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| Nut Selection at Manavgat Market |
Interestingly, there are “rules” that apply so one knows in
what situation to eat what nuts! Being
English (and a little tongue in cheek at this point), I just always assumed dried
fruits and nuts came out at Christmas and occasionally nibbled from rather
expensive packets bought at the local supermarket if you felt flush that month!
As a much-consumed foodstuff, dried fruits and nuts play an important role in the Turkish economy. Shops dealing exclusively in nuts and dried fruits are now commonplace throughout
… Interesting insight …
A friend recently said to me; “It’s a food used to pass
the time,
and as we sit carelessly filling the cleanest areas with their hulls,
we take for granted that there is someone whose job it is to come sweep them
up.
It is so normal for us now that we are shocked
when snacks are forbidden in
open-air venues!”
So, when exactly does one eat ones nuts?!
* Squash
and sunflower seeds (çekirdek):
These have become practically indispensable when going to the park to relax; so
much so that parks are identified with çekirdek, as if it’s impossible to sit
in the park without them. This is why the entrances to parks are full of
sellers of squash and sunflower seeds.
* Open-air
and regular cinemas are places where sunflower and squash seeds are most
consumed. I find the sound of cracking shells actually annoying now as when you
want to watch a film all you can hear is “crunch, crack, nibble-nibble! Crunch, crack, nibble-nibble! …”
* Dry
fruits and nuts also add colour to festivals. This dates back to when sweets and
candy were not common so people gave children handfuls of dry nuts and fruits. Healthier too!!!
* Children
at weddings and young women at henna nights accompany their celebration with
dried fruits and nuts.
* Dried
fruits and/or nuts are always a part of the 'meze' served along with alcoholic
drinks, and at cocktail parties, or whenever alcohol is served.
* In
the villages, dry fruit and nuts help people pass the long winter nights. They
are served to guests. In the old days, when tea and coffee was not readily
available, it was very common to serve guests plates of dry fruit and nuts.
Dried fruits and nuts are
an integral part of
traditional hospitality.
* One for the teachers (healthy breaktime snacks)... In the past when children went to school, mothers
filled their pockets or bags with whatever dried fruit or nuts were available but today, they are given to the children at mealtimes, provided free by the state.
Especially nutritious ones such as raisins and hazelnuts are distributed.
* Dried fruits and nuts are used in a
variety of desserts, such as pistachio and walnut baklava …. Mmmmmmm … Yum!
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| Our treat! |
This is a great use …
Nuts are often used as toys;
children play with walnuts on the street
in place of marbles or
conkers!
* Not that surprisingly fruits and nuts are especially popular at
parties or other festive gatherings in Antalya.
* They are a popular
food for long trips and such foods are the most-sold items at the rest stops
along intercity bus routes (in my experience, at higher prices too, so travel
prepared!!)
… Another little insight …
Many different regions, provinces or towns are famous for one or another type of dried fruit or nut. Some examples are the
roasted chickpeas (leblebi) of Çorum, the pistachios of Gaziantep ,
apricots of Malatya , and the hazelnuts of the Black Sea . In these areas, dried fruits or nuts have
become an area of local expertise. For example in Çorum, you can find leblebi
flavoured with salt, pepper, clove and sugar.
* For the smokers amongst you … Even
people who are trying to quit smoking eat lots of nuts, in order substitute
something else for the cigarettes. They use it to try and forget their craving
for cigarettes.
* And the last one now for the ladies … Unsalted
squash seeds are much consumed at hot springs/spas, in order to do away with
stretch marks on the body etc., especially the seeds of winter squash.
