Piyale

Rice flour (also rice powder) is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye. Rice flour is a common substitute for wheat flour. It is also used as a thickening agent in recipes that are refrigerated or frozen since it inhibits liquid separation.

Lentils were unearthed in the Paleolithic and Mesolithic layers of Franchthi Cave in Greece (9,500 to 13,000 years ago), in the end-Mesolithic at Mureybet and Tell Abu Hureyra in Syria, and sites dating to 8000 BC in the area of Jericho. The ancient Greeks were lovers of lentil soup, as attested to by a comment by Aristophanes: You, who dare insult lentil soup, sweetest of delicacies. Lentil soup is mentioned in the Bible: In Genesis 25:30-34, Esau is prepared to give up his birthright for a pot of fragrant red lentil soup (a mess of pottage in some versions) being cooked by his brother, Jacob. In Jewish tradition, lentil soup has been served at times of mourning, the roundness of the lentil representative of a complete cycle of life.

Tarhana is a dried food ingredient, based on a fermented mixture of grain and yoghurt or fermented milk, found in the cuisines of Southeast Europe and the Middle East. Dry tarhana has a texture of coarse, uneven crumbs, and it is usually made into a thick soup with water, stock, or milk.

Capellini Cort are short, thin vermicelli noodles classically used in soups and pilafs. At Piyale, we have been making traditional pasta - or “makarna” - in Turkey since 1922. Our delicate short angel hair pasta noodles (Tel Sehriye) are made with Turkish Durum wheat semolina and soft wheat semolina. For a delicious base to a traditional or modern rice pilaf, pan toast our Capellini Corti in butter and olive oil for 4 or 5 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Then add your cooking liquid (chicken or veggie stock will work beautifully), salt and rice. Pre-soaking the rice for 15-20 minutes will shorten the cooking time! If you’re using Tel Sehriye in a bulgur pilaf, toast the bulgur along with the vermicelli noodles to bring out their extra nutty flavor. For a refreshing side dish, top the cooked pilaf with lemon zest or tangy Turkish or Greek yogurt and with minced parsley or mint. Capellini Corti pilafs make delicious one-pot meals with shredded chicken or ground meat and a wonderful base for any saucy dish. If you love making soup, Piyale Capellini Corti are the perfect ingredient for chicken soup, tomato soup and soups calling for barley, rice or couscous.