It so happened that on my first visit to Turkey, I made many unexpected discoveries about this country, including the variety of delicious food that surprised me. What dishes immediately come to mind when you think of Turkey? Kebabs, baklava, Turkish delight, and from coffee drinks, of course. In general, you don’t think of any balanced and wholesome food when talking about this eastern country. But in reality, it's not like that at all.

Turkish cuisine is very diverse, and even vegetarians do not have to worry about their diet when going there on vacation. I always say that food is an important part of any tourist trip. Of course, new places, culture and attractions are more important than cafes and restaurants, but the local cuisine kind of reinforces the overall impression. Yes, and through food you can learn a lot about any nation. What distinguishes Turkish cuisine?

Features of Turkish cuisine

It is clear that traditions in everything, including food, are formed over time. The culinary preferences of the Turks are rooted in the customs of the Turkic tribes. Here it turns out that traditional cuisine Turkey has a lot of Arabic, Balkan, Mediterranean and Caucasian diets. To be honest, I never thought about how close the western coast of Turkey is to Greece, and therefore I was very surprised at the numerous attributes of primordially Greek cuisine in Turkish food.

And the diet of most Turks is influenced by the traditions of Islam. Turkey is a Muslim country and there are special regulations for food preparation. There are permitted foods - halal, there are forbidden - haram. The most famous example is the ban on Muslims eating pork, which is why this meat is rarely found on the menu. Plus, some holidays and holy days have additional regulations. In the holy month of Ramadan for every Muslim, believers fast until nightfall and do not eat meat.

But do not worry, because the laws of Islam apply only to Muslims (and not all of them strictly adhere to them), and in the tourism business they understand that guests want to taste everything at any time, so you can find ordinary Turkish dishes on the menu even in fasting .

And a few words about people who do not eat meat and think that in Turkey they will have to live with baklava. I also strongly associated Turkey with a meat country, where there are a million varieties of kebabs. But there is where even strict vegetarians can roam - fresh fruits and vegetables, pastries, snacks and main dishes of eggplant, chickpeas, nuts, lentils, mushrooms. And baklava with Turkish delight, of course.

Turkish breakfast can also be included in the cuisine of this country. And you must try it, because Turkish breakfast is a real feast for the whole world. Turkish breakfast is very substantial, and in many cafes/restaurants/hotels you get the traditional set in the morning: scrambled eggs, toast, homemade cheese, several types of olives, fried sausages, jam, sometimes vegetables and unlimited tea.

So, there are a lot of different foods in Turkey, and now I will tell you about the traditional and most delicious.

Vegetables and fruits

Oh, what juicy, fresh and tasty vegetables, fruits, greens are there! And it's all year round! I confess, and here I underestimated the beautiful Turkey.

There you can absorb vitamins in fresh local tomatoes (several types of cherry tomatoes), peppers (very often used in Turkish cuisine), cucumbers (looking like some kind of plastic, but tasty), eggplant, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, herbs, oranges, bananas, strawberries, apricots, watermelons…

Everything has its season, of course. And it is right. In Turkey, at the legislative level, the addition of pesticides and other poisons when growing fruits and vegetables is prohibited, so they are only natural and healthy here.

I was honestly shocked by amazingly juicy oranges in February! It turns out that they are available there at any time, except for summer (and even then you can find them somewhere in the gardens). You can also find these fruits on the trees in one of the walks around Antalya.

Along with oranges, lemons and avocados ripen. We also met them just near the road.

In April-May comes strawberry season. The price starts from a few dollars per kilogram and gradually decreases to one. Large berries melt in your mouth.

Summer is the time for cherries, medlars (a very interesting fruit, which is called the "Japanese apple", ripe fruits taste like quince and pears), mulberries, apricots, watermelons. In early autumn, pomegranates and figs ripen. Well, the oranges are starting to slowly fill with flavor.

Bananas are available almost any time of the year. I didn’t know that their huge bunches are first removed from the trees green. Then the fruits lie for some time and ripen. So they were filmed at the end of winter.

Do not miss a trip to the Turkish market, especially if you are in the country for a long time. It's cheaper, more colorful and more choice. But you can also buy good fruits and vegetables in supermarkets.

Appetizers, salads and pastries

Turkey definitely loves meat, but to get to this main dish, you still need to master the indispensable attributes of the beginning of the Turkish meal - meze, appetizers, salads and all kinds of bread.

Meze and other snacks

Turkish mezes are cold or hot appetizers served with drinks before meals.

Cold ones are most often made from yogurt, adding finely chopped carrots, pepperoni, and pickles to the sauce. Often lemon juice with olive oil is also used in this sauce. I liked Jajik the most. In addition to yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice and olive oil, mint and sometimes garlic are added there.

There are also hot snacks. These are, for example, baked shrimp or something like julienne (baked mushrooms with cheese).

According to my observations, an ordinary Turkish family often has one type of meze on the table, but there are more other snacks. These are, for example, delicious dried olives (there are a lot of varieties of them in Turkey), pickles (gherkins and pepperoni are popular), several types of cheese (often feta cheese or homemade cheese), cherry tomatoes.

Sarma, popular in Greece, is often found - rice wrapped in grape leaves with vegetables or minced meat.

One of my discoveries is various, so to speak, “spreads” on bread.

In Turkey, delicious hummus with various additives was often found. And the best is a paste made from grated sun-dried tomatoes, peppers, nuts and spices.

Salads

I am not a big fan of salads and always prefer fresh cut vegetables to them. As I said, vegetables in Turkey are fresh and tasty, so salads from them are excellent.

Salads in Turkish cuisine are usually unpretentious: cucumber, tomato, onion, sweet pepper, cheese (or without it). All this is almost always seasoned with lemon juice and olive oil.

Bakery products

In Turkey, bread is served with almost any dish. Sometimes in their restaurants and cafes they even bring a whole bread basket for free. Such an edible "aperitif".

I really love all Turkish pastries - they just melt in your mouth. Yes, and some of its species will pass for a full meal or at least a good snack.

Here's what you should definitely try:

Soups

In Turkey, soups are held in high esteem, although it seems to me that they are not perceived as a full meal. That is, you don’t really get enough of one meal - Turkish soups are not very satisfying.

