When you think of Turkish food there are probably a few things that come to mind like kebabs, kofte, and baklava. But this delightful dish will expand your view of what Turkish cuisine includes. As part of my latest series, I’ve been on a mission to discover all the ways that people around the world enjoy shaved ice. Luckily, I got a unique peek into the world of Turkish cooking through this shaved ice submission known as Bici Bici.

The recipe for Bici Bici is courtesy of Melike, who currently lives in Adana, a large city in the southern part of Turkey. Located just a few miles off of the Mediterranean Sea, Adana is known for having a brutally hot climate. According to Melike, temperatures get so high from the blazing sun that people often joke about “shooting the sun.” So, how do you beat a suffocating heat like that in Adana? With a bowl of Bici Bici.

Bici Bici involves just four main components: Shaved ice, pudding, syrup, and fresh fruit. The pudding is made from cornstarch and water that’s boiled together and then left to cool in the freezer. The result is a starchy, chewy pudding that brings in an unexpected texture as it is layered into the Bici Bici. Then comes the bright red syrup, which is made from a boiled combination of powdered sugar, red dye, and rose water. As you make this at home, you’ll be able to control exactly how sweet you want the syrup to be, but the rose water is non-negotiable. It helps give Bici Bici its signature hue (along with the rye dye of course) and also brings in some wonderfully floral flavors. The final step is to top with some fresh fruit like sliced bananas.

The rose water flavor of Bici Bici can’t help but taste quintessentially Turkish. Yet, Bici Bici still feels like an excitingly different view of what Turkish cuisine encompasses. It’s light, floral, sweet, and utterly refreshing. It’s a beautifully straightforward and simplistic dish that’s a great remedy for sweltering days where you feel like “shooting the sun.”