These are recipes I’ve developed based on my experiences over many years of traveling in Turkey
Turkish cuisine is a unique blend of flavors and ingredients that have been influenced by a rich cultural history spanning centuries. Turkey’s location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia is reflected in its cuisine, incorporating elements from both regions. Turkey’s cooking with its rich and diverse dishes, are hearty, flavorful, and satisfying.
One of the most common Turkish dishes is kebab. There are many different varieties of kebab, including shish kebab (skewered and grilled meats), doner kebab (sliced meat roasted on a spit), and adana kebab (minced meat grilled on a skewer).
These dishes are often served with rice, bulgur, or bread, and are typically accompanied by a variety of sauces and toppings, such as tomato sauce, yogurt, and pickled vegetables.
Turkish meze are small dishes served as appetizers or snacks before the main course. Meze is an integral part of Turkish cuisine and is enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike. Turkish meze is known for its variety of flavors and textures, ranging from hot to cold, savory to sweet, and spicy to mild.
Typical meze dishes include hummus, baba ganoush, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, feta cheese, olives, and various meat and vegetable dishes. Turkish meze is usually served in small portions, allowing diners to sample a wide range of flavors without getting too full.
Meze is often enjoyed with raki, an anise flavored, traditional Turkish alcoholic beverage, and is a popular way to socialize and enjoy good food with friends and family. In addition to being served in restaurants, meze can also be found in markets and street food stalls throughout Turkey.
Another popular dish in Turkish cuisine is manti, which is similar to Italian tortellini. These tiny dumplings are filled with a mixture of ground meat and spices, and are often served with a rich tomato sauce, melted butter, and sprinkled with paprika and melted cheese.
Baklava, a sweet pastry made with layers of thin phyllo dough, honey, and nuts, is another famous dish from Turkish cuisine. It is believed to have originated in the Ottoman Empire and is now a popular dessert throughout the world. Another popular sweet treat is Turkish delight, a type of gelatine-based candy that comes in a variety of flavors and is often dusted with powdered sugar.
Turkish breakfast, or kahvalti, is a meal that is not to be missed. It typically includes a variety of cheeses, breads, jams, honey, olives, eggs, and tomato and cucumber salad. One of the most popular items on the breakfast table is simit, a type of sesame-covered bread that is similar to a bagel.
Turkish coffee, which is brewed in a cezve (a special copper or brass pot), is another staple of the cuisine. The coffee is strong and served in small cups, and is often accompanied by sweets and a glass of water.
Turkish tea is a staple in Turkish homes and served with breakfast, after a meal and throughout the day. Guests are traditionally offered tea when they enter a Turkish house. . Raki, an anise-flavored liquor, is another popular drink in Turkey, –served as an aperitif or after a meal.
Some common spices in Turkish cuisine include paprika, cumin, mint, and parsley, which give dishes a bold and distinctive flavor. Vegetables, legumes, and grains, such as lentils, chickpeas, and several sizes of couscous and bulgur, are also an important part of the cuisine; used in dishes like lentil soup, stuffed peppers, and pilaf.