Turkish cuisine is rich and diverse in dishes and has developed through many influences throughout history. From the nomadic tribes of the steppes of Central Asia to the refined tastes of the Ottoman Sultans, Turkish cuisine includes a wide range of flavors and dishes that reflect its vibrant history and culture. Turkish cuisine is characterized by the extensive use of meat, grains, vegetables, and dairy products, with many regional variations.
In Turkiye, food is seen as an integral part of culture and hospitality. Food preparation and consumption is an integral part of Turkish society, whether it is simply sharing a meal with family or elaborate culinary rituals associated with religious occasions and special occasions. From bustling food markets to traditional tea houses, and from street vendors to fine dining establishments, food plays an important role in Turkish society.
What are the common food items in Turkiye?
The most common and consumed nutrients in Turkish meals include:
- Mostly lamb and chicken
- Fish especially in coastal areas and cities
- Vegetables, with a special focus on eggplant, sweet peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and spinach
- Legumes such as lentils and chickpeas
- Cheese and yogurt are an integral part of many traditional dishes
- Bread and pastries
What are the traditional dishes in Turkiye?
Some of the most popular dishes in Turkish cuisine include:
- Doner: or shawarma, which is meat cut into thin slices, usually lamb, cooked on a vertical grill and often served on warm bread with vegetables and sauces or alongside rice.
- Baklava: A sweet pastry made up of layers of thin dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey.
- Manti: It is dough cut into small cubes and stuffed with a mixture of spiced meat, boiled, and served with yogurt and spices.
- Simit: Round bread topped with sesame seeds. It is often eaten as breakfast or as a snack.
What are the famous books about Turkish cuisine?
Here are some of the most popular books about Turkish cuisine:
- Classic Turkish Cooking by Ghillie Basan
- The Turkish Cookbook by Musa Dagdiveren
- Istanbul and Beyond by Robin Eckhart
- Sultan's Kitchen by Ozkan Ozan
- Tree of Life: Turkish Home Cooking by Joy E. Stocke
What are the most famous Turkish dishes?
Here is a list of the most famous Turkish dishes:
- Kebab: There are different types of kebab, such as Adana kebab and Urfa kebab, but all of them include grilled meat on skewers.
- Pide: Often described as Turkish pizza, Pide is a boat-shaped flatbread served with a variety of toppings such as meat or vegetables.
- Mezze: A selection of small dishes served before the main meal or as an appetizer.
- Dolma: Vegetable or grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice, spices, and sometimes meat.
What are the most consumed meals in Turkiye?
The most consumed meals in Turkiye tend to be:
- Kebab and Doner (Shawarma).
- Olive oil dishes "zeytinyağlı" including dolma.
- Pilav (made with rice or bulgur).
- Soups, such as “lentil soup” and “yayla soup” (yogurt soup).
- Borek: A type of pastry stuffed with cheese, minced meat, or vegetables.
- Lahmacun: A thin, round piece of dough topped with minced meat (mostly beef or lamb), vegetables, herbs, and spices and then baked in the oven.
- Breakfast dishes such as menemen (Turkish-style scrambled eggs with tomatoes and peppers), eggs with Turkish sausage, cheeses, jams, and honey.
What is cooked in Turkish cuisine on special occasions?
Special occasions in Turkiye are often marked by certain dishes. For example:
- On Eid (Bayram): After Ramadan, it is customary to prepare sweet dishes such as baklava and Turkish sweets.
- Weddings: Pilav and meat dishes are often served, followed by a sweet dessert.
- Circumcision ceremony: A special dish made of minced meat, wheat, beans with meat, or various types of dolma (stuffed) is often served.
How has Turkish cuisine been influenced over the years?
Turkish cuisine is greatly influenced by its rich history. The diversity of dishes is a testament to the influences of different empires, including the Seljuks and the Ottomans, and the culinary traditions of many regions, from the Mediterranean to Central Asia, the Balkans, and the Middle East.
Turkish dishes and their recipes
Below is a list of Turkish dishes with recipes:
Doner (Shawarma)
Doner is a traditional Turkish dish usually made with lamb, but can also be made with beef or chicken. The meat is marinated in a mixture of spices, placed on skewers on a large grill, and slowly roasted. The cooked meat is cut into thin slices and served on hot bread with fresh vegetables and sauce.
Baklava
Baklava is a sweet pastry made of several layers of thin dough, filled with chopped nuts (often walnuts or pistachios), and sweetened with syrup or honey. The dough is baked until golden and crisp, then soaked in a sweet syrup to give it its distinctive texture and sweetness.
Simit
Simit is a circular bread roll topped with sesame seeds and is one of the most common pastries in Turkiye. Roll the dough into a thin rope, roll it into a circular shape, dip it in molasses water, cover it with sesame seeds, and then bake it.
Mantı
Manti is a Turkish dough usually filled with a spiced meat mixture. Roll the dough into thin slices, cut into small squares, fill with the meat mixture, then fold and close. It is boiled and served with yogurt and spices. The dish is often garnished with melted butter and sweet or hot pepper.