I will highlight three of the best:

Main dishes

And here we will talk about what Turkish cuisine is known for outside the country - about kebabs. Also in Turkey, different types of pilaf, meatballs, stews are popular. On the Mediterranean Sea you will find a large selection of seafood dishes.

But first, about kebabs. There are a lot of them in Turkey. Of course, there are several main ones, but the fact is that in many regions of the country, different chefs have their own differences in the preparation of each type of kebab. It's basically fried meat.

Here is the basic information about the form in which meat is served in different kebabs:

Now I will tell you about one of my discoveries in Turkey - kofte. These are meatballs that have a lot of variations and tastes. They are made from different types of meat (mainly lamb). But I was impressed not by these ordinary meatballs, but by their special kind - chi kofte.

Chi kofte looks like compressed minced meat, which is why vegetarians are afraid to try this dish. But in fact, these are the most non-meat cutlets in the world. This stuffing consists of bulgur, tomato paste, nuts and many spices (they say that there are almost 100 of them). This “minced meat” is prepared in an unusual way: the chef first mixes all the ingredients, and then for a long time (from an hour to 3–5 hours) kneads the mass with his hands. Bulgur is made with the warmth of your hands! Previously, minced meat dishes were prepared in the same way, if there were difficulties with fire. They say that the chefs were supported by dances and songs.

In general, the thing is very tasty. It is served in pita bread or separately on a plate. Vegetables, herbs, lemon, tomato sauce (special for these meatballs) and delicious viscous pomegranate sauce are sure to go with chi kofte. This dish is especially popular during Ramadan.

I am not a big expert in fish cuisine, but I can say with confidence that there is no shortage of fresh seafood on the Mediterranean coast. Try the local dorado.

Turkish sweets

Oh, and I love this theme! Not only do I really love sweet treats, but in Turkey they just melt in your mouth. Each sweet is a bouquet of flavors. Juicy baklava with pistachios, sesame halva, the most delicate threads of writing ... and I have not yet mentioned Turkish delight with its variety of flavors!

In general, something, but I tasted Turkish sweets. Here is a list of those not to be missed:

As you understand, there are enough delicious sweets in Turkey.

One tip: don't take too much at once, rather enjoy and savor each sweet oriental delicacy.

Popular drinks

And even here the Turks can offer something special and interesting.

Soft drinks

I'll start with the most popular and very unusual drink for me - ayran. There is no analogue in our kitchen. Some people say that it is something like carbonated kefir. But it's not. Please do not confuse all these Tans and Airans, which are present on the shelves of domestic stores, with the original drink from Turkey! We have some kind of carbonated and not at all like the one they drink in cafes and sell in Turkish stores.

Airan is a fermented milk drink. It is based on yogurt, water and salt. They use a special sourdough, the consistency of the drink is very different. Surprisingly, ayran is the best accompaniment to shawarma, and to many other dishes. At first, I was very surprised that instead of the usual cola in places like McDonald's, people are more willing to take airan. The drink is sold everywhere: there are entire refrigerators in supermarkets, shelves in stores and home-made options in cafes / restaurants. Airan is refreshing and energizing. Drink ayran in Turkey!

And now about Turkish tea. I read that it has been grown on the Black Sea coast of Turkey for a long time. But I never tried local tea there.

Surprisingly, it is a fact: the Turks are jamming the usual bagged or packaged black Lipton in huge quantities. In stores it is sold in really huge packs.

Whatever tea the locals use, they brew it in a special way. At the same time, tea leaves are similar to fine dust, which I personally am not used to calling tea. So, in Turkey, there are special two-story teapots: in the large lower one, water constantly boils, heating the upper one with water and tea leaves.

Tea leaves are poured into small glass glasses (a signature attribute of tea gatherings in Turkey) and boiling water is added. The tea is strong and very sweet. The taste is really something special. The glasses are small, they drink five or six at a time. The tea is always hot because the kettle is always boiling. Now in Turkey there are even electric kettles with such a two-part system.

I fell in love with this strong and sweet tea, I even brew Lipton sometimes at home, which I have never done before.

Turkish coffee. This drink is loved by both locals and tourists. The main secret is the method of preparation. Traditionally, coffee is brewed in a Turk (cezve). When cooking, sugar is added immediately, so specify the amount in advance if you order coffee in a cafe. The portions are very small, but incredibly tasty. To some, such coffee seems strong ... And yes, there is a lot of thick at the bottom of the cup (Turks use finely ground coffee), which is considered a very important part of the drink.

Salep- a traditional hot drink for the Turkish winter. It is prepared from milk and sugar with the addition of salep powder. It's hard to believe, but this powder is made from the roots of orchids of the same name. These flowers grow in Anatolia. They take only a couple of teaspoons of salep per liter of milk, add sugar, cinnamon and vanilla to taste. The drink is wonderful and nutritious. The Turks believe that they can cure a whole bunch of diseases.

In stores, you can find ready-made salep, which you just need to warm up or add water. But for an original taste, go to pastry shops and cafes.

Alcoholic drinks

Probably almost every country has its own traditional strong alcoholic drink. In Turkey it crayfish. The strength of the drink can be from 40 to 70 degrees. Basically, it's aniseed vodka. Only use it, diluting it into three parts with water. If the raki is good, then the glass will contain a milky-white liquid. After dilution, you can add ice. It is better to drink from thin glasses.

In general, you can safely take crayfish as a gift to connoisseurs of alcoholic beverages. In Duty Free, for example, it will definitely be of good quality.

There are several brands in Turkey beer, but the most popular is EFES. There are different types and containers. The beer is delicious. Unfortunately, the Russian-style EFES is no match for the Turkish one. By the way, bottled beer will be a little more expensive than cans, but glass containers can be given away in large and small stores, getting some money for it. It's good for the environment, and you can buy yourself an extra bottle of beer.

Another interesting drink in Turkey - bose. I would say that it is only conditionally alcoholic, because there are only a few percent of it in Bose. This is a fermented drink, which is obtained by fermenting cereals and adding sourdough with sugar to them.

