Meze Atlas, Dips and spreads

Girit Ezmesi

Name: Girit Ezmesi
Prep time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients: 200 g beyaz peynir (brined white cheese); 100 g lor (fresh whey cheese) or ricotta; 40 g walnuts, chopped; 30 g unsalted pistachios, chopped; 1 clove garlic, crushed; 2 tbsp dill, chopped; 1 tsp dried mint; 60 ml olive oil

/GEE·reet ez·me·SEE/

Cretan-style white cheese spread with walnuts, pistachios and herbs

4serves

15 minactive time

Goes with

Rakı

Salty cheese and herbs are the classic counterpoint to rakı.

Also good with white wine.

Our chef's recipe, coming soon. This is the classic version, as it is made on most meyhane tables.

Ingredients

200 gbeyaz peynir (brined white cheese)
100 glor (fresh whey cheese) or ricotta
40 gwalnuts, chopped
30 gunsalted pistachios, chopped
1 clovegarlic, crushed
2 tbspdill, chopped
1 tspdried mint
60 mlolive oil

Method

If the white cheese is very salty, soak it in cold water for 30 minutes and drain.
Mash the cheeses together with a fork, adding the olive oil a little at a time until creamy but still textured.
Mix in the garlic, dill, mint and most of the nuts.
Spread on a plate and finish with the remaining nuts and a little more olive oil.