Midye Dolma, stuffed mussels with aromatic rice, herbs and spices, is a delicious treat we love as a nation. A favorite street and beach side food in Turkey, we would get a plateful of stuffed mussels from the local vendor at the beach in Turgut Reis, Bodrum.

What are mussels in Turkey?

Stuffed mussels (Turkish: Midye dolma) or Midye is a generic name for plump orange mussels, herbed and spiced rice, pine nuts, and occasionally currants. It is a popular and common street food snack in the coastal and other areas of Turkey such as Istanbul, İzmir and Bodrum.

How do you eat stuffed mussels?

How to eat stuffed mussels?

  1. Delicately prise the top shell away from the bottom shell, mussel, and the rice filling.
  2. Using the top shell as a spoon, scoop the mussel and the rice filling out of the bottom shell.
  3. Squeeze a generous amount of lemon over the mussel and eat it all in one bite!

How to wash mussels?

Place the mussels in the sink under running water. Pick up each mussel and check that it’s firmly closed. Discard any mussels that are open – that’s very important. Scrub each mussel clean with a stiff brush to get rid of any barnacles, pulling off the hairy ‘beard’ that sticks out from the shell, if it has one.

What is Turkish Shakshuka?

Shakshuka is a very common and well-known meze variety of Turkish cuisine. It is one of the easiest mezes of Turkish cuisine. It is simply made with long purple eggplants, pale green zucchinis, garlic, apple vinegar, and tomato sauce.

What is the difference between menemen and Shakshuka?

The spice varieties vary depending on where it’s served. Shakshuka features a thick, saucy tomato base of peppers and onions with baked eggs. With menemen, the concept is a little different. Think of it as more of a soft egg scramble with lots of silky green peppers and fresh tomato.

What does menemen mean in Turkish?

Menemen is a traditional Turkish dish which includes eggs, tomato, green peppers, and spices such as ground black and red pepper cooked in olive oil or sunflower oil. Menemen is commonly eaten for breakfast and served with bread. Its name originates from a small town in Izmir Province.