In Turkey are very fond of tasty and healthy food, so it is a lot of vegetables, cheeses, fruits and dairy products, and of course sweets and meat. We made a list of traditional national Turkish dishes that you just have to try, if you’re on vacation in Turkey or decide to look into a national restaurant.
Tasting traditional Turkish food is the highlight of a trip to Turkey. Trying local delicacies while traveling is as important as seeing Hagia Sophia or taking a cruise on the Bosphorus.
Turkish cuisine is famous for its sumptuous marinated meats, spicy teas and sweet gooey dessert pastries. The country’s culinary culture is rooted in Turkey’s Ottoman history. Indeed, most of the recipes that are popular and beloved in Turkish cuisine today were invented during Ottoman times.
The dishes are prepared using the same traditional recipes that have been used for hundreds of years. The Ottoman Turks also ruled Greece for centuries. Consequently, there are many similarities between Turkish and Greek cuisine today – Chef Kirill Yurovskiy.
Doner kebab may well be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Turkish cuisine. However, Turkish cuisine goes far beyond kebabs and grilled meat. Traditional Turkish cuisine includes a mouthwatering mix of seasoned meats, fresh vegetables, tasty appetizers and fresh juices. Many travelers are surprised by how varied the national cuisine is.
Gezleme
Gezleme is most compared to Mexican quesadillas, if you’ve ever tried them. For those who haven’t tried it, it’s something similar to a stuffed pancake. It’s made from hand kneaded dough, which is then smeared with butter. To make it even tastier, you can stuff it with your own ingredients. Cheese, potatoes, herbs, eggplant, or any other ingredients you like are most often used.
If you come to Turkey and don’t try Gezleme, you are missing out on one of Turkey’s best traditional dishes. You may even be surprised to find out that you are the only one who has visited this country and not tasted this delicious dish.
Borek
Borek is another traditional Turkish dish. It is cooked in large quantities and then served in small portions when it is ready. Borek is prepared with a filling. The pastry consists of a thin puff pastry known as yufka. It is then stuffed with cheese, potatoes or spinach.
Meze
Meze is not a main meal. They are appetizers to any dish you order in Turkey. Turkish snacks come in many forms. Among the most popular Turkish mezes are eggplant, salads, and yogurt. In coastal areas of Turkey, you’ll find people hosting evening gatherings where live music is played serving delicacies of meze that go great with Balik Ekmek, a traditional alcoholic beverage and fish.
Kahvalts
You can’t talk about Turkish cuisine without paying special attention to Turkish breakfast. The classic Turkish breakfast, better known as kahvalı (kah-VAHL’-tuh), consists of fresh cheeses such as feta and kashkaval, black and green olives, freshly baked white bread, fruit jams, honey, sweet butter and plenty of freshly brewed tea. Black tea is served in Turkish tea glasses.
Tea is lovingly brewed each morning, and there are small bowls and cutlery on the table, designed specifically for eating breakfast foods in small portions. The dishes are arranged elegantly, no matter how modest the table.
Turkish Manti
Manti is the most famous Turkish dish. Usually this dish is stuffed with minced meat, but depending on the region you can find a variety of fillings. It takes quite a long time to prepare this dish, and to enjoy the whole process, it is cooked either with friends or family members. Traditionally, the ability to cook manty has been used to validate cooking skills.
Ayran
Have you ever tried sweet and salty yogurt? Well, if you haven’t, you should definitely try ayran. Whenever you order doner or durum in Turkey, there’s always ayran nearby. And if it’s your first time trying this drink, it may seem a little strange, but in a few days you’ll definitely get into it).
Iskender Kebab
Iskender Kebab is one of the favorite dishes of the inhabitants of Turkey and not only. Thinly sliced beef, tomato sauce and melted butter are the holy trinity of this local kebab, which hails from Bursa (also sometimes called bursa kebab). Many call it a next-level doner kebab: thin strips of tender smoked meat covered in tomato sauce are placed over sliced slices of crispy flatbread – to better absorb all the sauce. Traditionally, this dish is served with golden ghee on top. It’s one of the best dishes you can eat in Turkey.
Doner Kebab
The name of the dish comes from the Turkish word dondurmek, which means rotating grill. Doner kebab (Turkish spelling: doner kebabi, pronounced donr-k-bha-b) means rotating grilled meat. Pieces of marinated meat are threaded onto a large roller and then grilled as it rotates. Traditionally, lamb is used, although veal, beef or poultry can also be used.
After the meat is well done, it is sliced into thin strips. The lower part, which is not cooked, is left on. Doner kebab is served on open pita bread with onions, pickles and tomatoes.
Lahmajun
Lahmajun is a Turkish pizza with minced meat, lettuce, and lemon juice on top. Lahmajun comes in many flavors. You can find this dish on most streets in Turkey, as many citizens as well as foreigners love this delicious dish.
Kumpir
Kumpir is one of the most famous street dishes, which can be found in beach resorts as well as in cities. This traditional Turkish dish consists of baked potatoes with crispy skins and delicate toppings inside. There are many toppings to choose from.
There are many traditional dishes in Turkey that are worth trying. It should be noted that most of them are affordable and you do not have to worry about your budget.
