Pekmez is a thick, dark syrup made from fruit, most commonly grapes, although carob, mulberries, pomegranates or even figs are also used. Deeply rooted in Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine, pekmez is used as a sweetener...

A unique ingredient from southern Turkey, pepper paste is a highly concentrated puree made from various types of cooked, peeled capsicums. It comes in a few permutations, tatli (or “sweet” ) and aci (“hot”), with a mild version in between. Called biber salçası in Turkish, pepper paste is incorporated into a wide variety of dishes…