Çerkez Tavuğu
Hailing from the Circassian region, this dish is creamy but light, made of shredded chicken and walnuts.
|
Hünkar Beğendi
Translated loosely as “Sultan’s Delight”, this dish consists of lamb stewed in a flavorful tomato sauce and served on bed of creamy eggplant purée.
|
Karnıyarık
In this Anatolian dish, eggplant is stuffed with a mixture of minced meat, tomato, onion and spices, then oven-baked
|
Lakerda
Lakerda is pickled bonito fish served with a side of raw red onion and lemon, and is melt in your mouth.
|
Etli Yaprak Sarma
In this Turkish classic, vine leaves are stuffed with minced meat and herbs, covered with yogurt and served hot.
|
Yaprak Sarma
Unlike the hot version that contains meat, this dish is vegetarian. Vine leaves are stuffed with a tangy mixture of rice and sour cherries to delicious effect.
|
Börek
An Anatolian classic, börek is a pastry in which layers of flaky filo dough are filled with cheese, meat or spinach.
|
Izgara Balık (Grilled Fish)
For the most flavorful and fresh fish, go with what’ s in season.
|
Kebap
Kebap is one of the most important values of Turkish food culture. From the preparation of its meat to the spices added, from its sauce to the way it is cooked, kebab has a wide range of flavor alternatives.
|
İskender Kebap
Named after Alexander the Great, this dish is made of thin cuts of roasted lamb spread over buttery pita bread which is then topped with a savory tomato sauce, a drizzle of butter and a dollop of yogurt.
Best enjoyed at Hacıbey Kebapçısı. Location: Teşvikiye. www.hacibeykebapcisi.com |
Köfte
Köfte are small, grilled meatballs seasoned with spices and onions and bursting with flavor.
|
Mantı
Sometimes called Turkish ravioli, mantı are tiny dumplings stuffed with meat, slathered with a garlic yogurt sauce and dusted with dried mint and red pepper. Whether boiled, steamed or fried, they are always delicious.
|
Zeytinyağlılar (Olive Oil Dishes)
The Mediterranean region’ s greatest contribution to Turkish cuisine has been olive oil based hors d’oeuvres and cold vegetable dishes. Several cold dishes cooked with the finest Turkish olive oils are served as main dishes.
|
Turşu (Pickles)
Another popular accompaniment to Turkish cuisine is pickles. At some restaurants pickles are served prior to the main course. Often, pickles are displayed in colorful, decorative jars, particularly in windows of many specialty pickle shops. These shops also offer a wide variety of pickle juices
|
Simit – Peynir – Çay
(Bagel – Cheese – Tea)
Those who have never tasted simit before can
think it is only dough covered with sesame. However, simit is one of the indispensable flavors of Turkish culture.Believe that a crispy, hot simit with some kaşar cheese or white cheese according to your taste accompanied by a well-steeped hot tea will be more delicious than lots of other meals. This trio is a perfect snack for breakfast in the morning, for five o’clock tea in the evening or when you feel hungry. |
Türk Kahvesi (Turkish Coffee)
When you want to have a coffee, a question follows this order. Plain black coffee, coffee with a little sugar or coffee with sugar? Your coffee is served with the exact taste according to your answer. It is served in its special cup with a glass of water; and in some places with Turkish delight and liquor. There are lots of kinds of coffee but what makes Turkish coffee different is the way it is prepared and presented. It is the only kind served with its grounds. If you are in İstanbul now, choose a seat with view, lean back and take a sip of your foamy coffee. If you think the ceremony is over with last sip of your coffee, you are wrong. Turn your cup upside down, wait until it gets cool and if you have someone who can tell your fortune with you let him/her say what will happen in the near future. You can pick up the best Turkish coffee at Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi.
www.mehmetefendi.com |
Ayran
A frothy blend of yogurt , salt and water that is mostly served with grilled meat dishes.
|
Boza
Traditionally served on chilly winter evenings, boza is a creamy, slightly sweet yet acidic drink made from fermented wheat. It is best enjoyed at Vefa Bozacısı.
www.vefa.com.tr |
Rakı
Find a seat for yourself at a waterside place towards the sun set and be sure it is as close to the sea as it can be to make you hear the waves hitting the shore. First order your side dishes and icy rakı with a salad which is especially rich in rockets. If you have a friend with you to hit your glasses with and say "Şerefe!", nothing can be compared to this unique moment. While enjoying your rakı, do not forget to order your fish which should be selected according to the season.