Before another trip to Istanbul, I read Orhan Pamuk's book “Istanbul. City of memories. It describes the fate of the Bozo street vendor, who were numerous before the modernization of the city. The book is very atmospheric and helps to better understand the spirit of Istanbul, I recommend it. But now the bosa in the city is no longer so popular.

Where to taste traditional cuisine

I talked about all the very best dishes and drinks in Turkey, and now I want to tell you where to look for and try them. I am sure that you will appreciate the authentic cuisine of this country in any case if you walk around the city and go to restaurants, cafes for locals, try sweets from street vendors, buy something in supermarket chains. Food in Turkey is very high quality. The only thing is that many guests of all inclusive hotels complain about the monotonous food, but it has its own specifics, and no one promises true Turkish cuisine. Keep this in mind. So, where to get acquainted with purely Turkish food.

On the streets of Turkish cities

Yes, Turkey is definitely the place where you can and should buy snacks on the street. You can still meet street vendors of roasted chestnuts, fresh pastries, and seafood there.

My choice is crispy simit with a cup of strong Turkish tea. That's just the main thing that the bread was fresh! Tray guys often carry small cups of tea in public places like train stations and docks. Tea costs a penny (or rather, Turkish kurush), for a cup you get less than 0.5 USD.

Of course, among the street food is full of "shawarma". You will most likely take a good doner where there is a constant flow of buyers, including from local ones. The average price is 3–4 USD.

On the coast, a popular street delicacy is huge mussels with lemon juice. You can easily detect them by the pungent smell of the sea. Rice and spices are added to the shells. Before you start eating, sprinkle the filling with lemon juice. By the way, the seller lays out the clams on a tray strictly in size: the larger, the more expensive the mussel, of course. The size of the portion itself depends only on you, for 5–7 USD you can eat well for one person.

There are other sweets on the streets of cities. You can't try them all at once. Some look very interesting, for example, a lollipop that is made right in front of you.

Cafes and restaurants in Turkey

I liked the large selection of all kinds of cafes and restaurants in this country. Let's say that in popular tourist places the prices are too high, and sometimes the food does not pull at all for the indicated price. But such places are designed for inexperienced tourists.

Top tip: look at the number of people in the establishment. If the restaurant hall is empty, and you are persuaded by all means to stay, then most likely something is wrong here. On the other hand, the tourism industry in Turkey is going through hard times now, and many good establishments are really empty. I always try to get a block or two away from the main tourist street and find a place to eat there. Experience has shown that prices are reduced significantly, and you can find something truly authentic.

In general, good restaurants and remarkable cafes are often included in the TOP lists on various resources. It is better to write down the addresses of several of them, going to a new city.

Portions are often large and filling. One main dish was always enough for me to fill up. Often, before serving your order, they bring a fresh tortilla with sauces / spices / snacks for free.

The Mediterranean region is famous for its fish establishments. And in Istanbul there is a place where fish restaurants stand one after another. You will find it under the Galata Bridge.

I love to taste delicious food overlooking the sea. And this place also has a funny zest: fishing lines from fishing rods will hang from the upper tier of the bridge. This is because the Galata Bridge has been a favorite place for Istanbul fishermen for many generations in a row.

In the markets of Turkey

The bazaar is the focus of local life, and in Turkey this type of trade has been popular since ancient times. In Istanbul, some bazaars from the times of the Ottoman Empire are still functioning and have become recognizable sights of the city. I advise you to read more about the bazaars of Istanbul on our website.

As for buying food at the bazaar, locals often go there for the freshest and most delicious goods.

First of all, we are talking about fruits, vegetables, greens. I was struck by just a huge selection for quite acceptable, but what really there, little money.

I have been to Turkish markets both in winter and summer, the choice has always been pleasing to the eye. And the quality! No chemicals, everything is fresh and juicy. In general, an ideal option for home shopping. Yes, the same bananas, oranges, cherry tomatoes can be bought at the hotel. That's just such food markets often work only a couple of times a week.

By the way, not only fruits and vegetables are bought there. Have cheese and other dairy products home cooking. And also fresh Turkish delight, halva. Sometimes sweet souvenirs are also sold, but they seemed not so fresh to me. And here are the popular Gift Baskets spices can be bought at such local markets, it is much cheaper there.

In Turkish shops

It is unlikely that you will go to the markets if the trip to the country is short and you want to do everything. But most likely you will go to the shops.

It's also interesting there. There are a lot of chain supermarkets and small shops in Turkey. In the latter, the choice is not very large: bread, chips, juices / water, chocolates, cookies and the like. But in supermarkets there is where to roam. Most popular: Migros, Şok, 101, Bim. Typically, each of them presents products different manufacturers. My favorite is the Migros network. Their prices are a bit more expensive, but the food is delicious.

In supermarkets, you can buy everything for a delicious picnic or breakfast. I always take sun-dried olives (several types by weight), hummus/nut pate with sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, soft cheese, fresh bread. It is also worth buying Turkish delight and halva. Well, don't forget about ayran in cups.

Dictionary of food-tourist

To make communication in cafes and shopping in shops and markets easier, I will write some useful phrases and names.

Of course, don't forget to say hello. Merhaba(hello, "merhaaaba") and an expression of gratitude Teşekkür ederim(thank you, "teshekur ederim"), as well as about universal Evet(yes, "evet") and Hayir(no, "khayir"). In Turkish, ç sounds like "h" and ş like "sh".

And now popular products and drinks:

• ekmek (ekmek) - bread;
• şeker (shaker) - sugar;
• biber (biber) - pepper;
• tuz (ace) - salt;
• dondurma (dondurma) - ice cream;
• yumurta (yamurta) - an egg;
• eti (these) - meat;
• mercimek (merdzhimek) - lentils;
• bal (bal) - honey;
• tavuk (tavuk) - chicken;
• peynir (peynir) - cheese;
• balk (balyk) - fish;
• süt (sut) - milk;
• su (su) - water;
• çay (tea) - tea;
• kahve (kahve) - coffee;
• bira (bira) - beer;
• Sharap (sharap) - wine.

• elma (elma) - apple;
• çilek (chilek) - strawberries;
• karpuz (karpuz) - watermelon;
• kavun (kavun) - melon;
• kiraz (kiraz) - cherry;
• portakal (portakal) - orange.

