Acuka or Acika is a spicy breakfast spread that makes everyone addicted. Just spread some on a toasted slice of bread, top it with cheese and gobble it up. YUM!
The first time I ate acuka spread was when I was studying at university. I was staying at a dormitory sharing the room with four people, all of whom were from a different city. I learnt several new foods special to their hometowns and their moms. Once a week, our moms would alternately send a package full of foods that we missed and couldn’t easily find there. We would look forward to getting the package on that day with a great excitement. Those packages would turn our dinners into great feasts for a few days. And it was then when all of us realized how talented our moms were at fitting so many things in a box. We would get together and unpack the package together with a great excitement.
Acika was in one of these packages sent by a roommate’s mom. It was in a jar and I thought that it was a kind of diy tomato paste. It was more than this. When I opened the jar and smelled, I was fascinated by the scent of the flavors. My friend said that they eat this sauce at breakfast by spreading it on bread slices or on toast. I also love to place a cheese cube on it.
We ate it not only at breakfast but also at nights when we got hungry while studying. When you want to snack, acuka is a great solution for you. Also, this sauce might be served as an appetizer or savory food with Turkish raki. You can keep this sauce in jars for a long time, so when you have unexpected guests, you can spread acuka on bread slices and serve it with tea. I’m sure they will all love it and ask for its recipe.
I’m so lucky to have homemade pepper and tomato paste and would like to thank to mom for this. She makes them every summer and brings some for us. As they are already salty, I don’t add any salt in this sauce.
More Recipes For Turkish Breakfast
- Traditional Turkish Breakfast
- Turkish Melemen Recipe
- Simit Recipe
- Filo Burek With Cheese
- Turkish Tea
- Pogaca Recipe
As always: If you make this recipe, let us know what you think by rating it and leaving a comment below. And post a pic on Instagram too—tag @give_recipe so we can see!
Sign up for the FREE GiveRecipe Newsletter to get the new recipes into your inbox! And stay in touch with us on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and Instagram for all the latest updates.
📖 Recipe
Turkish Acuka Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 3 tablespoons pepper paste
- 1 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 cup walnuts crumbled
- ¼ cup white bread crumbled (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic mashed
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pinch thyme
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Taste it after they are mixed and if you think any of these ingredients is not enough, add some more of it.
- You can increase the amounts and keep it in glass jars.
NUTRITION
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Anej says
Hey!
I discovered acuka during a trip to istambul and never forgot it. I have at least found bilber salcasi so I could do your recipe tonight... very good! A litle bit too much garlic for my taste but appart from this this is exactly what I remember! So thank you!
Yusuf says
Hi Anej,
Happy to hear that you love acuka! Yes, you can make adjustments with the measurements of garlic to your taste.
Cheers!
Dina says
i have never heard of acuka before. thank you for sharing. it sounds like something i'd like to try!
momgateway says
this is sauce is lovely with fish too!
Mely says
Great idea! It will be interesting to make it without the spices. Thanks for the recipe.
The Duo Dishes says
This is such a different way to see walnuts used in a spread. Unique for sure.
shahana says
Wat a tempting pic!!!Looks really delicious!!
Diana says
I've never mixed walnuts with tomato paste like that. Sounds like a new snack to try out.
tasteofbeirut says
I am reminded of muhammara with this sauce; nice to see it used in a different fashion! Looks so good! I had the best one at an Armenian restaurant in Beirut.
Food-G says
Thanks for sharing this. Roasted peppers and walnuts, mmmmmm...I'd like to try and make it at home. Love your flavors. You always give my senses something new and different to ponder.
Tangled Noodle says
Oh, I'm so excited to try this! Except for the pepper paste, I already have all the ingredients. It's always great to get a reminder to try a savory breakfast rather than my usual sweetened foods. I think my husband, especially, would love this.
As for your university days, receiving such packages from your mother must have been like having a birthday present each time! 😎
feride aka farida says
Oh, I love this one! In fact I was going to make it one of these days and post it on my blog:))) This is almost like muhammara. Maybe 2 different names for the same thing.
dokuzuncubulut says
Sevgili Zerrin,
yine güzel bir tarif vermişsin. Hem fotoğrafın, hem tarifin çok güzel. Sevgiler...
5 Star Foodie says
A very unique sauce with walnuts & tomato paste! Sounds so delicious on a crusty bread!