If you need a break from the same old food you're always ordering when eating out, maybe it's time to try some ethnic cuisine. The exotic food from the eastern Mediterranean will have your mouth watering and if you live on Long Island, you don't even have to go all the way into Manhattan to find what you're looking for. In fact, for a great Turkish restaurant East Meadow, Centereach and other Long Island spots have a surprising selection on offer.
Turkish cuisine is as varied as the country itself. It's a mix of influences from the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Central Asia and of course Ottoman traditions. Local ingredients such as eggplant, olive oil and yogurt feature prominently and spices are used wisely to enhance the flavors.
To start your culinary journey, try a platter with several appetizers. These may include pickles, olives, cheese, dolmeh with their vine-leaf wrappings, golden falafel balls and small spinach and feta or feta and herb pies. Accompanying everything you'll normally find some tasty dips, including hummus and eggplant-based baba ghanoush.
Many meals include a course of soup, which can be hearty and hot or light and cold. Salads often contain eggplant grilled in olive oil. Feta cheese, grilled seafood and bulgur wheat are commonly used salad ingredients too. In fact, some salads can easily double as a main course for a light lunch, especially in summer.
The kebab is a famous meat specialty in Turkey and is most often made with chicken, beef or lamb. Grilled lamb chops are popular too and in cold weather, nothing beats a hearty stew. However, Turkey's location on both the Mediterranean and the Black Sea means that grilled fish and seafood dishes are common in the country's cuisine too. These dishes are often accompanied by the flavors of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.
Vegetarians will be spoiled for choice in a Turkish restaurant. The abundance of vegetables in most areas of Turkey has given rise to a variety of delicious meat-free dishes bursting with the flavors of eggplant, bell peppers, onions and zucchini. Falafel and grilled vegetables are great for a lighter meal but if you're very hungry, you may want to opt for pilaf or a rich moussaka instead.
Dessert is for many the highlight of their meal and Turkish desserts are heavenly. The variety is huge too. Ice creams in unusual flavors such as pistachio or rose water are the perfect pick-me-up on a hot Long Island day. Some dishes use exotic fruits, including figs. Rice pudding is a creamy delight especially in cold weather. An essential accompaniment is a cup of strong coffee, preferably black and sweet like the Turks drink it. Even if you can't eat one more bite, order some baklava drenched in syrup too. You can always take it home and enjoy it later.
There are several Long Island restaurants that specialize in the cuisines of Turkey and other Mediterranean countries. You simply need to check the local listings, search online or ask around for recommendations for one in, say, East Meadow NY. Many of these establishments also deliver, making it ever more convenient to bring the exotic right to your home.
Turkish cuisine is as varied as the country itself. It's a mix of influences from the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Central Asia and of course Ottoman traditions. Local ingredients such as eggplant, olive oil and yogurt feature prominently and spices are used wisely to enhance the flavors.
To start your culinary journey, try a platter with several appetizers. These may include pickles, olives, cheese, dolmeh with their vine-leaf wrappings, golden falafel balls and small spinach and feta or feta and herb pies. Accompanying everything you'll normally find some tasty dips, including hummus and eggplant-based baba ghanoush.
Many meals include a course of soup, which can be hearty and hot or light and cold. Salads often contain eggplant grilled in olive oil. Feta cheese, grilled seafood and bulgur wheat are commonly used salad ingredients too. In fact, some salads can easily double as a main course for a light lunch, especially in summer.
The kebab is a famous meat specialty in Turkey and is most often made with chicken, beef or lamb. Grilled lamb chops are popular too and in cold weather, nothing beats a hearty stew. However, Turkey's location on both the Mediterranean and the Black Sea means that grilled fish and seafood dishes are common in the country's cuisine too. These dishes are often accompanied by the flavors of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.
Vegetarians will be spoiled for choice in a Turkish restaurant. The abundance of vegetables in most areas of Turkey has given rise to a variety of delicious meat-free dishes bursting with the flavors of eggplant, bell peppers, onions and zucchini. Falafel and grilled vegetables are great for a lighter meal but if you're very hungry, you may want to opt for pilaf or a rich moussaka instead.
Dessert is for many the highlight of their meal and Turkish desserts are heavenly. The variety is huge too. Ice creams in unusual flavors such as pistachio or rose water are the perfect pick-me-up on a hot Long Island day. Some dishes use exotic fruits, including figs. Rice pudding is a creamy delight especially in cold weather. An essential accompaniment is a cup of strong coffee, preferably black and sweet like the Turks drink it. Even if you can't eat one more bite, order some baklava drenched in syrup too. You can always take it home and enjoy it later.
There are several Long Island restaurants that specialize in the cuisines of Turkey and other Mediterranean countries. You simply need to check the local listings, search online or ask around for recommendations for one in, say, East Meadow NY. Many of these establishments also deliver, making it ever more convenient to bring the exotic right to your home.
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