Turkey: Recipes and Cuisine

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey
Image by blucolt

Turkey lies at an ancient crossroads of many cultures and empires — Persian, Greek, Roman, Arab, British. The Anatolian peninsula was the center of its own Ottoman Empire for the best part of 600 years. All these influences come together in Turkish cuisine, which is both Mediterranean and Central Asian in nature.

Numerous small dishes and salads, called mezes, are eaten individually as snacks or in numbers as a nutritious meal. Grilled meats and fish lend their smoky flavors to the Turkish table. Olive oil is used lavishly. Yogurt is put to work as a condiment, in sauces, and even as a base for soups. Strong Turkish coffee goes well with honey-sweetened pastries.

Typical Turkish Dishes

A list of typical Turkish dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan a Turkish-style meal, party or festival.

Mezeler (Appetizers)

  • Baba Ghanoush (Eggplant dip)
  • Hummus bi Tahini (Chickpea and sesame dip)
  • Sigara Böreği (Cheese-filled pastry cigarettes)
  • Zeytinyagli Yaprak Dolmasi (Stuffed grape leaves

Çorbalar (Soups and Stews)

  • Ezo Gelin (Red lentil and bulgur soup)
  • Tarhana Corbasi (Sour tarhana soup)
  • Yayla Corbasi (Yogurt soup)

Salatalar (Salads)

  • Adas Salatasi (Lentil salad)
  • Cacik (Yogurt-cucumber salad)
  • Ezme Salatasi (Tomato-cucumber salad)
  • Patates Salatası (Potato salad)
  • Patlican Salatasi (Eggplant dip)

Makarna ve Budalalar (Pasta, Noodles and Dumplings)

  • Manti (Stuffed pasta in yogurt sauce)

Yumurtalar ve Süt (Eggs and Dairy)

  • Yoğurt (Yogurt)

Kumes Hayvanlari (Poultry)

  • Çerkez Tavugu (Circassian chicken with walnut sauce)

Etler (Meats)

  • Arnavut Ciğeri (Lamb’s liver with red peppers)
  • Döner Kebab (Spiced meat sandwich)
  • Kadinbudu (Lady meatballs)
  • Kofta (Spiced meatballs)
  • Şiş Kebabi (Grilled, skewered lamb)

Balik (Fish and Seafood)

  • Kiliç Şiş (Grilled, skewered swordfish)
  • Midye Dolmasi (Mussels stuffed with rice and pinenuts)
  • Uskumru Dolmasi (Baked stuffed mackerel)

Sebzeler (Vegetables and Beans)

  • Fasulye Piyazi (White bean salad)
  • Imam Bayildi (Stuffed eggplant braised in olive oil)
  • Zeytinyağli Domates Dolmasi (Tomatoes stuffed with rice)
  • Zeytinyağli Pirasa (Braised leeks and rice)
  • Zeytinyağli Taze Fasülye (Green beans in tomato sauce)

Ekmekler ve Hububatlar (Breads and Grains)

  • Lahmacun (Flatbread topped with ground meat)
  • Pide (Middle Eastern pocket bread)
  • Pilav (Rice pilaf)

Soslar (Sauces and Condiments)

  • Muhammara (Middle Eastern spicy roasted pepper dip)
  • Nar Ekşisi (Pomegranate molasses)

Turşuyap ve Recel (Pickles and Preserves)

  • Incir Receli (Fig jam)

Tatlılar (Desserts)

  • Kadin Göbeği (Fritters in syrup)
  • Keçkul (Almond custard)

Turkish Recipes

Try these recipes from Turkey.

Zaatar 
(Middle Eastern spice blend)

Patlican Salatası 
(Turkish eggplant salad)

Muhammara 
(Middle Eastern spicy roasted pepper dip)

Pide 
(Mediterranean pocket bread)

Çerkez Tavugu 
(Turkish Circassian chicken with walnut sauce)

Cacık 
(Turkish yogurt-cucumber salad)

Zeytinyağlı Taze Fasülye 
(Turkish green beans and tomatoes)

Mercimek Çorbasi 
(Turkish red lentil and bulgur stew)

Yoğurt 
(Turkish cultured milk)

Mücver 
(Turkish zucchini fritters)

Sigara Boregi 
(Turkish cheese-filled filo appetizers)

Ezme Salatası 
(Turkish tomato and cucumber salad)

Imam Bayildi 
(Turkish stuffed eggplant braised in olive oil)

Döner Kebab 
(German, Turkish spiced meat sandwich)

İncir Reçeli 
(Turkish green fig preserves)

Kadinbudu Köfte 
(Turkish “lady thigh” meatballs)

Köfte 
(Turkish grilled meatball skewers)

Baklava 
(Eastern Mediterranean nut and phyllo sweet pastry)

Nar Ekşisi 
(Turkish pomegranate molasses)

Adas Salatası 
(Turkish lentil salad)

Patates Salatası 
(Turkish potato salad)



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