• biber (biber) - pepper;
• domates (domates) - tomatoes;
• mısır (mysyr) - corn;
• patates (patates) - potatoes;
• salatalık (salatlyk) - cucumber;
• zeytin (zeytyn) - olives;
• mantar (mantar) - mushroom.

The dishes are as follows:

• çorba (chorba) - soup;
• salata (salad) - lettuce;
• tatlı (tatly) - dessert;
• kebab (kebab) - barbecue.

The following words will also work:

• çok (chok) - very much;
• sıcak (sidzhak) - hot;
• soğuk (sojuk) - cold;
• iyi (yy) - good;
• tatlı (tatly) - sweet;
• acı (aji) - sharp;
• tuzlu (tuzlu) - salty;
• take (taze) - fresh;
• büyük (buyuk) - big;
• küçük (kuchuk) - small;
• tamam (tamam) - well, everything is in order.

What to try in Turkey: my TOP 5

1. Lentil soup. Hearty, spicy, with a rich balanced taste.
2. Kebab. Grab a doner on the street and an adana kebab at a restaurant.
3. Chi kofte. Be sure to try these non-meat patties with amazing pomegranate sauce.
4. Gözleme/lahmacun/simit. Let these flour products be in one point. You already understood everything about my attitude to Simit, but also another delicious pastries do not deprive attention.
5. Writing. And yet, halva and Turkish delight are not in the lead in my list of sweets. These sweet, melt-in-your-mouth pistachio threads will always be my favorite.

Finally

Oh, and I wrote a lot about Turkish cuisine! At the same time, I am sure that I have not tried everything and not in all Turkish regions.

Traditional Turkish cuisine is bright, juicy, rich and at the same time balanced and healthy in an oriental way. This country has a large selection of both meat and vegetable dishes. Appetizers, soups, main dishes, desserts - everything is interesting, tasty and nutritious. The Turks skillfully use spices, emphasizing the taste of each dish.

Even Turkish drinks surprise with shades of flavors. I have long understood that for me the cuisine of Turkey is another reason to return to this country again and again. I am sure that after you try it, the same thing will happen to you.

Have something to add?

One of the richest cuisines in the world, thanks to the huge variety of dishes and unique taste characteristics.
Over the centuries, it has been developing along with the culture and traditions of Turkey, originating from the nomadic Turkic tribes. And this is where it gets even more interesting,go to turkish cuisine big influence many other cuisines - Caucasian, Arabic, Mediterranean (especially Greek), Balkan. The prohibitions of Islam have not passed by either, since the country has some guidelines regarding food in the form of permitted (halal) and prohibited (haram). This cuisine uses a lot of hot and fragrant spices, the main focus is on meat and vegetables.
Now you can imagine how diverse the cuisine can be if the traditions of such a large number of nationalities are mixed in it.

TURKISH CUISINE

Among the national dishes you can find anything - from simple salads and snacks to the most exquisite meat and vegetable dishes, drinks and desserts.
Turkish dishes are moderately spicy, so the cuisine will appeal to everyone - both spicy lovers and those who prefer less peppery food.

flour products

Let's start with baking. Serving bread is one of the main traditions.
Ekmek
There are several varieties of it: white bread (from wheat), gray (millet) and black (the so-called somun - Bulgarian bread). As a rule, they are most often baked in the villages according to their own recipes. Bread products can be bought at the market or on the days of fairs.
Berek
Baked bagels. Made from flatbread cut into triangles. The filling is cheese, spices and aromatic herbs.
Poacha
Small buns with a variety of fillings - cottage cheese, cheese, mashed potatoes, minced meat and whatever. Sesame or poppy seeds are used for decoration. Their peculiarity is that they are prepared without yeast, so a minimum of time is required for their preparation.
pita
Thick flatbread made from yeast dough, served on the table with baked in it, to choose from, vegetables, cheese, meat. Often pita can be found in small eateries.
Gözleme
One of the types of cakes made from the thinnest dough (yufka). The filling is a mixture of cheese with parsley or spinach, cottage cheese can also be used, minced meat - the choice is great. Counts rustic dish due to ease of preparation.
Simit
Bagels sprinkled with sesame seeds. The most popular pastry sold on every corner.
Lahmacun
Turkish pizza. This is a thin cake, inside which minced meat, finely chopped vegetables and spices are wrapped. The taste is spicy and plain.
Pide
A cake resembling the shape of a boat, inside which lies a whole "battalion" of products: minced beef and lamb, tomatoes, red, green and hot peppers, onion, garlic, mushrooms, cheese, spices. It has a very beautiful and appetizing appearance.
Gel tatlysy
Translated from Turkish - sweet roses. And this is true - delicate roses made from shortcrust pastry, watered with fragrant sherbet, covered with walnuts and pistachio flour. The dish is served on a beautiful plate, always with tea. Real jam!
Chocolate Kurabye
Oriental cookies - salty or sweet, in the form of flowers.
Cheese Pie
A similar pie is found among many Caucasian peoples. In Ossetia - famous Ossetian pie, in Georgia - achma. He also did not pass by Turkey. A pie is being prepared without yeast, stuffed with Adyghe cheese and butter. It has a round or rectangular shape. After cooking, cut into small squares.
Buns with olives
Appetizing rings - with olives, laid out in a thin layer, beautifully sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Shekerpare
Another type of oriental biscuit. Made from shortcrust pastry (with the addition of semolina), poured with sherbet and decorated with nuts and coconut flakes. Served on plates with unsweetened tea.
You can continue indefinitely.

Kebab

Absolutely separate category Turkish dishes known and consumed all over the world. Translated from Persian as "fried meat". Prepare several types of kebabs.
adana kebab
The most popular in the country. It is rolls of hot pepper minced lamb, fried on a spit. It has such a name in honor of its homeland - the city of Adana. Served inside a tortilla, with tomatoes, herbs, onions.
Iskender kebab
second in polarity. Lamb meat fried on a spit, in tomato sauce, with yogurt and ghee. Kebab comes from the city of Bursa.
Doner
No less famous food here and in Europe. Interestingly, at first it was rice with salad. Now it is an indispensable snack - chicken, beef or lamb meat is placed in a flat cake cut into 2 parts, various vegetables, all this is poured with hot sauce, sprinkled with spices.
Shish kebab
National barbecue - lamb fried on a skewer, with sweet peppers and tomatoes.

