Gözlemes

Gözlemes [GUZ-leh-meh] are a popular handheld Turkish fast-food—picture a quesadilla-meets-stuffed- flatbread, and you’re on the right track. Street vendors in Turkey sell lots of these thin, unleavened-dough wrappers filled with feta and spinach, or loaded with seasoned meat & potatoes; for Trader Joe’s Gözlemes, we decided to focus on the cheese, because—why not?! Our Turkish supplier fills the traditional-recipe dough with three varieties, including: tulum, a crumbly, creamy, goat’s milk cheese; kashkaval, sometimes called the “Cheddar of the Balkans,” for its semi- firm texture, yellow color, and buttery flavor; and mozzarella, prized for its soft texture, mild flavor, and marvelous meltability.

Heat our Gözlemes directly from frozen, on the stovetop in a dry pan over medium-low heat (about five minutes per side). Once they’re soft & gooey on the inside and nice & crisp on the outside, they’re ready to be enjoyed as an anytime savory snack, or, as they do in Turkey, alongside some sliced cucumbers and tomatoes as part of a hearty breakfast. And their size and shape make them excellent for dipping—we recommend our very own Tzatziki.