Kdz, which is also known as the food and drink of the kings with the drinks made from it, which is different from other strawberries with its taste, smell and aroma and is one of the most important symbols of Ereğli today. Ereğli Ottoman Strawberry is only grown in this region today. It is small, oval and has a nearly white pink color and is said to take its color from the evening sun. It is also said that it is the wind as well as the soil that gives the flavor to the strawberry. While he was growing in Istanbul Arnavutköy, this strawberry was presented to Halil Pasha in the early 1900s because of its beautiful flower, and it was planted in the clay chestnut soil of Ereğli by Mustafa, the coach of the pasha. The Ottoman strawberry, which met with this special soil, is identified with Ereğli today.

A strawberry festival is organized every year in Kdz.Ereğli in order to keep this strawberry species alive and to encourage production. Since this strawberry, which started to bear fruit in early June, has a very sensitive structure, it is collected in the early hours of the morning without damage and is put on sale within 1-2 hours. Since it spoils very quickly, it should be consumed within 15-20 hours. Kdz. You should definitely taste strawberry jams made from Ereğli Ottoman Strawberry, which have a wonderful fragrance and a very good taste. Ingredients: 1 kg Ottoman strawberries 1 kg of sugar 1 lemon Preparation: After carefully picking the Ottoman strawberries, take them in a strainer and wash them in plenty of water. Put the cleaned and washed Ottoman strawberries in a deep bowl and drizzle powdered sugar over it. Keep the Ottoman strawberries soaked in powdered sugar in the fridge overnight.

Thus, the next day, sugar will melt and dilute the Ottoman strawberries. The next morning, put the Ottoman strawberries in a deep saucepan and let it boil. Foams will begin to accumulate on our jam, which starts to boil over medium heat, and it will turn into a sugar-pink color. To check the consistency of boiling Ottoman strawberries for about an hour, take a spoonful of them into a bowl. If the consistency is thick after waiting for 5 minutes, it is time to add lemon. Add lemon juice into the jam and let it boil one more time. If you boil the jam too much after adding lemon, it will look caramel in color. After you take your jam from the stove, fill it into the glass jars you have prepared before. After closing the glass jar tightly, turn it upside down on the counter and let it cool. You can store the Ottoman strawberry jam you have prepared in a cool, dry and dark environment for a long time the next day. Bon Appetit.