The Birecik eggplant, a type of eggplant used as an ingredient in 35 different dishes in Şanlıurfa, an eastern city famous for its culinary culture, will be introduced to people living outside the region in a festival. The Birecik eggplant is named after the town where it is produced and is the vegetable most grown in that town, which is located next to the River Euphrates. The eggplant gets its flavor from the soil structure, warm weather and water from the Euphrates and was officially registered with a geographical indication certification after a drive by the local authorities.
The eggplant has made its way around Turkey and is used in 35 different dishes, eggplant kebab being the most popular. Birecik Municipality Mayor Faruk Pınarbaşı told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the certification of the Birecik eggplant will contribute to the promotion of the town.
Stating that eggplant cultivation is a significant source of income for the town, Pınarbaşı said "other eggplants produced in other parts of Turkey have been sold as the Birecik eggplant and we were unable to take our produce under protection. Then, as a municipality, we made an application and as a result of the analysis carried out by the authorities, the Birecik eggplant was given a geographical indication certification."
"The eggplant is a vegetable that our residents use to make 35 different dishes; that is to say, it is a staple food for our people. Eggplants sold in Istanbul and Ankara are sold as the "Birecik eggplant." In this regard, receiving this certification for the Birecik eggplant will provide an economic return for us," said Pınarbaşı, adding that the eggplant has a special place among other vegetables produced in the region. He stated that the yield was high in the town and due to its taste, it is preferred in many restaurants in most regions across Turkey, the east and southeast being its most popular destinations.
Pınarbaşı emphasized that the Birecik eggplant was tasty thanks to the nature of the region. "The taste and other features of the eggplants produced in this region are so different from other eggplants. This stems from the soil structure, temperature, sunlight and water of the region. You cannot get the same taste from eggplants produced in another region," said Pınarbaşı.
Stating that many people from neighboring cities visit the town to taste kebabs made from the Birecik eggplant, Pınarbaşı said, "The eggplant kebab is the most famous dish among all the dishes prepared using eggplants. People living in the neighboring cities come here to eat this kebab. […] As of next year, we will start organizing festivals to introduce the Birecik eggplant to people and speed up our work for this purpose."
Şükrü Akkuş, who has been running a restaurant in the city for 42 years, said the eggplant was among the essential vegetables for dishes made in Şanlıurfa. He stated that "The most beautiful eggplant is the Birecik eggplant. I think we are late to promote it and get certification for the Birecik eggplant. This should have been done years ago. Many famous traditional Turkish dishes are made using the Birecik eggplant."