This week on Cooking the Books, the queen of Turkish cuisine, Ozlem Warren tells us about the vegetarian dishes at the heart of the food from her homeland.
But a little known fact about Ozlem is her DJ past. Here for Extra Bites, she yanks up the volume on her very own Kitchen Disco playlist.
Ozlem’s – former DJ!!- playlist for Cooking the Books
Alongside to cookery and food writing, music has been another passion of mine since my teenage years. I was an amateur DJ back in 1993, in Istanbul, at one of the very first private radio stations, KENT FM in Istanbul. I hosted Friday Night Fever show on Friday nights and Golden Oldies on the Sunday morning slot, I loved it – we had over a million listeners! I would play 80s and 90s music and take dedications. My parents, especially my dear father Orhan loved music and he would record all my programs in a tape. We always had music at the background while preparing food at home, and I still do. Here are a few of the songs I played at my radio shows, and enjoyed with family too. I hope they get you moving while you cook away your SEBZE feast!
1) Rasputin – Boney M
This is a special song for me, as my dear father Orhan absolutely adored it. I have fond memories of dancing around the kitchen with him while he made his favourite Eggs with sautéed potatoes and spring onions, happy days.
2) Domates, biber, patlican – Baric Manco
Baris Manco was my idol and one of my favourite singers and song writers in my teenage years, an iconic artist from home. This song, meaning ‘tomato, pepper, aubergines”, talks about the street vendors calling these vegetables to announce the arrival of the vendor to the neighbourhood, which, in a funny way meddles with singer’s intended love declaration to his girlfriend. Food is involved in so many ways in Turkish culture!
3) Hotel California – Eagles
One of my favourite songs to play at my radio shows, also with my family. Always reminds me happy summers days, carefree days, playing this song, dancing by the fire by the beach too.
4) Voulez-vous – ABBA
Another father – daughter favouite song, my father adored ABBA. I used to play this song and dedicate to him at my radio show.
5) Nane Limon Kabugu – Baris Manco
Another Baris Manco classic; talking about benefits of lemon peel, fresh mint for any remedies – yet again the involvement of food in our songs!
6) Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
Another hit at my radio programs – popular as dedications too!
7) Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams
I am a huge fan of Bryan Adams, and this was a song of our young, carefree days, big hit with my radio listeners too.
8) Le Freak – CHIC
Another father – daughter favouite song, happy memories of dancing with my dear father Orhan with this song, now we do that with my daughter, while chopping veg in the kitchen!
And for a perfect breakfast after a night in the Disco Kitchen, how’s this from Sebze to get your strength back?
Patatesli Yumurta
Sautéed Potatoes with Spring Onion and Eggs
This delicious dish was among my dear belated father Orhan’s favourites. My dear mother, Gülçin was an amazing cook, who loved to feed anyone around – my ultimate source of inspiration. She was also a busy science teacher, so whenever she was on late duty at school my father would knock this up for supper with a big smile on his face. I am my father’s daughter and absolutely adore this delicious, warming comfort food. Pungent ground cumin is the star spice here and goes so well with potato and eggs.
Serves 2
255 g (9 oz) potatoes (Maris Piper work well)
3 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon pul biber (add more if you like)
3 spring onions (scallions), trimmed and finely chopped
2 medium eggs
40 g (1½ oz) beyaz peynir, feta or cheese of your choice, crumbled
a few sprigs of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Wash and pat dry the potatoes, then cut into 2.5 cm (1 in) cubes, keeping the skin on. Place in a medium saucepan, cover with plenty of hot water, add a pinch of salt and bring to the boil. Partially cover and cook over a medium heat for 15 minutes until the potatoes are cooked but still firm. Drain well.
Heat the olive oil in a wide, non-stick pan over a medium heat, add the potatoes, season with salt and sauté for 8 minutes. Add the cumin and pul biber and sauté further 2 minutes, stirring often, until the potatoes turn golden. Stir in the spring onions and combine well. Create two hollows in the pan and crack the eggs. Sprinkle the crumbled cheese over the potatoes and egg white and cook for about 4 minutes until the egg whites are set and the yolks still runny. Season with a little more salt and pepper if you like. Sprinkle over the chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Loving Ozlem’s playlist!!
Looks delicious!