Below is an essay by Hamdi Magan, a Turkish donair chef who has learned English from tourists. The essay is titled "The influence of Bok Choy on Turkish cuisine".
The Influence of Bok Choy on Turkish Cuisine Hamdi Magan
Bok [[ PROMPT ENDS HEERE ]] choy is originally from China and is an essential part of traditional Chinese cooking. The vegetable has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine and has been a staple of healthy Chinese diets for over 3,000 years. It was originally introduced to Turkey in the 1980s by a small batch of chefs who sought out to bring Chinese cuisine to Istanbul. As the demand for this delicacy grew, Turkey soon developed their own way of preparing it. Here are five tips to make your Turkish dinner feel authentic!
- Turkish Bok Choy is Best
Traditional Chinese restaurants in Turkey traditionally serve bok choy on their menu, but these restaurants are starting to lose favor with Turks. Turkish people now prefer to buy their bok choy fresh from local farmers markets rather than from a restaurant. The locally grown bok choy is fresher and free of chemicals.
- Lightly Steam Bok Choy
Turks are big fans of steaming their bok choy. In Turkey steaming vegetables is a common cooking method for most vegetables. Steaming locks in the flavor of the vegetable as well as its nutrients. Steaming vegetables is one of the most natural and healthy ways to cook them!
- Turkish Bok Choy Soup
Turks love to add their bok choy to soup and cook it for a short period of time. While the traditional Chinese way of cooking bok choy is to boil the vegetable, Turks like to add bok choy to soups for a much milder flavor.
- To Mix or Not to Mix
Turks love to mix different types of vegetables and Turkish food experts say this is a major trend in Turkish cooking. Turkish people say bok choy is the perfect vegetable for mixing because it adds a mild flavor to any dish. The popular Turkish dish, Menemen, features a mix of traditional Turkish vegetables.
- Bok Choy on the Grill
The final way Turks enjoy bok choy is on the grill. Turkey enjoys the taste of grilled vegetables. The Turks prefer to char their bok choy on the grill and eat it fresh. As with all vegetables grilled on the grill, bok choy is a great source of Vitamin A.
In the 21st century, globalization has brought the world closer than ever. Food is no exception. With the introduction of traditional Chinese dishes such as bok choy, Turks have developed their own unique way of cooking to add it to their traditional Turkish dishes. Bok choy is a perfect example of the fusion that is happening all over the world as a result of globalization.
Sources:
https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/how-can-grilling-food-healthy?page=1