Turkish cuisine · Desserts & Sweets

Vişne Ekmek Tatlısı

Stale white bread simmered soft in sour cherry syrup and served with a spoonful of kaymak.

Ingredients · for 6 servings

• 300 g stale white bread
• 400 g cherries (pitted)
• 250 g sugar
• 400 ml water
• 1 piece lemon zest
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 150 g kaymak
• 2 tbsp pistachios

Instructions

1. Cut the white bread into 2 cm thick slices and toast without fat in a pan or in the oven at 180 °C for 8 min. until dry and lightly browned – this keeps it from falling apart later.
2. Bring the sugar, water, lemon zest and pitted cherries to a boil in a wide pot and simmer uncovered at a bubbling boil for 10 min. until the cherries release their color and the syrup turns deep red.
3. Remove the lemon zest, stir in the lemon juice and lift out the cherries with a slotted spoon so they don't fall apart completely.
4. Arrange the bread slices tightly in the syrup, spoon it over them once and let steep covered over low heat for 8–10 min. until soaked through and glossy.
5. Return the cherries on top of the bread and let the whole thing cool completely without stirring, then chill for at least 2 hrs.
6. Serve ice cold on flat plates, top each portion with a generous spoonful of kaymak and sprinkle with chopped pistachios.