If you’re planning your first trip to Turkey, this guide to Turkish cuisine, meals and flavours will help you get a true taste of the country.
Here is just a selection of Turkish foods you must try when visiting Turkey for the first time, and what it is that makes these dishes so special.
1. Turkish Breakfast (Kahvaltı): A Leisurely Feast to Start the Day
In Western culture, breakfast is typically a hurried affair, with most Brits opting for something simple that can be prepared quickly and eaten on the go.
A true Turkish breakfast, on the other hand, is about so much more than convenience. This leisurely affair usually consists of a delectable spread of fresh food to be enjoyed leisurely and socially, with family and friends.
A typical breakfast spread will several popular Turkish foods, like freshly-baked breads, and cheeses such as feta or those made from sheep or goat’s milk, along with black and green olives, plus jams and spreads, including savoury options like black olive spread, or sweet alternatives like fruit jams or hazelnut spread.
Eggs are also a popular option to start the day, and dishes like menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs with veggies) or cilbir (poached eggs with garlic yoghurt) are widely-recognised as breakfast staples.
All of this is then washed down with plenty of black tea or strong Turkish coffee.
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2. Street Food Staples: From Simit to Midye Dolma
Turkey has a vibrant street-food scene. You’ll find simit for sale on every street corner in Turkish cities. These sesame-crusted bread rings sometimes known as Turkish bagels can be eaten as they come, or paired with triangles of spreadable cheese, which are often sold alongside them at street food stands. Other popular toppings for simit include pekmez and tahini or hard cheese and honey.
Image provided by Zeki Okur (Unsplash)
Another popular Turkish street food is midye dolma. Midye dolma are stuffed mussels, filled with a delicious mix of rice, herbs and spices. This local speciality is best sampled while sightseeing or as a late-night snack with friends while enjoying Turkey’s nightlife.
3. Iconic Main Dishes: Kebabs, Manti and Regional Specialities
Turkey has many iconic dishes that have made the leap into international cuisine. Most Brits will have heard of a doner kebab, for example, and the dish is hugely popular in Germany.
Beyond kebabs, Turkish cuisine has so much more to offer. Manti, for example, are a kind of meat-filled Turkish dumpling, similar in size and shape to Italian ravioli. Usually filled with minced beef or lamb, along with garlic, onion and spices, manti can be served with yoghurt or a sauce made with tomatoes and butter.
Vegetarians are also well catered for in Turkey, with dishes such as Imam bayildi – a stuffed aubergine dish flavoured with spices.
Many Turkish resorts, like Aquasis Deluxe Resort & Spa, host food festivals or local tasting evenings which make it easy to sample a wide variety of Turkish dishes without venturing far.
4. Sweet Treats and Desserts: Baklava, Sutlac and More
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Turkey won’t disappoint. Sweet treats are a big part of Turkish cuisine, and you can expect to enjoy a wide range of sweet and flavourful desserts, such as baklava, rice pudding (sutlaç), and Turkish delight (lokum).
Turkish baklava is made from layered pastry sweetened with honey or syrup and filled with a nutty mixture, usually consisting of pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts and spices. Baklava is a symbol of hospitality and generosity and often given as a gift in Turkey or baked for special occasions, including religious holidays.
Image provided by Ömer Haktan Bulut (Unsplash)
5. The Modern Turkish Food Scene: Turkish Cuisine in the UK
Like all national cuisines, Turkish cuisine is constantly evolving, holding onto traditions whilst adapting to modern society and expectations.
This is especially true of the Turkish food scene in the UK, where diner’s perceptions are shifting and restaurants are experimenting, bringing reimagined Turkish cuisine to the table, that boldly blends the old with the new.
Of course, if you can experience Turkish cuisine in Turkey itself, then all the better to truly appreciate the blend of culture and flavours and discover just how delicious Turkish food can be.
Do you have any favourite Turkish Foods that you would like to share?
Looking for a novel set in Turkey, then check out this one from Barbara Nadel.
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