You may remember, way back last winter, we did a few posts about Turkish pickles and we even discovered that they’re good for you. Well, that’s always going to be a bonus for us seeing as we struggle to get through a meal without having a side dish of pickles.
Our visit to Istanbul last weekend was a very short one and as we’ve been up there a few times now, we were happy to spend the three days pottering around the Beyoğlu area, as that’s where we were staying. Dodging your way up and down Istiklal Caddesi is an event in itself but off this main stretch there are warrens of side streets to lose yourself in. Whilst wondering around aimlessly on our second day, we stumbled across this most wonderful of establishments…
Colourful pickles brighten up Beyoğlu
You can imagine our glee at seeing such a splash of colour and then realising that the splash of colour was turşu. Home made pickles of all varieties. Sometimes you see a shop and you get really excited and you just have to go in there. This was one of those shops for us.
Pickle production in Petek Turşuları
Actually, we’re doing it an injustice, calling it a shop. This is a fine pickling emporium: Petek Turşuları (Petek Pickles). We pushed the door open and the air was filled with the aroma of pickling vinegar. The shop owner produces his wonderful pickle creations behind the counter and all around you are floor-to-ceiling shelves stacked with beautifully presented pickles, placed in their jars in such a way as to squash in the maximum amount – and to make you want to buy them. This guy quite clearly takes pride in his pickle presentations.
It wasn’t just picked vegetables on display. Also for sale is pickled fruit (you can see the grapes on the bottom row of the photo), home made salça (tomato puree and pepper puree) of varying degrees of heat and nar ekşisi. We just couldn’t leave this place empty handed. Wherever we travel to, we always buy a little souvenir to bring back to Fethiye with us. Travels to Istanbul usually entail book purchasing – but this time, the discovery of Petek Turşuları in Beyoğlu meant the books were sacrificed and pickles won the day.
There was even pickled fruit
Baby red bell peppers, jalapeño peppers and nar ekşisi were bought (very cheaply) and brought back home with us. Unfortunately, there were never going to be enough and we’re already rationing them out to make them last as long as possible! The baby red bell peppers are sweet with a perfect heat and go perfectly with Turkish white cheese. The jalapeños – well, they’re just being eaten with everything and the nar ekşisi; home made, thick and syrupy. That was drizzled, in generous quantities, over last night’s salad.
It’s not every day you come across emporiums such as Petek’s and we can’t imagine there’ll be any future visits to Istanbul without stopping by here for edible souvenirs.
Turkey's For Life
Sunday 24th of October 2010
Thank you Ayngelina. Turkish pickles are an institution. Not many meals are eaten without a sidedish of pickles of any variety.
Ayngelina
Sunday 24th of October 2010
I love pickles, but have never had any turkish pickles. Agreed that the photos are beautiful.
Turkey's For Life
Friday 22nd of October 2010
Thanks Veronica - the shop was beautiful; not the photos. :)
Yeah, there was a lot of pickled fruit. might have to give it a go next time.
The Enchanted Cook
Friday 22nd of October 2010
Oh what beautiful photos and what a gorgeous pickle emporium :-)
I've never heard of pickled grapes?! Wonder what they must taste like?
Best,Veronica
Turkey's For Life
Thursday 21st of October 2010
Yeşim - next time. :)
Rose, we love pickles too. Strange you should say about the pickled green beans. They're in the photos in this shop and we were very tempted to give them a go. I think next time we're in Istanbul, we'll be experimenting too.