Atom Meze Recipe - Turkish Yoghurt Dip With Chilli
This spicy Turkish yoghurt dip - Atom - in one of the most popular meze plates in Turkish cuisine and is a definite favourite for us. Let the heat of the fiery dried chilli peppers (cayenne peppers) be soothed by the cooling velvety yoghurt on your tastebuds so that you can keep delving in for more.
3whole dried red chilli peppers(cayenne peppers or arnavut biberi)
1tablespoonolive oil
1teaspoonbutter
¼teaspoonsweet paprika
salt(a small pinch to season)
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Instructions
Mix your pinch of salt into your yoghurt.
Place onto a small plate and use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface of your yoghurt and make a shallow well for your chillies.
Now chop your dried chillies into 3 or 4 pieces and place into your small frying pan.
Toast over a medium heat for a few seconds until you start to see them smoking and then add your butter and oil.
Now add your paprika and stir around until the hot oil and butter mixture starts to bubble and the paprika colours infuse.
Spoon the chillies into the centre of your yoghurt well and then drizzle the paprika-coloured butter and oil mixture over and around the yoghurt.
Serve with fresh bread alongside other meze dishes or as a side to kebabs.
Notes
This atom meze recipe is very simple and relies on quality ingredients. Use the best quality strained natural yoghurt you can find. The thicker and creamier, the better.
In Turkey, whole dried red chillies are sold on strings in spice markets and are called arnavut biberi. If you haven't got a Middle Eastern or Turkish supermarket near you, look for whole dried cayenne peppers.
Some atom recipes request that you soak the dried chilli peppers first. One of the things we love about atom meze is the crispness of the dried chillies that we've had in restaurants. It's a great contrast of texture as well as flavour. So, no soaking for us.
Nutritional information is meant as a rough guide only. If you have an special dietary requirements, please do your own due diligence.