sauce. Served cold.

Preparation and cook time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Portions: 4

Chicken Soup with Celery

Tasty chicken soup with vegetables and bulgarian liaison. It is amazing warm cure for winter's cold. 

Ingredients:

1 chicken
2 carrots, finely chopped
1 celery, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
2 peppers, green and red
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup yoghurt
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg
Pepper
Parsley
Salt


Preparation:
1.Boil the whole chicken in salt water, then bone the meat and chop it in pieces.
2.Fry the finely chopped carrots, celery and onion in butter within deep pan. Add water, peppers and salt, then boil for 40 minutes.
3. Thicken with beaten egg, yoghurt and flour under constant stirring.
4. Sprinkle with finely chopped parsley before serving.

Preparation and cook time: 1 hour
Portions: 4-6

Duck Kapama

Winter dish with tasty fried duck pieces and vegetables. Duck Kapama goes good with all types of red wine.

Duck Kapama with mushrooms and vegetables

Ingredients:

1 duck
1 cup mushrooms
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
4 onions, peeled and chopped
Salt and pepper (corn), to taste
Celery
5 garlic cloves
½ cup Red wine
3 tablespoons tomato sauce

Preparation:
1. Cut the duck into piеces and stew it in a deep pan with the vegetable oil.
2. Slice mushrooms. Chop all vegetables to small cubes and stew them with the meat.
3. Put the stewed mixture in a deep baking dish and pour it with wine, tomato sauce and a bit of hot water.
4. Preheat the oven to 400F (200C) and wrap the sides of baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake it for about 1 hour.

Preparation and cooked time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Portions: 4

Bean Soup

Traditional Bulgarian soup made from white beans and vegetables. You can add dry cured or smoked ham for a better taste.

Ingredients:

2 cup white dry beans

1 carrot, peeled and diced

1/2 a celery (optional)

1 onion, finely chopped

1 tomato

3 peppers, chopped

Parsley

Sunflower oil

Salt and pepper

Preparation:

1.Saturate the bean in cold water for at least four hours, then drain and pour fresh water.

2. Boil the bean in a pot with sunflower oil and fine cut carrot, celery and onion.

3. Peppers are added later.  When the bean has turned tender, add the grated tomato, then salt and boil for another 20 minutes.

4. Serve sprinkled with parsley and pepper. 

Preparation and cooked time: 3 hours and 40 minutes

Portions: 4

Snow-White Salad

Do you remember the cold cucumber soup called Tarator? The Snow-white salad is known as dry Tarator. It's an easy to make salad with refreshing impact.

Ingredients: 

2 cucumbers, peeled and chopped

2 cups whole-milk yoghurt,

1/2 cup walnuts,

2 cloves garlic,

Dill, finely chopped

Olive or sunflower oil,

Salt

Preparation: 
1. Wash, peel and finely dice the cucumbers.

2. Add finely chopped garlic and dill, crushed walnuts, the full fat yoghurt and the oil. Salt, to taste.

3. Stir well the mixture, pour into plates and garnish with olives.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Portion: 4