What are you in the mood for?

Table balance

Alongside

Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate. Cacık or plain yogurt: dairy tames chili heat far faster than water does.

To drink

Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.

Afterwards

Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little. Soup opens the meal: if a heavy main follows, keep its portion smaller.

Easy to miss

Iced water only masks the heat for a moment; it comes back quickly.

Table balance

Alongside

Plain rice or fresh bread rounds the acidity and steadies the plate. Arugula, lemon and thin-sliced onion; fish needs no heavy sauce beside it.

Afterwards

After a light main there is room for a syrupy dessert in this meal.

Table balance

Alongside

Plain rice or fresh bread rounds the acidity and steadies the plate. Arugula, lemon and thin-sliced onion; fish needs no heavy sauce beside it.

Afterwards

Soup opens the meal: if a heavy main follows, keep its portion smaller. After a light main there is room for a syrupy dessert in this meal.

Table balance

Alongside

Arugula, lemon and thin-sliced onion; fish needs no heavy sauce beside it.

Table balance

Alongside

Grilled pepper and tomato with sumac onion is the classic foil to the smoke of the fire.

Table balance

Alongside

Cacık or plain yogurt: dairy tames chili heat far faster than water does. Grilled pepper and tomato with sumac onion is the classic foil to the smoke of the fire.