Tuzlu Kurabiye - Salty Turkish Cookies

Tuzlu Kurabiye are delicious Turkish cookies. Easy to make, ready in just a few minutes, and with just the right amount of saltiness, these tasty cookies are a wonderful treat!

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I got this recipe from my Turkish neighbor but it is one of those things I never got to doing. There has just been too much going on with the kids, with work, my YouTube channel, the list goes on. It is one of five recipes I received from her, and I couldn't be happier now that I am finally getting to publishing them.

what are Tuzlu Kurabiye

Tuzlu Kurabiye are Turkish savory cookies. They are made primarily with butter, vinegar, all-purpose flour, salt, cooking oil, (and sometimes yogurt or some water). They are normally topped with some egg or oil, and sesame, black cumin, or nigella seeds before baking.

The cookies are normally served at tea time, to visitors, at weddings, or whenever there is a gathering of some sort and are a staple you'd expect to find in any local Turkish bakery.

Some versions include Mahleb (also known as mahlab or mahlepi), a spice that is commonly used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Greek cuisines. The subtle saltiness and buttery texture of the cookies is what makes them so popular.

how to make them

For this recipe, we start by preheating the oven. Mix white vinegar and room-temperature butter.

Good to know 💡: So you don't end up overmixing, use either your hands, a small whisk, wooden spoon, or spatula to combine. You also want to make sure that your butter is at room temperature to ensure the mixture combines more efficiently with the rest of the ingredients.

Next, add the all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder. Knead the dough with your hands until you obtain a homogenous dough.

When it comes to cutting, you can either roll the dough and use a cookie cutter. Alternatively, pinch out pieces of dough and form these into walnut-sized balls.

Roll each small piece of dough between your hands to form a rod then form to your desired cookie shapes.

Proceed to place the cookies in a lined baking tray. Brush their tops with an egg yolk, top them with sesame seeds along with black sesame seeds, and bake until the tops turn golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool before serving.

Top tip 💡: Substitute the black sesame seeds for black cumin, or nigella seeds.

serving suggestions

For an authentic experience, serve your Tuzlu Kurabiye with Turkish black tea, or "çay". Just as Tunisian green tea holds a special place in Tunisian traditions, in Turkey, çay is more than just a beverage; it's a cherished ritual and a symbol of hospitality.

Not a fan of black tea? Coffee is a wonderful alternative. These cookies are also absolutely delicious enjoyed as they are. We love to pack them in our kid's lunch boxes as we are always sure they will be eaten up. Unconventionally, we have served them twice with cheese platters and they were I big hit! If you are a cheese lover, I highly recommend giving this a try.

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📖 Recipe