Before our first visit to Turkey, we knew very little about Turkish food. Now we are convinced that it is one of the best food countries in the world and that its greatness lies in its diversity, longevity and the legacy left by the royal kitchens.
We ate in several regions of the country and found amazing Turkish food everywhere we went. Interesting dishes such as testi kebap, borek, cig kofte and kunefe opened our eyes to the diversity of Turkish cuisine. It also makes us realize that we have only just begun to scratch the surface of all the delicious things this country has to offer.
When it comes to food, Turkey still has a lot to explore. Looking at the map, I hardly knew where to start. If this is your first trip to Turkey, then this list of 27 traditional Turkish dishes provides a great starting point.
Traditional Turkish cuisine is described as a continuation of the cuisine of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire fused the cuisines of Central Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and the Balkans to create one of the most diverse and influential cuisines in the world.
Kebabs and dishes made with lamb occupy an important place in Turkish food, but dishes vary from region to region. The west coast is known for its olive oil-based dishes, central Anatolia for its sumptuous pastries, and the towns along the Black Sea coast are known for their abundance of fresh fish.
If you are going to Istanbul, then you need to eat at adana restorant. This adana restoranları restaurant serves traditional Turkish dishes from all over the country. Eating at his restaurant is like taking a culinary tour in Turkey.
1. Leblebi
Leblebi is a Turkish street food made from roasted chickpeas. They can be plain or seasoned with salt, hot spices or dried cloves, and can even be coated with sweets. It is a popular snack in Turkey and other countries in the Middle East, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan.
2. Mexican Platter
Meze means “appetizer” and refers to a series of small dishes used as an appetizer in Turkey, Greece, the Balkans, North Africa and parts of the Middle East. It includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes such as purees, salads, meatballs, pastries, dips and cheeses.
Meze platters are usually enjoyed as a snack or appetizer and can be found anywhere in Turkey.
3. Simit
Simit is one of the most popular Turkish foods. You will find it everywhere in the Red Street food trucks in Istanbul.
Simit refers to bagel-like bread covered with sesame seeds. It is crunchy and chewy, and is a very cheap Turkish snack.
4. Pide
Pide refers to a boat-shaped flatbread baked in a brick or stone oven. It is similar to pizza and can be topped with a variety of toppings such as cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes, sausage and eggs.
Pide is considered an important part of Turkish cuisine and can be found everywhere, from sit-down restaurants to street food trucks.
5. Ramakun
This is one of my favorite Turkish foods. lahmacun may resemble a thin cheeseless pizza, but it is actually a wrap covered with many toppings such as minced meat (usually lamb or beef), vegetables, herbs, onions, tomatoes and spices.
To eat it, you roll up vegetables such as pickles, peppers, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and roasted eggplant. It is baked and has crispy edges and a chewy center, just like pizza.
6. Borek
Borek refers to a family of filled pastries popular in Ottoman cuisine. It is made from a thin sheet of dough like filo or yufka and is usually filled with meat, cheese or vegetables.
Like lahmacun, borek is one of our favorite Turkish foods. It comes in many regional varieties, such as water cypress, pen cypress or palace cypress. The picture below shows a potato borek.
