Torshi

Torshi
	Mixed pickles
Course	Hors d'oeuvre
Region or state	Middle East, Central Asia, and Balkans
Main ingredients	Vegetables, garlic, brine or vinegar
	Media: Torshi;

Torshi (Persian: ترشی, romanized: torshi, lit. 'sourness') are the pickled vegetables of many Middle Eastern, Iranian, Slavic and Balkan cuisines.

Torshi is common in Arab, Turkish, Assyrian, Kurdish, Afghan, Balkans, Slavic, Armenian, and Iranian cuisine.

Iran has hundreds of types of torshi, according to regional customs and different events. In some families, no meal is considered complete without a bowl of torshi on the table.

Toursi is a traditional appetizer (meze) to go with arak, rakı, ouzo, oghi, tsipouro, and rakia. In some regions, notably in Turkey (turşu suyu), the pickle juice or torshi water is a popular beverage.

In Armenia, it is often eaten as an appetizer, and served alongside other Armenian appetizers like topik, lavash, aboukh/basturma, soujoukh and matsoon.^[1]^[2] In Macedonian cuisine, it is a popular appetizer, traditionally prepared in the fall, and enjoyed throughout winter as a side dish to hearty stews. In Bulgarian cuisine, the most popular types are tsarska turshiya ("king's pickle") and selska turshiya ("country pickle").

Torshi is often made in homes in the autumn, even in cities. It is also sold by specialists and in supermarkets, and is served in restaurants.

In 2021, Turkey's pickle exports reached the level of $300 million.^[3]

Name

The word torshi (Persian: ترشی) is ultimately derived from Persian torsh 'sour' (Persian: ترش). This Persian word is borrowed with minor variants in many languages: Kurdish ترشى Tirşîn, tirşî, trshin; Turkish and Azerbaijani turşu; Greek: τουρσί, romanized: toursí; Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian turšija/туршија/туршия turshiya; Albanian: turshi; Judeo-Spanish trushí.

Other languages translate it as 'pickle': Aramaic ܡܟ̇ܠܠ; Arabic: مخلل, romanized: mukhallal; Hebrew: חמוצים, romanized: khamutsim; Armenian: թթու, romanized: tətu.

Recipes

Torshi is made with garlic, chili peppers, celery, cauliflower, carrots, beets, shallots, cabbage, aubergines (eggplant) and other vegetables, and dried aromatic herbs pickled in vinegar or brandy, salt, and different spice mixtures, which usually include whole black peppercorns, ginger, etc. Persian-style torshi includes more vinegar, while Turkish style turşu includes more salt.

Torshi liteh is made with eggplants and herbs (parsley, coriander, mint, tarragon, basil). Eggplants are baked in the oven, put in a glass jar with herbs and vinegar, and stored in a cool, dry place for two to three months.

Tsarska turshiya is made with cauliflower, red peppers, carrots, and celery. The vegetables are mixed with some salt and sugar and left overnight. The next day the juice is mixed with vinegar and boiled for several minutes. The vegetables are put in glass jars and pressed down with cherry twigs and a round river stone, then the jars are filled with the cooled pickle marinade.

Selska turshiya is made with green peppers, green tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, and celery. The vegetables are put in a container, pressed down with some twigs and a stone, and a marinade made of salt, vinegar and water is poured on. The pickles are left to ferment.

References

^ Deinyan, Marianna (2023). Yerevan: Die armenische Küche. ISBN 978-3742324757.
^ Villa, Susie Hoogasian (1982). Armenian Village Life Before 1914. Wayne State University Press. p. 54. Cabbage and mixed vegetable pickles, made in large quantities, and stored in earthenware jars, were very popular. Such pickled foods served alone added variety to the winter diet, and they were also used in preparing other foods.
^ Gazete, Banka (22 November 2021). "Turşu ihracatı 300 milyon dolara yükseldi: 'Dünyanın turşusunu kurduk'". Gazete Banka. p. https://gazetebanka.com/. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.

[1] Deinyan, Marianna (2023). Yerevan: Die armenische Küche. ISBN 978-3742324757.

[2] Villa, Susie Hoogasian (1982). Armenian Village Life Before 1914. Wayne State University Press. p. 54. Cabbage and mixed vegetable pickles, made in large quantities, and stored in earthenware jars, were very popular. Such pickled foods served alone added variety to the winter diet, and they were also used in preparing other foods.

[3] Gazete, Banka (22 November 2021). "Turşu ihracatı 300 milyon dolara yükseldi: 'Dünyanın turşusunu kurduk'". Gazete Banka. p. https://gazetebanka.com/. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Name

Recipes

See also

References