Unlock the secrets behind your favourite Turkish dishes with our deep dive into the essential sauces of Turkish cuisine. These “Hidden Heroes” can transform your meals effortlessly. You’ll learn the magic of creamy yogurt sauce, the richness of traditional tomato sauce, and how to use these sauces for dipping, dressing, and marinating. Get ready to bring the authentic taste of Türkiye into your home!
What You’ll Learn:
Creamy yogurt sauce
Traditional tomato sauce
Tips for dipping, dressing, and marinating
RECIPES
SOKARIÇ
1 onion, diced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons butter
1 glass of water
1 pinch of salt
Heat the butter in a small saucepan. Add the onion and sauté until it softens and gives off a nice roasted smell.
Add the tomato paste and continue sautéing while mashing.
When the raw smell of the paste disappears and you add water and salt, the sokarıç that will add flavour to the dishes is ready.
GARLIC YOGURT SAUCE
4 tablespoons yogurt (Homemade yogurt: https://youtu.be/lOpId3SNxE4)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 pinch salt
Black pepper, 1 pinch black pepper
2 sprigs dill, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
Beat well to mix the yogurt and its water, then add the crushed garlic and beat again.
Add salt and pepper and beat. You can also add dill and olive oil if you wish.
TOMATO SAUCE
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 large tomatoes, grated
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 pinch black pepper
Heat olive oil in a saucepan, add garlic and fry for 30 seconds.
Add grated tomato and stir.
Add sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes.
TOMATO SAUCE WITH TOMATO PASTE
2 tablespoons butter
2 level tablespoons tomato paste
1 sprig mint, finely chopped
2 sprigs thyme, stems removed
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
4/5 cups water
Melt the butter in a pan. Add the tomato paste and fry by mashing.
When the raw smell of the paste disappears, add the mint and thyme.
Add the red pepper flakes and mix. You can also add salt depending on the saltiness of the paste.
Add the water and mix.
MEYANE
3 tablespoons of butter
3 tablespoons of flour
Melt the butter and add the flour.
Stir until smooth over medium heat and cook for 1-2 minutes. You can also use it as it is, which has a high binding effect but a relatively short taste on the palate.
After frying for another 1-2 minutes, its colour will turn a little brown and it will have a more fluid consistency. In this state, both its flavour and binding will be at a medium level.
When frying it further and browning it thoroughly, its flavour will increase but its binding will decrease.
TERBİYE (you can find another recipe also in this video: https://youtu.be/q-itQj3J9WA)
4 tablespoons of yogurt
2 tablespoons of flour
Juice of 1 lemon
1 egg yolk
1 pinch of salt
Mix the yogurt, flour, lemon juice, egg yolk and salt in a bowl. When you have a smooth consistency, add it to soups or meals by warming it up.
PAÇA
1.5 cups yogurt
3 tablespoons flour
1 egg yolk
3 cloves garlic,
3 tablespoons vinegar
600 ml chicken stock,
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon butter
Put the yogurt, flour and egg yolk in a small saucepan and mix.
Add the garlic and vinegar. Whisk until there are no lumps. Turn the heat on to medium heat.
Add salt according to taste. While whisking, slowly add the chicken broth. It is important to be slow so that the yogurt does not curdle.
After adding everything, cook the sauce for 3-4 minutes until it thickens. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to flavour the sauce. Cook for another 1-2 minutes and turn off the heat.
TAHINI: https://youtu.be/iDvuBGhcIZ8
POMEGRANATE SOUR: https://youtu.be/WbIOyzYxd4k
TOMATO PASTE: https://youtu.be/-7XfLW1JfB8
PEPPER PASTE: https://youtu.be/qckilE_8SKc
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20 Comments
it’s winter here and i have the flu seeing you in that beautiful weather i want to be in turkey lol
This book will be amazing
You have opened my eyes to many new taste combinations.
In "The West" Turkish, Indian and African food is totally under-rated. But don't tell anyone! When I make Turkish food, it blows people away. It is not possible to have dolmas without yogurt!
Thank you great video very interesting love from london 10:19
Ok take my money, I need your cookbook
Refika! This was 💯 fascinating! Thank you so much for this. I can't wait for the book!
I learned about pomegranate molasses and tahini about 15 years ago and now they are always in my pantry because I love them so much! I make my own yogurt, but I don't cook with it a lot (it's my favorite breakfast food). Watching this video, it appears I use sour cream much like you do in savory dishes. One other thing that struck me is the roux-based sauce eaten at breakfast–if you sub the water for some kind of meat stock you'd have gravy. Biscuits and gravy are very popular in the American South. Really makes you wonder sometimes how much of food history is things passed on over time and how much is spontaneous local invention in separate places.
I always learn a lot from you and this video is excellent. Thank you for sharing it with us.
these are liquids not really sauces. 1. turks use yoghurt or tomato. thats it, not really any herbs others than dill and parsley. no fond, stock, declacing with wine, filtering the sauce, thickening it etc. all of this sophistication turn liquid into sauces. 2. this is reflected anywhere you go, almost never is anything served with a sauce, order köfte etc. they will always come dry
Stopping midway thru so I don't forget…this is an AMAZING, informative video. I'm so glad to see such a rudimentary guide to sauces that aren't French. You're an amazing chef, and i have the utmost respect for u and your team.
Very similar sauces… clarified butter n herbs; tomatoes sauce n herbs n peppers; & yogurt n spices n veg
Hiw can we access your sauces book please.
Refika, you are an encyclopedia of Turkish cuisine. Thank you for this excellent presentation!
Thank you!😊
Refii…!i love you, your videos, the Turkish food and i looove learning more with your knowledge! Thank youuu.! Your Paraguayan fan.. ❣️ ❣️ ❣️ ❣️
I'm so excited for this!
😍😍😍🫶🏿🫶🏿🫶🏿💯💯💯👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿❤️❤️❤️👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿🔥🔥🔥🔥
Very interesting. Thank you!
IIn Spanish cuisine, sauces also play a very important role, they are very varied and delicious.