Turkish food offers wonderful Mediterranean flavours and a wide variety of dishes. You can enjoy delicious meze dishes and lots of tasty sweets. In this article, we present tips on Turkish food.
Table of contents
What is typical of Turkish food?
Turkish cuisine developed during the Ottoman era, and therefore has many similarities with Iranian cuisine. Turkish food is known for kebabs and aubergine dishes, as well as all the delicious little starters called meze. The food contains a lot of spices such as garlic, cumin, chilli, mint and various herbs.
Key ingredients in Turkish food
Many Turkish dishes contain meat in the form of beef, lamb or chicken. Pork is mainly not eaten at all, as most people in Turkey are Muslim.
A lot of vegetables are used, such as onions, olives, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and courgettes. Other important ingredients include bread, rice, fish, puff pastry, cheese, yoghurt and fruit.
Turkish food: twenty dishes and delicacies of Turkey
Here we have collected 20 examples of Turkish food in the form of dishes and delicacies. Enjoy!
1. Turkish breakfast
According to our guide in Istanbul, it is common in Turkey to eat bread, olives, cheese, cucumber and tomato for breakfast, and if you have time, you can also cook eggs. In restaurants in Turkey you can order Turkish breakfast, kahvalti, which contains this but usually more, such as sausages, batters and dried fruit. Often everything is served in different small bowls, and looks very tempting.
If you eat breakfast in a hotel in Turkey, you will usually be served a buffet breakfast, which includes both Turkish and international breakfast dishes.
2. simit
Simit is a Turkish bread similar to a bagel, but a little bigger, a little crunchier and covered with sesame seeds. These are often bought in small stalls on the street, as street food, and are really good.
3. Meze - Turkish starters
When dining in a restaurant in Turkey, it is customary to start the meal with meze, or small Turkish starters, which are often plentiful and often placed all over the table for the party to share.
Meze dishes often consist of different kinds of stir-fries, olives and bread, but it can also be cheese, salads, pickled sardines, beans, vine leaf dumplings, fried cheese rolls, Turkish mini pizzas and much more. This is one of the best things about Turkish food in our opinion!
4. Hummus, babaganoush and other mixtures
Stir-fries of various kinds are almost always included in Turkish meze, but because they are so common and important, they deserve their own heading. One of the most common stir-fries is hummus, or chickpea stir-fry. Other common stir-fries include babaganoush (aubergine stir-fry), yoghurt stir-fry and ezme (tomato stir-fry).
5. lahmacun
Lahmacun is a small Turkish minced meat pizza with a thin base. This dish can also be served among the meze dishes, and if you want, you can eat it as a roll filled with vegetables.
6. pide
Pide is an open boat-shaped pie often filled with minced lamb. It can also be filled with cheese, for example, as in the picture below.
7th Mücver
Mücver is a steak or raw shrimp made from courgettes, which can be served as part of the meze. We were served many varieties of zucchini steaks during our recent trip to Istanbul and they were all very good.
8. manti
Manti are a type of dumplings, i.e. small dough dumplings, which are cooked in several countries, such as the Balkans, the United States and the United Kingdom. Armenia and in Uzbekistan. In Turkey they are often served with a yoghurt sauce.
9th Çiğ Köfte
Çiğ Köfte is a type of raw meatball served mainly in Turkey, but also in some neighbouring countries such as Syria. The dish can be made from either minced beef or minced lamb.
10th Köfte
Köfte is a common Turkish dish and can be described as meatballs, which can be made in different sizes and shapes. The meatballs are usually made from minced beef or lamb, but there are also variants made from minced chicken or vegetarian ingredients, such as chickpeas, broad beans or lentils.
11. kebab
Kebab is extremely popular in Turkey and actually means 'grilled'. There are lots of different types of kebab and the one called "döner kebab" is what we usually call kebab in Sweden. Here are some kebabs to try in Turkey:
- Döner kebab - pressed meat which is rotated and grilled, and from which strips are cut.
- Iskender kebab - sliced kebab meat topped with hot tomato sauce, sheep butter and yoghurt
- Shish kebab - pieces of whole or minced meat that are marinated and grilled on small skewers
12. Hünkârbeğendi
Hünkârbeğendi is an aubergine and meat dish originating from Ottoman cuisine. A meat stew, made from lamb or beef, is served with aubergine puree. We had this on our recent trip to Istanbul and it was one of the best main courses of the trip. Very good Turkish food!
13. duerum
Dürüm is a Turkish wrap usually filled with typical kebab ingredients. We had dürüm with minced lamb at the popular street food place Dürümzade in Istanbul. Very tasty! Vegetarian versions of dürüm can also be found, for example with cheese and vegetables.
14. fish sandwich
In many places, including Istanbul, you can stop and buy a fish sandwich as a form of street food. A common filling seems to be mackerel. We tried a sandwich with salmon, tarama (fish roe mix), red onion and salad. Perfect for replenishing some energy while walking the streets!
15. fresh fish
Fresh fish is plentiful in Turkey, at least if you're near the sea. In markets and restaurants, we saw lots of seafood, including bluefish, albacore tuna (white tuna), salmon, seabream, seabass, mackerel, squid, mussels, roe and the roe "tarama".