|
Şarap (Wine)
Home to hundreds of indigenous varieties of Vitis vinifera (the European grapevine), Türkiye played a pivotal role in the early history of wine and has been one of the earliest wine producing regions of the world. Turkish wines, produced with the grapes of vineyards all over Anatolia, from the coastal plains of Aegean and the Mediterranean to the high plateaus of Eastern Anatolia, have always maintained their place at the Turkish dining table. Red, white, rose and fruit wines, as well as traditional homemade wines from villages, have won many awards at international competitions. Some of the native Turkish varieties include the Yapıncak and Papazkarası grown in Thrace; the Sultaniye of the Aegean coast; Öküzgözü and Boğazkere of Eastern Anatolia and Çalkarası of Denizli Province in Western Anatolia.
|
Çay (Black Tea)
Turkish tea from the Black Sea region is by far the most popular drink in the country and is best enjoyed at Bebek Kahve with simit. Bebek Kahve: near Bebek Mosque
|
Salep
A sweet and comforting Turkish classic, salep is a rice pudding-flavored drink that is served hot. It is produced from the ground root of wild orchid of the same name, mixed with milk and cinnamon.
|
Şerbet
A sweet, cold, fruit-flavored drink, şerbet comes in a variety of unique flavors, such as pomegranate and tamarind, and is best enjoyed at Asitane.
www.asitanerestaurant.com |
|
Turkish Delight (Lokum)
Turkish Delight (Lokum) which is a worldwide famous flavor, is a part of Turkish hospitality, offered to guests visiting our houses to make the conversation sweeter. Main ingredients are starch and sugar. Delight has lots of alternatives with nut, peanut, walnut, cream, rose, fruit and gum. It is also possible to find Turkish delight with mint, vanilla and ginger. Best locations to buy Turkish Delight are:
Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir This historic shop has been run by the same family since 1777 and is one the best places to try Turkish Delights in a range of flavors. www.hacibekir.com.tr Cafer Erol has been producing all kinds of Turkish candy for more than 200 years. The display of hard candies and marzipan fruit is so mouthwatering, you’ ll have a hard time deciding what to buy. www.sekercicafererol.com Divan Pastanesi is well-known for their excellent Turkish Delights, with the roasted pistachio and Turkish coffee flavors, highly recommended. We’ d recommend you to buy the chocolate covered ones. www.divanpastaneleri.com.tr Selamlıque offers luxurious and unusual flavors of Turkish Delights, such as their authentic almond Turkish Delight covered in rose-flavored white chocolate and sprinkled with gold dust. www.selamlique.com |
Baklava
The most famous of Turkish desserts, baklava is made of thin layers of flaky pastry layered with nuts and soaked in syrup. The best place to enjoy this Turkish delights is at Güllüoğlu Baklavacısı, where many of the dozens of baklava varieties are served. The company, which sells approximately 2 tons of baklava, has no other store than the one in Karaköy, which is located on the first floor of the multi-storey car park.
www.gulluoglu.com |
Badem Ezmesi (Marzipan)
Badem Ezmesi /Marzipan (a kind of almond paste) is one of the delightful confections made famous by the Ottoman Palace.
Bebek Badem Ezmecisi is the best place in İstanbul to buy marzipan. Cemilzade is another very well-known purveyor of Turkish Delight, marzipan and candy. www.cemilzade.com.tr |
Aşure
Aşure is a traditional Turkish pudding made with a blend of grains, legumes and dried fruits. It is best enjoyed at Hünkar Lokantası.
www.hunkar1950.com |
Chestnut Candy
Chestnut Candy is one the delicious specialities of Bursa. Kafkas Bursa, which has many locations throughout the city, is the original producer of this candy that is made of chesnuts from Uludağ.
www.kafkas.com |
Keşkül
An almod-based milk pudding, keşkül is usually sprinkled with coconut shaving or crushed pistachio.
|
Limonlu Helva
This dense, sweet dessert is made from sesame helva that is oven-melted and topped with lemon juice. It is best enjoyed at Balıkçı Sabahattin.
www.balikcisabahattin.com |
Vişneli Ekmek Tatlısıt
Vişneli Ekmek Tatlısı is a bread pudding dessert that is soaked in sour cherry syrup and covered with Turkish clotted cream.
|
|