Warning: Do not travel to Turkey on a diet! If you’re trying to cut back on carbs or get a glamorous beach body in Turkey, you might want to forget about it. You may mean to say no, but for the most part; It is hard to ignore the attractive best foods in Turkey. Turkish cuisine is primarily a continuation of Ottoman cuisine, thus using many elements and influences from other parts of the world such as Central Asian, Balkan, and Caucasian cuisine. Not only are there mountains of Turkish delicacies and juicy grilled meats, but there are so many other delicacies that you must try!
Here Are The 11 Best Foods In Turkey:
1. Manti (Turkish Dumplings)
It takes time to make these adorable little lamb and beef stuffed dumplings, but the speed with which most Turkish women can make them is impressive! Topped with yogurt and spiced sauce, this dish is quite unique and delicious.
2. Meze
Can’t decide what to have? With a wide range of dishes to pair with bread, Meze is the perfect way to try things out a little bit. Usually has beans, salads, spreads, seafood like fried squid, stuffed mussels, and cheese. Usually, meze is served at the start of a meal along with soft drinks, wine, or Turkish raki, where you can relax, eat and socialize.
3. Kumpir
For the ultimate carb boost, a Turkish Baked Potato is like no other. The soft interior is whipped with butter and cheese, then you can add toppings – meat, vegetables, sauces, and more cheese up to you. This delicious dish is a very popular street food and can be found all over Turkey. Kumpir is so good, it’s like a feast in a baked potato. Medium mouth?
4. Menemen
Like scrambled eggs or a version of shakshuka, menemen is a breakfast dish consisting of seasoned eggs cooked with oil, tomatoes, peppers, and spices. It is usually served on metal plates to be cooked and served with bread (of course). While you’ll find that Turkey has many dietary contrasts due to the size of the country, you’ll be surprised to find that menemen is a pretty standard breakfast across the country.
5. Lahmacun
Who likes pizza? We do! Lahmacun is basically a Turkish pizza with a thin crispy crust and topped with a delicious fresh sauce made of tomatoes, peppers, delicious minced meat, and herbs. Although it looks like pizza, it lacks an essential ingredient of pizza: cheese! Because the dough is super thin, this delicious treat can be rolled up, like a burrito, perfect for those days when you’re on the go.
6. Baklava
Oh, glorious baklava! While many of you probably know what baklava is, have you tried it in Turkey? This rich, sweet dessert is made with layers of filo filled with chopped nuts like walnuts, which are then sweetened and basically combined with syrup or honey. This dessert is a sweet tooth’s dream and because of its sweetness, a little is enough.
7. Iskender Barbecue
İskender kebap or Alexander kebab is one of the most famous meat dishes in northwestern Turkey and is known as the “King of Turkish barbecues”. Alexander kebab is like doner kebab in that it is made from thinly sliced grilled lamb spread in hot tomato sauce on pieces of pita bread, then drizzled with melted lamb butter and yogurt. This delicious barbecue is a specialty of the Bursa region and can now be found all over Turkey. Simply Iskander Barbecue is one of the best foods in Turkey.
8. Balik Ekmek
Does anyone have fresh fish bread? This mouthwatering street food is very popular in Turkey, especially in areas near the sea. Fish fillets are usually grilled but can also be fried, typically fatty fish such as mackerel, served with some vegetables, on Turkish bread.
9. Gözleme
For the love of gözleme! This traditional savory is a basic pastry with various ingredients such as cheese, vegetables, or minced meat, then wrapped and baked on the grill. You can see this snack being cooked in street vendors and not long ago it was labeled ‘country food’. Today, you’ll find gözleme cooked everywhere and eaten for breakfast or as a snack in a fast food restaurant. Gözleme is among the best foods in Turkey.
10. Imam Bayildi
Who is a fan of eggplant? Turkey has many eggplant dishes, but the most prominent is imam bayildi. A dish from Ottoman cuisine, it consists of an eggplant stuffed with onions, tomatoes, and garlic, simmered in olive oil. It is a perfect snack, as part of a meze table, or as an accompaniment to a hearty dinner. This dish is so delicious that there is no reason not to eat 5 servings of vegetables a day!
11. Turkish Joy
Delicious Turkish food! And believe us, trying the traditional sweetness in Turkey is really a pleasure. If you haven’t been to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, it’s a good start to seeing the variety available. Turkish delights can include chopped dates, pistachios, and walnuts, flavored with rose water, lemon, mastic, or orange, sprinkled with powdered sugar.