Restaurants sometimes serve whole fish and sometimes fillets, often accompanied only by lemon and some salad.
16. Grilled corn and chestnuts
One thing you can try when walking around the streets of Turkey is grilled corn and chestnuts. Among other things, there are many stalls around Hagia Sofia in Istanbulbut also in many other places. We have tried the chestnuts, and they are really good.
17. baklava
One delicacy you won't want to miss is baklava. This sweet pastry is common in several countries around the Middle East and in the Balkans. It is perhaps particularly popular in Turkey and in fact it is believed to have originated in the imperial kitchens of the Ottoman Empire. The pastry is made from filo dough and nuts and is very sweet.
18. Turkish Delight
Another sweet that you don't want to miss in Turkey is Turkish Delight. This is a kind of sweet marmalade confection that usually contains pistachios, among other things, and is very sweet and tasty.
19. Halva
Halva is another type of confectionery that may be interesting to try. It contains tahini, or sesame paste, and is available in many countries in Western Asia, the Middle East and the Balkans.
20 Fresh and dried fruit
Both fresh and dried fruits are abundant in Turkey. Depending on the season, you can indulge in delicious fruits such as citrus fruits, quinces, cherries, plums, apricots, dates, figs and grapes. There are also plenty of dried fruits and berries, and on our last trip we tried dried mulberries.
Turkish food in restaurants in Turkey
Want to try Turkish food in a nice local restaurant? In the report below you'll find tips on both food tours and restaurants in Istanbul and restaurants in Cappadocia.
Combining Turkish food with drink
So what should you drink with your food, or in other contexts? If you like wine, try Turkish wine. There are also plenty of delicious juices made from various fresh fruits. Perhaps the most famous drinks are Turkish coffee and Turkish tea.
Turkish coffee
Turkish coffee has a long tradition in Turkey and its serving was once associated with special ceremonies in the palaces of the Ottoman Empire. Still today, the coffee is made in a special way, and the strong drink is served in small cups, where a relatively large part of the drink consists of the grounds. Coffee can be served with or without sugar, which is chosen before the drink is served, as sugar should not be added afterwards.
Turkish tea
Turkish tea is also a popular drink in Turkey. Traditionally served in a tulip-shaped glass, Turkish tea can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
More to see and do in Turkey
When you visit Turkey, it's great to enjoy Turkish food, but there's also plenty to see and do. We highly recommend discovering Istanbul and Cappadocia. Below you'll find plenty of stories to inspire you.
Aunt Anna's quick trip to Istanbul
Guest writer: Anna Nilsson Spets It's the middle of the night when I land on the extremely large...
Kayakapi Premium caves - staying in cave hotels in Cappadocia
Kayakapi Premium Caves is a cave hotel in Cappadocia, which will make you feel like you're...
Experience the best of Turkey through its tours
Today we present a guest article Planning an excursion to Turkey is like preparing for a...
Historical sites outside Antalya - St Nicholas and the history of Santa Claus
Guest writer: Jonathan Gharbi de Maré We continue to explore the Turkish Mediterranean coast around Antalya and visit the...
Visiting the Yerebatan Cisterns in Istanbul - the Sunken Palace
Visiting the Yerebatan Cisterns in Istanbul is a fascinating experience. Moreover, we can say that the dear...
Things to do in Antalya, Turkey - history, fun and adventure
Guest writer: Jonathan Gharbi de Maré Antalya is located on the Turkish Mediterranean coast and is beautifully surrounded by...
Adventures around Antalya and Kas - diving and hiking
Guest writer: Jonathan Gharbi de Maré After a few days in and around Antalya, it's time to...
Grand Bazaar in Istanbul - shopping in Turkey
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul offers an extraordinary shopping experience. Welcome to a historic...
Horse riding in Cappadocia - sunset experience
Horse riding in Cappadocia - a wonderful experience! We visited the Cemal Ranch and did a two-hour...
Things to do in Istanbul - 25 tips for sights and experiences
What to do in Istanbul, Turkey? Istanbul is a vibrant and exciting metropolis, filled with...
9 restaurants in Istanbul you don't want to miss
There are many nice restaurants in Istanbul, and lots of great food to try. We...
Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia - an adventure of a lifetime
Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia - an adventure to remember for the rest of your life. The landscape of Cappadocia...
Food Tour in Istanbul - for all food lovers
Food Tour in Istanbul - for everyone who loves good food. We have just visited the...
Selime Monastery in Cappadocia - mountain cathedral in Turkey
The monastery of Selime in Cappadocia is the largest religious structure in the area, with a large cathedral carved out...
Cappadocia in Turkey - sights and experiences
Want to experience Cappadocia in Turkey? This area is a magical place on earth, with amazing...
Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia - amazing place in Turkey
The Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia is a stunningly beautiful valley with dramatic rock formations, intense greenery, a long line of...
BP says:
Yummie, yummie! I have eaten most of the dishes. Except manti and Hünkârbeğendi. Yes, and the sweets I have also left out voluntarily, as I don't like sweet things. But I love Turkey's dishes. However, they tasted much better "on the spot" than here in a Turkish restaurant.
02 December 2023 - 15:09