Isot is the name of a type of pepper grown unique to Sanliurfa. It is also the local name given to the dried pepper identified with Sanliurfa province. It is also the general name given to pepper in Kurdish. artworkanatolia, Anatolian artwork
The word, of Turkish origin, is formed by combining the words "isot" (hot) and "ot" (herb). It is also generally used to mean "red, dried, hot pepper."
Preparation: artworkanatolia, Anatolian artwork
In the summer, Urfa peppers are left to dry on a clean surface in flat, sunny areas, after removing their seeds. Because the dried peppers are red, they are moistened with hot water daily until they darken and placed in large, transparent bags to dry. The dried peppers are then crushed, olive oil and a little salt are added, and turned into isot. Modern technology has made isot production somewhat easier. While the old method involved pounding and grinding isot with a pestle, isot grinding machines are now used to produce isot more easily and efficiently. The most important feature of Sanliurfa isot is that it is not burning hot. artworkanatolia, Anatolian artwork
Because it is natural, it initially tastes sweet, but the bitterness fades after a while. Throughout Sanliurfa, everyone produces it for winter on balconies or rooftops.
Isot is the process of blackening red hot chili peppers (dried peppers) by exposing them to heat. The reason it's more expensive than red pepper flakes is that 10 kg of Urfa pepper yields 1 kg of isot, along with the use of olive oil. Isot can also be described as a type of fermented chili pepper. It's made as follows: The dried red hot pepper's core and wings are dried and blackened by exposing them to moisture and sunlight for a period of time. The ideal and healthiest color is purple. There are varieties in black, purple, and red. The color varies depending on the length of time they are exposed to sunlight. Peppers dried in less direct sunlight turn red, peppers dried for 1-2 days turn purple, and peppers dried for 3-4 days turn black. dried pepper artwork anatolia, anatolian art work