Turkish meat dishes

Kofte
From Persian it means "to beat meat". Known in the countries of South Asia and the Middle East.
Meatballs have their own characteristics: composition of products, shape, spices. Every corner of Turkey has its own recipe. Usually it is chopped beef or lamb meat, with spices and onions, in the form of cutlets. Then they are either fried on the grill in a frying pan, or boiled in a saucepan, baked in the oven. There are many varieties of kofte - chig kofte, izmir, dalyan, kuru. It all depends on the meat, cooking method, composition and spices.
Pilaf
Even the name looks like plov. From Turkish - "cool rice porrige". Yes, this is a local version of pilaf, cooked from boiled rice, chicken meat, with the addition of carrots, peppers, garlic, pine nuts, black raisins, herbs, spices and salt.
Khashlama
The literal translation from Turkish is "boiled meat". So it is - these are boiled pieces of meat (lamb, beef), with onions, carrots, potatoes, red and green peppers and olive oil. Served on the table with lemon quarters, they are poured over the dish.
Turkish meatballs
Tepsi koftesi - consists of minced meat, pepper, tomato, potato, spices, tomato. pasta, herbs, onions and garlic. Baked in the oven.
Pirasa koftesi - cutlets consist of ground beef, flour, eggs, peppers, parsley and onions. Roasted in a pan.
Mersimek - lentil cutlets fried in tomato paste, with onions and spices. They are served on lettuce leaves.
Dolma
Grape leaves or vegetables (pepper, cabbage) stuffed with minced meat and boiled rice, with onions, herbs and spices. In our opinion, these are stuffed cabbage rolls.
Dolma happens: grape, onion, eggplant. It depends on what the filling will be put into or wrapped in.
Tavykly bezel
Chicken fillet stewed with vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions, green pea). Great option garnish - boiled rice.
Chickpeas with meat
Turkish pea dish stewed with beef, tomato paste seasoned with hot pepper, garlic and onion.

Turkish soups

There are enough of them. The most famous:
Tarkhana Chorbasy - the most commonly prepared, made from ground, dried tomatoes, onions, peppers (red and green) - with flour and yeast. Ingredients may vary depending on the region of the country.
Merjimek - lentil soup.
Ishkembe - prepared from meat offal with garlic added.
Sekhriye Chorbasy - pasta soup with tomato paste, olive oil and onions.

Salads

The main ingredients are marinades (lemon juice, olive oil). Apart from different vegetables popular additives - cheese, olives, beef sausage, etc.
Patlyjan salads
It consists of fried eggplant, from which the skin is then removed. After that, they are crushed, turning into mashed potatoes, salt, garlic, parsley, olives are added. butter.
Choban
This salad is made from sweet peppers, tomatoes, cheese, cucumbers, onions.
Roca
Arugula, familiar to us, only here fried chicken pieces are added to it.
Kysyr
Vegetable salad (onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, all kinds of peppers), seasoned with cinnamon, ground pepper, to which bulgur is added - a special cereal made from steamed dried wheat. A salad is served on the table in the form of a small ball, decorated with lemon, mint and lettuce.

vegetable dishes

Yemeji Tavern
A dish of zucchini, which includes - zucchini, tomatoes, rice, herbs, olive oil, spices. Served with a sauce made from yogurt.
Imam bayaldy
Vegetable stew of tomato, eggplant, honey, parsley, mint, garlic, nutmeg, hot pepper, onion. The cooking method is quite original: a mixture of the above products is placed in eggplants shaped like boats, all this is baked in the oven.
Zeytinyagli pyrasa
Rice stewed with onions in olive oil. In addition to onions, carrots, sugar, tomato paste and lemon juice are added to the dish.

Turkish snacks

An element of custom is the arrangement of appetizers. Drinks are usually placed next to them.
Meze - from Turkish "taste", "snack".

Cold snacks
All kinds of creams belong to cold appetizers, most often on a yoghurt basis.
Haidari
Yoghurt mixture, where feta cheese, sugar, a little mint, lemon juice and olive oil are added.
Antep ezmesi
Spicy, made with crushed green and red peppers, tomato paste, onions, lemon juice, parsley and salt. A favorite dish of the eastern part of the country.
Jajik
Yogurt-based appetizer - with cucumber, mint, garlic. Especially good in hot weather.
The dish is very similar to the Greek - "tzatziki".
Baba hanush
A dish of charcoal-baked eggplants with garlic, sesame seeds, spices, sprinkled with lemon juice. You can add radishes, tomatoes and onions to it.
Awukma
Summer eggplant salad with peppers, cucumbers, feta cheese, seasoned with herbs and sesame seeds.
havuch
Yogurt cream - with grated carrots, lemon juice, pepper, olive oil, salt.
Sarma
Rice (with tomato paste, various herbs, onions, olive oil, spices, garlic) wrapped in grape leaves.
In addition to the above, Turkish meze is white cheese, walnuts, melon, cold salad from eggplant, artichokes.
Pepperoni - red and green hot peppers, olives (especially black ones), and pickled vegetables are very famous.

Hot snack
Of the hot ones, the most famous are:
Karidesh guvech
Shrimps baked in a pot - with tomatoes, spices, garlic, butter.
Borek cigar
The original form of tubes of the thinnest dough, stuffed with cheese, fried on both sides in a pan. A very tasty dish.
Fyrynda mantar
Champignon mushrooms - in sauce, with 2 types of cheese. Baked in the oven.

