Traditional Turkish recipes for Tepsi Kebabı and Mantı

Traditional Turkish culinary techniques are highlighted through recipes for Antakya-style Tepsi Kebabı and homemade Mantı.

Antakya Tepsi Kebabı is prepared by combining medium-fatty beef mince with lamb brisket mince, finely chopped red capia peppers, onions, garlic, and parsley. The mixture is seasoned with tomato paste, cumin, black pepper, and chili flakes, then spread into a tray and topped with tomatoes, green peppers, and shallots before being baked with a sauce of tomato paste, water, and olive oil.

For Mantı, a dough made of flour, egg, salt, and water is filled with a mixture of minced meat, onion, salt, and pepper. The dish is completed with a garlic yogurt sauce and a specialized butter sauce. The key to the butter sauce is melting one tablespoon of butter and briefly infusing it with red pepper flakes or chili flakes to release aromas without burning the spices.