What are the most popular culinary specialties in Turkey?
Turkish must-try specialties include kebabs (döner, şiş, Adana), meze (hummus, baba ganoush, cacık), pide, köfte, çorba soups, and for dessert baklava and simit. Black tea and Turkish coffee traditionally accompany meals.
Iconic dishes
- Kebabs: döner (rotating grilled meat), şiş kebab (skewers), spicy Adana kebab
- Pide: Turkish pizza topped with ground meat, cheese or vegetables
- Köfte: spiced meatballs, served grilled or in sauce
- Çorba soups: notably red lentil çorba, a comforting dish
Appetizers and side dishes (meze)
The tradition of meze offers a variety of shared appetizers: hummus (chickpea puree), baba ganoush (eggplant caviar), cacık (yogurt with garlic and cucumber), and dolmas (grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs).
Desserts and traditional drinks
The baklava, a flaky pastry with nuts and honey, remains the flagship dessert. The simit, a circular bread with sesame seeds, is enjoyed at any time. Meals are accompanied by black tea served in small glasses or Turkish coffee, an ancestral preparation inscribed on UNESCO's cultural heritage.
Key takeaways
This culinary diversity reflects Ottoman heritage and Mediterranean influences, offering a palette of flavors between spices, freshness and indulgence.