Turkish sweets

Turkey has always been famous for its wide variety of sweet dishes. They are considered one of the most delicious in the East.
Syutlatch with strawberry sorbet
Rice pudding based on starch, milk, eggs, butter. The mixture is poured into molds and baked in the oven. Especially good in the heat!
baklava or baklava
Sweet, the most popular not only in the country, but throughout the world. Made from rice dough. It is poured with syrup made from sugar with lemon, or hot honey with water. Filling - ground pistachios, walnuts, cloves, cinnamon, powdered sugar.
Tulumba
Tubes in the form of a cylinder with openwork ribs, impregnated sugar syrup. The dish is served cold on the table.
Yrmyk helvasy
Halva made from semolina, sprinkled with milk and sugar syrup, sprinkled with cinnamon.
Turkish Delight
Translated from Arabic - "sweetness for the throat." Sugar or honey cubes - with dried coconuts, fruits, various nuts. Happen with different flavors fruits.
Helva
Dessert made from sesame paste and sugar, using cocoa powder.
Revani
Rastegay baked from semolina, sprinkled with sugar syrup. Cut into rhombuses.
Pekmez
Grape syrup is most famous in the Cappadocia region.
Quince tatlysy
Quince divided into two parts, boiled in syrupy broth. Served chilled, with sour cream (kaymak).
Gulyach
A delicacy made from rice dough, with milk, seasoned with ground walnuts. It is decorated with pomegranate seeds (made in holy month Ramadan).
Nath
Honey-nut kurabie soaked in condensed milk - crumbly, very tasty, melts right in your mouth.
Meivili Muhallebi
Milk dessert with fresh berries and fruit topped with cinnamon and grated walnuts - perfect for hot weather.
Lokma
Sweet balls fried in a deep fryer, sprinkled with sugar syrup.
Jeserie
Dessert in the form of boiled carrot syrup turned into jelly, pomegranate juice, with pistachios. In addition to carrots, different fruits can be used.
Tatlysy Tavern
Pumpkin sweet boiled with sugar.
Ashura
The national dish of the whole country, without which no celebration can do. It has the second name "Dessert of Noah".
Since ancient times, familiar to the Turks, it is a symbol of the abundance of the Turkish family. Prepared for Thanksgiving. Delicious and very useful. Once upon a time, during the period of the Omani Empire, ashure was considered a medicine that relieves many diseases.
Ingredients: a mixture of wheat, rice, beans (cooked). Dried fruits are added to it: dried apricots, figs, raisins, in addition - an orange, various berries, and also - starch, sugar and spices. Dessert looks like thickened jelly. Served with cereals and pieces of fruit.

Beverages

Turkish coffee
Famous all over the world. Prepared in a Turk (a special container for brewing), according to all traditions, coffee is poured into cups. A glass of cold water is served separately.
Turkish tea
Local celebrity - fragrant, delicious. Collected in large quantities from the tea plantations of Turkey.
Milk drinks
Airan is very refreshing. It is made from sour cow (goat or sheep) milk. Reminds us of kefir.
Salep is a hot milk drink. Most often it is used in cool weather.
Salgam - sour, spicy, made from turnips. Distributed in the region of Adana. In the southern part of the country, raki and spicy food are served.
Boza is a sweetish drink that is the result of fermentation, obtained from cereals, yeast and sugar.
Juices and lemonades
Shira - grape juice
Lemonade - made from lemons and oranges crushed in a blender
Mineral water
There are many types of it. The local population prefers to drink non-carbonated water.
Of the alcoholic known:
crayfish - the national Turkish drink, which is anise "vodka". Sufficiently strong - from 40 to 70 revolutions. Used everywhere.
Bira - Turkish beer: Efes, Pera, Tekel, Marmara, etc.
Sharap - wine produced in many parts of the country. The best quality wines in the region of Izmir, Diyarbakir, Eastern Thrace, Cappadocia. Dry wine- very popular among the Turkish population.

All of the above traditional dishes you can always try it by going to one of the Turkish restaurants that we have selected especially for you.

The best Turkish restaurants

In the Stambul:
"Metropolis" - in the historical part of Sultanahmet. A cozy restaurant with a fireplace, so even in cold weather you will not be cold at all. This is one of those places where the most diverse menu of all cities in the country is presented. Crown food - lamb skewers, with tomato sauce, peppers and mushrooms. It is cooked in a pot, which is then broken at the guest's table, after which the shish kebab is brought, as it should be, served on a plate. The atmosphere is very pleasant - you don't even want to leave!
In Ankara:
"Haci Arif bey" - downtown. It's always very busy here. The peculiarity of the restaurant is a small garden with a pond where fish swim, an aviary with turtles is installed. For the youngest guests there is a playground. From dishes - mezes, vegetables, kebabs, soups, etc. excellent in taste. From drinks - ayran, different types teas. You can order food delivery.
In Antalya:
"Yemenli" - a nice establishment, consisting of several rooms. There is a small courtyard where flowers and trees grow, so it is very fresh and fragrant here! In general, the atmosphere here is more than relaxing. The menu is represented by dishes of European, Mediterranean, and of course, Turkish cuisine. Vegetarians have their own menu. The service is very delicate. There is a bar with a variety of drinks.
"Favory" - the name speaks for itself. If you chose this place, then you are in the favorites. Located in the center of the old town of Kaleici. Oh, how beautiful it is here! Everything says that you came to Turkey - the atmosphere, the interior. Spacious sofas with soft pillows, everything is buried in carpets. There is also a peculiarity - the walls are decorated with football posters, as the owner of the establishment is a football fan. The restaurant is really very warm, cozy, somehow at home. Before cooking, you will be shown what products will be used to prepare the dish.
In Fethiye:
Kalamaki - in the old part of the city. Very beautiful, modern room, with a unique style. There is a bar downstairs, on the second (roof) - a cozy snow-white terrace awaits you. The restaurant always has a romantic atmosphere, and the most exquisite dishes are served. Varied menu with tour. cuisine, as well as European. There are different types of wines. Waiters serve at the highest level.
"Mussakka" - very cozy restaurant. Tables are located inside the building and outside. A particularly beautiful view is from the balcony (places are booked in advance), from where the endless sea is perfectly visible. The cuisine is full of variety. Kebabs with delicious sauces, vegetables, salads, desserts. We especially recommend trying moussaka (eggplant dish). Tasty food, friendly atmosphere, national music - all this can give you the most positive emotions and leave vivid impressions.
In Alania:
"Ottoman house" - surprisingly beautiful atmosphere of the east, a wide variety of dishes, friendly staff. There is a set and customized menu. Often during lunch, a beautiful belly dance is danced here. For those who want to admire the local beauties, there is an opportunity to climb onto the roof, from where you can see the city, mosque, harbor.
In Marmaris:

"Summer Breeze" - one of the best establishments in Marmaris. Very welcoming, friendly restaurant. Here everyone will find something tasty for themselves. Meat, seafood, salads, sauces, hot dishes, desserts - everything is cooked in best traditions country. The restaurant accepts orders for celebrating birthdays, new year and other celebrations. Service is excellent, very attentive. There is Wi-Fi (free of charge) and a pool table. The restaurant bus can also take you to the hotel free of charge.
"Samdan" - on one of the main streets of Marmaris. Very varied menu card: Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Indian cuisine. Turkish consists of many dishes consisting of meat, vegetables, seasoned with sauces, spices. Also - this traditional pastry, sweets and drinks. Prices are quite moderate. Large portions are served, nicely presented. A variety of food, unsurpassed taste, satiety are guaranteed to you, which means good spirits and good mood!

