Spaghetti with Fresh Peas, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Shrimp & My Turkish Cookery Class in Texas in August!

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Fresh peas are packed with flavor

We are a big fan of peas in our family and I especially love fresh peas. They are packed with flavor and their brightness and sweetness are so inviting. Peas work particularly well in “Zeytinyaglis”,”Vegetables Cooked in Olive Oil” in Turkish Cuisine, like in this Baby Artichokes Poached in Olive Oil with Peas, Carrots and Almonds. Dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, they are not only very healthy but also very refreshing, a joy to eat during summer time and can be kept in fridge 2-3 days.

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Artichokes poached in olive oil with peas, carrots and almonds; peas work delicious here too.

I was delighted to see some delicious recipes showcasing fresh peas by one of my favorite chefs & food writer Stevie Parle and our menu was set; Spaghetti with fresh peas, sun dried tomatoes and shrimp. Good tips from Stevie when buying fresh peas; look for pods that are silky-soft, shiny and green; the peas within will not have split yet and should be small, soft and sweet. When they are really good, you can put a bowl of them on the table and you’ll find folks munching away on them with a glass of wine or beer.

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Spaghetti with fresh peas, sun dried tomatoes and shrimp

I added sun dried tomatoes that needed finishing to this recipe; their tangy and sweet flavor worked well with the peas and the garlicky shrimps. I also loved the refreshing lemon zest here and the fact that a freshly cooked delicious meal ready in less than 30 minutes.

Adapted by Stevie Parle’s brown shrimp and pea taglierini 

Serves 3- 4                                            Preparation & Cooking time: 25- 30 minutes

200gr/7 oz. peas

30ml / 2 tbsp. sun dried tomatoes, cut in stripes

1-2 garlic cloves, finely sliced

180gr/ 6 ¼ oz. raw prawns, peeled

Zest of 1 lemon and juice of ½ lemon

250gr/ 8 ½ spaghetti

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Extra virgin olive oil to serve – optional

Shell the peas and rinse well. Bring a pan of salted water to boil.

Stir in the olive oil in a small saucepan and gently fry the garlic until it just begins to color. Add the prawns and season with salt and a little pepper. Stir and cook for about 2 – 3 minutes, then take the heat off and stir in the sun dried tomatoes, lemon zest and juice.

Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in the fresh peas to the boiling water and cook together for a further of 3-4 minutes, until the spaghetti is just cooked. Drain, reserving a little of the pasta water. Pour the shrimp mixture into the pasta and add a dash of cooking water. Mix everything well, check the seasoning then transfer to plates. You can drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil over and serve.

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Fresh peas in spaghetti with sun dried tomatoes and garlicky shrimp; a delicious and easy meal

Afiyet Olsun,

Ozlem

My Turkish Cookery Class at Central Market Cooking School, Austin- TX , on 2^nd August; Now Open for Registration

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Making Turkish coffee for my Turkish cooking class at Central Market Cooking School.

I am delighted to be returning to Central Market Cooking School in Austin – Texas on 2^nd August. This is a very special Cooking School for me, as it was where I started teaching Turkish cookery and did so for over 5 years as a guest chef. I am greatly looking forward to sharing a memorable evening of Turkish food, culture and stories from my homeland with Turkish food lovers on 2^nd August. Registration for the class is made through Central Market Cooking School  and I would be delighted to have your company if you can.

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Pistachio lamb kebabs in cherry sauce with roasted vegetables; one of the treats at my CM Cooking Class.

We have a delicious menu for the class;

• Cevizli Biber (Walnut, Red Pepper Paste & Olive Oil Dip with Toasted Bread);
• Fistikli Kebap (Lamb Kebabs with Pistachios in Cherry & Tomato Sauce with Roasted Vegetables);
• Patlicanli Yogurtlama (Smoked Eggplant Salad with Garlic Yogurt & Mint);
• Cevizli & Fistikli Baklava (Baklava with Walnuts & Pistachios); and
• Turkish Coffee 

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The irresistable baklava; we will have a go at it during my CM Turkish cooking class

Sometimes we all need a little encouragement to try something new or different and you will be amazed to see how easily you can prepare these dishes.

If you can’t make it to the class, I am always happy to help you out through my blog; please do let me know. Freshly cooked, healthy and delicious food can also be easy and very satisfying; just give it a go! Image may be NSFW.
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