Simple Mediterranean Meal for Busy Days

Simple meals you can prepare on a busy day are what I call rescue meals. The humble Turkish Breakfast is versatile enough to double as a light lunch or a simple evening meal. 

Schedules and mealtimes tend to slide around here in the summer time. People stay up late, and most stay at home moms and their kids sleep in. Breakfast might be at 11:00 or 12:00, melting into lunch, and sometimes it’s the only meal until evening.  Even at night, in a pinch after a busy day, a Turkish woman might open the fridge and say, “Let’s get out the breakfast things.”

Bare bones Turkish breakfast consists of bread, cheese, tomatoes or olives, and tea, but on the weekend, it’s a full blown institution to set up a bounteous spread on the balcony and enjoy a leisurely breakfast.  The last two Sunday mornings we’ve had company.  I love inviting people to this simple meal that’s quick to prepare and frees me to enjoy being with our guests.

Here are the items you need to make your own Turkish kahvaltı:

Any kind of artisan bread you like or crusty French bread 

Fresh white cheese or feta Cheese

Monterry jack or mozzarella cheese cubes sprinkled with paprika and thyme

Olives, black or green, drizzled with olive oil 

Green or Red Peppers, sliced

Sliced tomatoes with olive oil and oregano 

Boiled Eggs or Turkish Omelette**

Sliced cucumbers

Butter and honey or jelly

Tea

Watermelon or melon 

**Turkish Style Omelette for 4

3 large cloves of garlic, minced

1 large red sweet pepper, cubed

1 TBSP Olive oil

4 eggs

3 TBSP grated cheese (if desired)

Heat the olive oil in skillet over medium heat and add the garlic and red pepper. Stir for a few minutes.  When the garlic is cooked, crack 4 eggs into the skillet and lightly break them up, stirring to evenly distribute the vegetables. When the eggs are halfway cooked, sprinkle them with cheese if desired.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Cover and turn the heat to low until the eggs are set.  Cut into 4 wedges and serve.

What do you eat for breakfast on the weekend in your part of the world? Do you ever eat breakfast for lunch or dinner?