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As food in Turkey comes from a large heritage of Ottoman cuisine, we can say that it is a fusion and refinement of the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Balkan, Asian, European, and Armenian cuisines.
Even though many Arabic and Asian restaurants are readily available for tourists to enjoy but ex-pats like to experience the best of the best.
Turkish cuisine is famous worldwide for its aroma and flavor, and many like to say that it is nutritious as well. Do you want to know that for sure? What are you waiting for then? Dive into this blog to learn further about Turkish cuisines.
There are a variety of common Turkish foods served in every city of Turkey and if you visit the country you should most definitely try them, some of them are the following ones:
The most common and renowned appetizer is chorba, which is served in every restaurant and café in Turkey. It is also called “Red lentil soup” because it is made up of red lentils, tomatoes, chicken broth, red chili flakes, onions, and various other ingredients and then is concocted into this special recipe of chorba which is served with hot Turkish bread to enjoy.
Most people like to eat it as a light lunch or appetizer before their main meals. If you ever visit turkey then chorba is a go-to for you and your companions along the way, and don’t forget to try different types of chorba in doners or restaurants.
Saksuka is a very delicious Turkish cuisine concocted with delicious eggplants, zucchini, green tomatoes, and olive oil. This dish serves as a main dish with yogurt dressing and potatoes on the side and creates a sense of aromatherapy for everyone. Anyone who comes to Turkey should have it for dinner once in a while and enjoy the true tastes of Turkey, do try to have it from a good restaurant.
These are classic Turkish ready-to-go snacks and even many European countries like Germany are also upholding the tradition of having them locally.
Doner comes in many forms such as dürüm which is usually wrapped in bread or the kebab can be placed on top of the bread with various toppings such as tomato sauce and butter.
It is a rich delicacy with fine taste and fulfills your stomach in a very low price because it is local street food, and gives off a vibe of true traditions.
These are the main types of doners kebabs availed by locals and foreigners with great interest and love for food.
How can we forget the infamous Kebap? In Turkey, Kebap is served with lentil sautéed with herbs and spices as well as lush green salads.
It is a good choice for lunch when you are off to take a ferry ride in Ortakoy or Besiktas, as it will keep you fulfilled all ride long.
The tastes are heavily enriched with Turkish herbs and spices, as well as some foreign ones to add a touch of perfection. This dish is also a must-have for your trip to Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, and much more.
Turkish Pide is also known as flatbread was traditionally prepared for Ramadan but can be found in any district of the main cities of Turkey.
It is a lovely dish and foreigners call it Turkish Pizza because of the flatbread and topping on the bread.
There can be many types of toppings for you to avail from such as; pepperoni, cheese, potatoes, minced meat, sucuk, or any seasoned meat. It depends on your choice but it is a must-have if you have a long day ahead of you to explore museums and historic places.
Turkish-style baked potatoes famously known as “Kumpir” are one hell of a snack! Once it comes out of the oven and cut open, the potato from inside is completely soft and then cheese and butter are added until the mixture is smooth and creamy enough.
Topping ideas can be corn kernels, sliced olives, chives, mayo, and grated carrot, or anything you would want to add from the collection displayed.
You can choose and customize your Kumpir according to your taste buds and enjoy the day! There are Kumpir shops on almost all tourist attractions and this can be you’re once in lifetime experience.
If you are a fan of stuffed flatbreads then Gozleme is your best bet. Gozleme is a flatbread made with flour, salt, and water and concocted into a dough, then it is stuffed with cheese sometimes potato mixture, or even spinach.
The combination is everlasting and deliciously welcoming as it comes in a large and savory serving and you can also order the famous Limonata along the way to complete your meal.
If you go to any restaurant or café you can never fail to notice Gozleme as an appetizer or main dish on the menu because of its large preference for Turkish dishes.
You can expect to find it in all parts of turkey and if there is nothing to do near the sea, why not opt for this amazing meal?
Let us now come to the Desert section, where we can find many choices for Turkish deserts as well…
If you come to Turkey and do not try Baklava, then you are seriously missing out. Turkey is known for its delicious cuisines and one of them is Baklava as well which traditionally comes in the form shown above.
It is a rich Middle Eastern, Greek, Turkish and Arabic dessert that is made with dough and nuts combined, and after the pastry is baked, it is drenched with a syrup of honey and lemon juice.
Cinnamon, ground cloves, cardamom, or rosewater may flavor either the filling or the syrup and there are chocolate flavored baklavas available in certain areas of Istanbul, Turkey.
People even come to Turkey and buy baklavas as gifts for their friends and family and bring it to their own country because it is such a special and delicious desert.
Dondurma is also known as Turkish ice cream and it is a readily available delicacy in many different flavors.
The word Dondurma comes from the concept of freezing as in the taffy-like ice cream and apart from the usual milk and sugar, it also contains powdered orchid bulbs, known as salep.
The salep makes the dondurma thick, creamy, and firm enough to cut with a fork and knife, as well as slower to melt. Dondurma is different than regular ice creams but so far tourists say that it tastes way better than the ice cream itself.
The old favorites of chocolate and vanilla, the Western Mediterranean classics of pistachio, raspberry, and strawberry, and Turkish specialties such as cherry (the plant originated here) and mulberry.
Last but not least is Kunefe a Middle Eastern, Turkish, Arabic, and Asian desert. It is composed of shredded filo pastry, or mostly fine semolina dough, soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup, and typically layered with cheese, or with other ingredients such as clotted cream or nuts, depending on the region.
Turkish Kanafeh or Kunefe is really sweet as Turks love their deserts and have huge bakeries all over the cities with especially Kunefe and Baklavas available all the time. Whenever you feel a craving for sweets, it is your best bet and you can even get it at night.
Wrapping it all up with this saying that food in Turkey has a special place in the world, and has its own renowned tastes. The taste cannot be compared with other nations but we can say that it is a mixture of ethnic and modern, herbs and spices as well. Don’t forget to give this guide a thorough read before you come to turkey to have