Turkish Delight

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Turkish delight is a confectionery product made from starch and water sweetened with sugar. In most cases it is flavored with lemon or rose water.

It is usually cut into cubes, which are sprinkled with powdered sugar or coconut shavings to prevent them from sticking. The greatest masters of the delicious product in Bulgaria are located in the town of Yablanitsa. Turkish delight is known all over the world, but is widely used in Bulgarian, Albanian, Turkish, Greek, Cypriot and Romanian cuisines.

History of Turkish delight

Turkish delight is one of the oldest sweets in the world. For this we should be grateful to the culinary masters in the Ottoman Empire. Sometime in the 15th century, the sultan ordered the court confectioner to mix a hitherto unheard of sweet temptation to please the women of his harem.

After long attempts, the chef received the candied temptation Turkish delightby mixing sugar syrup, various flavors and nuts. There are many legends about Turkish delight, and its existence is mentioned in the 12th century, when Richard the Lionheart ordered a rich meal for his wedding. Among the meats, fruits and delicacies on the table was Turkish delight.

Another Slavic legend tells how a brave boy managed to redeem his beloved in the 14th century, which was intended for the sultan's harem. The hero served the sultan Turkish delight and you brought the woman back. Another story from the 17th century connects the Turkish delight with the young confectioner Bekir Effendi, who managed with ingenuity to appease the bad temper of the sultan by preparing the then unconventional delicacy.

In the 18th century, Turkish delight managed to conquer the hearts of English aristocrats, fitting into their ancient tea ceremony. During the usual afternoon tea, the nobles in England liked to eat Turkish delight.

Turkish delight is made from starch and sugar sweetened with sugar. It is often flavored with rose water, vanilla or lemon. In different types of Turkish delight can be put on walnuts, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, coconut shavings and others. Incomparable to any other sweet temptation, Turkish delight is usually offered cut into small pieces, covered with powdered sugar or coconut.

The Balkan Peninsula can be considered the homeland of Turkish delight and that is why it is the most common in the local cuisines. There is a great variety of Turkish delights - Lokum Classic, Lokum Tsveten (with bergamot), Lokum Smetana, Lokum Mint, Lokum mead, Lokum with nuts and all kinds of fruit flavors.

The Turks have an old saying: "Eat sweet and talk sweet." From Turkey, the sweet conceptual combination rahat lokum is a symbol of undisturbed satisfaction or boundless pleasure, as the word rahat itself can actually be translated. By the end of the 18th century, when sugar production began, Turkish delight was sweetened with honey and grape molasses. After the 18th century and the powerful invasion of sugar, Turkey was reviving in a new era in the production of traditional pastries.

The great Picasso is said to have eaten daily Turkish delightto improve his concentration and to guide his gifted hand easily and correctly. Napoleon and Winston Churchill, on the other hand, were passionate lovers of pistachio delicacies.

Selection and storage of Turkish delight

Turkish delight can be found in any store. This product is widely used in our kitchen, which makes it easy to find. Buy Turkish delight, which is in tightly closed boxes. Turkish delight is stored in dry and clean rooms, preferably enclosed in a suitable box so that it does not dry out.

Turkish delight recipes

The Turkish delight itself is a complete confectionery masterpiece, but it is also an excellent addition to various other confectionery products. It is used to prepare delicious pies with Turkish delight, various small sweets or rolls, cakes and cupcakes, baked pasta or muffins, baklava or strudel with Turkish delight, etc. A traditional recipe for cooking Turkish delight is:

flour - 5 tbsp. corn

water - 1/2 tsp.cold + 1/2 tsp. hot

sugar - 2 tsp.

juice - 1/2 tsp. oranges

rose water - 1 tsp, maybe lemon juice

nuts - 2 tsp. optionally

sugar - powder

Preparation of Turkish delight:

Dissolve the corn flour in cold water. Bring hot water, sugar and orange juice to a boil. Add the flour to them and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir often during this time. When you remove the mixture from the heat, add the rose water or lemon juice. Pour the nuts, mix and pour the mixture prepared in this way in an oiled form. Allow to cool completely and cut the Turkish delight into chunks with a knife dipped in boiling water. Roll each piece Turkish delight in powdered sugar.

The most common recipe for Turkish delight can be prepared by mixing and stirring 750 g of sugar, 1 and 1/2 liters of water, 150 g of starch and juice of 1/2 lemon. The cold one Turkish delight cut into pieces and roll in powdered sugar or crushed nuts if desired.

Benefits of Turkish delight

Turkish delight is said to have a therapeutic and healing effect. It is believed to help with hypertension and high cholesterol in the human body. Turkish delight is a food product with a high glucose content, hence its positive effect. Glucose supports the functions of the heart and improves the work of the brain, but also helps to quickly restore the body's energy and resistance. Turkish delight has long had the reputation of being a powerful aphrodisiac.

Damage from Turkish delight

Despite its long history, Turkish delight is at the forefront of junk food, along with chips and sodas. Very often its taste and smell are obtained through the use of many harmful E's in it.