We wish you bon appetit! Afiyet olsun!

Traditional Turkish cuisine is a whole philosophy, which consists not only in the preparation of many dishes, but also in communication. This is a kind of ritual that lasts for hours and includes both a beautiful table setting and a variety of dishes.

Turkish cuisine can be called a mix of the best dishes of the Balkan, Caucasian and traditional Islamic cuisines, but it has its own unique features.

Since Turkey is a Muslim country, pork is not common here; dishes from lamb, fish, beef and poultry are mainly cooked on an open fire. Seasonings are used, but in moderation, compared, for example, with Indian cuisine. Chefs try not to change the main taste of the dish by adding spices.

Characteristic dishes for Turkish cuisine are pilaf, doner, kebab, dolma, berek, gozleme, various cheeses, such as feta cheese, and sweets: baklava, Turkish delight, pishmaniye.

A variety of salads dressed with olive oil, lemon or yogurt are very popular (by the way, in Turkey they are very fond of grated vegetable soups based on yogurt). And, of course, bread. In Turkey, it is not customary to eat "yesterday's" bread, only fresh bread is valued here and dozens of its varieties are baked depending on the region.

The most famous soft drinks Turkey - ayran, yogurt, tea and coffee. If you want to try something stronger, order the popular raki alcoholic drink. It is quite strong (45-50%), so it is usually diluted with water.

Many masterpieces of traditional Turkish cuisine have been known beyond its borders for several centuries. It is interesting that when they talk about such familiar products as tea, coffee, bread, ice cream or sweets, but with the prefix "Turkish", a special oriental flavor is immediately felt.

The national cuisine of Turkey is much richer than the seemingly huge selection of dishes that are offered even in the most expensive status hotels in the country, so you should not judge Turkish dishes by the hotel food system.

Do you want to know what are the features of the feast in Turkish? Choose from our list of national dishes of Turkey the one that attracts you the most and come to Turkey to try it.

TOP 10 Turkish dishes you must try

1. - an analogue of the stuffed cabbage we know, only grape leaves are used instead of cabbage leaves, and minced meat is prepared from lamb.

2. Shekerpare- soft shortbread soaked in sugar syrup, in the middle of which is added almond.

3. Gözleme- a thin flatbread with a variety of fillings: cheese, potato, meat; served only hot.

4. Baklava (baklava)- a dessert made from many layers of the thinnest puff pastry with the addition of walnuts, pistachios or hazelnuts, sprinkled with honey syrup.

5. Salep- a warming drink and an excellent anti-cold remedy with a creamy taste, which includes orchid root and cinnamon.

6. writing- the most delicate dessert, the taste of which resembles cotton candy, but is so unusual that it defies description.

7. Sujuk- hard dried sausage with the addition of red pepper, cardamom, garlic and nutmeg.

8. - a pie made from thinly rolled puff pastry with a variety of fillings (cheese, herbs, minced meat, spinach).

9. Simit- a popular type of Turkish pastry from sweet dough, also known as "Turkish bagel".

10. Syutlach- Oven-cooked milk-rice pudding with a delicate vanilla flavor, served as a dessert in small bowls.

When you arrive in Turkey, forget about fast food chains. National Turkish cuisine is delicious and varied. In the menu of Turkish cuisine you will find a mixture of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Balkan culinary traditions.

Therefore, it is so difficult to narrow down all the variety to a short list of what you should definitely try in Turkey from food. But I still tried to highlight the main and most delicious food, which the Turks cook and eat at home and in restaurants.

Turkish breakfasts

Turkish breakfast food is a bit different from European. Instead of coffee, it is customary to drink tea in the morning. Often, a vegetable plate with chopped tomatoes and/or cucumbers is served for breakfast. Bread is eaten white, but recently the trends healthy food reached Turkey, now you can choose cereal bread from rye or other cereals for breakfast.

Feta-like white cheese old cheese (kaş ar peyniri), olives or black olives ( zeytin), butter, honey, jam, scrambled eggs or boiled eggs ( yumurta) are the main components of a Turkish breakfast.

You can also eat tomorrow sucuklu yumurta and bö rek. Sucuklu yumurta is a dried beef sausage with garlic and spices (red pepper, cumin and sumac). Sujuklu fried in a pan with eggs, it turns out greasy, but very tasty. Bö rek(burek or burek) – it is a thin sheet of dough stuffed with cheese, minced meat and/or vegetables, fried or baked.

minimen/menimen (Menemen) - very tasty Turkish omelet. Fried onions and peppers are stewed with tomatoes, and then poured over with eggs, sprinkled with herbs and ground pepper.

© foodista / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

National Turkish vegetable food

A lot of vegetables are grown in Turkey, which has a noticeable effect on local dishes. If you are a vegetarian, then it is important for you to know that Turkish dishes that do not put meat are called zeytin yağ lı cooked in olive oil. As a rule, these dishes are served cold. Here are the best for you vegetable dishes Turkey:

• Sarma (Yaprak Sarma) - grape leaves, stuffed with rice, onion and spices (mint, currant, pepper and cinnamon).
• Dolma (Dolma) - Stuffed with rice, onions and spices, fresh or dried eggplants, peppers, tomatoes or zucchini.
• Taze Fasulye- beans or chickpeas(chickpeas) stewed with tomatoes or tomato paste and onions.
• Jajik (cacı k) - Refreshing Turkish soup. It is prepared from finely chopped cucumbers, sour cream, garlic and mint. On a hot summer day, it is served with ice cubes.

