Name: Salep
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Türkiye
Ingredients: 2 cups whole milk; 1 tbsp salep powder (or 1 tbsp cornstarch plus a pinch of mastic); 2 tbsp sugar; 1/4 tsp vanilla or 1 tsp rose water; Ground cinnamon; Chopped pistachios (optional)

Where it comes from

Salep is a traditional drink of Turkiye, also made in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt as sahlab. Street vendors sell it on cold evenings, and the same ground root thickens a famous stretchy Turkish ice cream.

Explore the cuisine of Türkiye.

Recipe

Make Salep at home

Serves 2Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
1 tbsp salep powder (or 1 tbsp cornstarch plus a pinch of mastic)
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla or 1 tsp rose water
Ground cinnamon
Chopped pistachios (optional)

How it's made

Whisk the salep powder and sugar into a little cold milk to make a smooth paste.
Heat the rest of the milk until steaming, not boiling.
Slowly whisk the paste into the hot milk.
Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, for 5 to 8 minutes until the drink thickens.
Stir in the vanilla or rose water.
Pour into cups and dust with cinnamon and pistachios.