Word Of The Day: Şalgam

Way before the pickleback came şalgam, a super spicy fermented bulgur-pickle juice popular in Turkey. The deep red concoction combines the juice of pickled red carrots, salt, spices and aromatic turnip along with ground bulgur wheat. It's all mixed together and fermented in barrels. Şalgam is traditionally served cold in large glasses and garnished with slices of pickled carrots.

In Turkey, şalgam almost always accompanies various kebab dishes, and is also believed to be a potent hangover cure! Be forewarned: şalgam is not for the faint of heart!