The Turks are very fond of meat, and therefore all of the above dishes, except for the last soup, can also be found in the meat version.

Turkish meat dishes

• Karnyyaryk (Karnı yarı k) - fried eggplant with minced meat, onion, parsley, garlic and tomato filling. This dish is a must try. To make sure it's of good quality, check out the eggplant. The dark color of the skin should not be transferred to the peeled pulp, and the meat should not be dark and dry.
• Lahmacun (Lahmacun) - Turkish pizza with meat, onions and spices on a thin plate puff pastry. Served with tomatoes and salad. Many people prefer to squeeze lemon juice over the lahmacun, roll it up and eat it like a Mexican taco. Authentic Turkish street food.
• Kuru Fasulier (Kurufasulye) - dry beans. Turks just love beans. This national dish of Turkish cuisine is usually served with slices of dried beef ( pastı rma), rice (sade pilav), pickles and sauerkraut turş u.

© ruocaled / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

The most famous national dishes of Turkish cuisine

• Kebab (Kebap) - this is meat, impaled on a skewer and fried on coals - everyone knows shish kebab. Usually lamb, beef or chicken are fried. Turkey has a huge number of varieties of kebab, I advise you to try the popular Iskander kebab.
• Dener (Dö ner) - shawarma or shawarma. This is meat fried on a spit with lettuce, local herbs and spices.
• Jacket (Kö fte) - cutlets or meatballs various forms and sizes. Minced meat is lamb or lamb with boiled bread, onions and spices. The most popular meatball dish is Izgara Köfte. In it, the meat is grilled along with green peppers, dry red pepper parsley and served with rice or bread.
• Manti (Mantı ) - very tasty Turkish dumplings. Ingredients simple dough, meat (beef or lamb), onion, salt and pepper.

© hewy / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Popular Turkish dishes for garnish

Pilav (Pilav) - in the national Turkish cuisine, there are many options for preparing pilaf. This is not exactly pilaf, although it is based on rice, and these two words are consonant. The most popular pilaf in Turkish cuisine is sade pilav. It's just rice boiled in water. vegetable oil and small şehriye noodles. Usually rice is mixed with eggplant, chickpeas, meat or liver pieces and, of course, spices: cinnamon, pepper, thyme, cumin and even almonds.

Pilav from bulgur (Bulgur Pilavı) - it seems that this Turkish dish is just a bowl of boiled rice, but in fact it is wheat. Most often it is cooked with fried onions, green peppers, tomato paste and mint.

Fried vegetables– fried eggplants, green peppers and zucchini with tomato sauce or sour cream - one of the best dishes. Options Turkish food there are a great variety of fried vegetables, choose any combination to your taste.

Mujver (Mü cver) - zucchini, eggs and flour - that's the whole composition of delicious Turkish potato pancakes. Mujver is cooked with white cheese, green onion and mint, lightly fried in olive oil and served as a side dish.

Meze (meze) - a set of snacks that are often served along with raki or other alcoholic drinks. Restaurants that specialize in serving meze are called meyhane. Most often, the waiter comes to the table and big platter presents all meze options and you can choose according to your taste.

Sweet Turkish Desserts

© shutterferret / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Künefe (Kü nefe) is a traditional Arabic cheese pastry. unsalted cheese placed between two layers of dough from a simple mixture of water and flour. Kunefe is served warm and soaked in syrup. Top dessert sprinkled with pistachios. The feel and taste are very unique. Crispy dough on one side, soft cheese soaked in sweet syrup on the other.

Baklava (Baklava) - another Turkish dessert with a simple set of ingredients (dough, nuts and syrup), but very tasty. The decisive factor is how thin the dough layers are. Walnuts, hazelnuts or pistachios will be in your baklava - depends on the region where you try it.

Street food in Turkey

Street food culture is very common in Turkey. In Istanbul, small stalls with street food are poked around every corner. Most often this National dishes Turkey, which you are already familiar with from this article. I decided once again to make the names separately, so that you know what you can have a cheap snack in the course of your acquaintance with Turkey.

hot food

Kebab and doner(barbecue and shawarma) are the main representatives of Turkish street food.

Borek- flatbread with various fillings: ı spanaklı bö rek(with spinach) peynirli bö rek(with cheese), kı ymalı bö rek(with minced meat) and patatesli bö rek(with potato).

Pide ( pide ) – stuffed boat from the test. Kaş arlı pide(with cheese) and Sukuklu pide(with cheese and hot sauce) – the most popular species pide.

Pizza Lahmacun (Lahmacun)

Mizir (MIsIr )– boiled or grilled corn on the cob. It is salted or sprinkled with spices and sold during the summer months.

chestnuts ( Kestane )– and in winter, instead of corn, stalls with roasted chestnuts appear everywhere.

Balyk ekmek ( Bal ı k ekmek ) - literally translates as "fish in bread", which is what it is. In front of your eyes, the seller fries the fish and puts it in a big bun

© nifortescue / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

cold street food

Simit ( Simit ) - Crispy, round salty bagel covered with sesame seeds. There are 2 main sim options: sokak simit- sold on the streets, very crispy and pastane simit- sold in stores, softer.

Achma ( A ç ma )– a round bun, one might say - a donut. Very tasty but oily.

Pogacha ( Po ğ a ç a ) - Delicious crumbly biscuits. There are options without filling - sadeor with stuffing: peynirli – cheese, kı ymalı - chopped meat, zeytinli- Sliced ​​olives.

Carefully

As you wander the streets of Istanbul or other cities, you will stumble upon these two Turkish dishes more than once. They are very tasty, but they must be bought with care on the streets, bathed in the sun.

• Dolma from mussel (Midye dolma) – stuffed mussels. They are very tasty, I advise you to eat them in restaurants.

Kokorech ( Kokore ç )– grilled sheep giblets (intestines, heart, etc.) with lots of spices. Very popular snack after a stormy night or under alcohol. From the outside, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish where the shawarma is, and where the kokorech is. Fortunately, shawarma is cooked on a vertical spit, and kokorech on a horizontal one.