When you think of the Mediterranean, a lot of the Best Turkish Appetizers come to mind. Just like in Spain, the people who live there are fond of snacks and serve appetizers in earthenware pots to a table full of people.
Many dishes can be served as a side dish, or even as a main course! They are packed with fresh ingredients and burst with flavor.
So whether you’re looking for a light salad, homemade flatbread, or cheesecake, you’ll find something worth trying in this list of 12 Turkish dishes.
Here Is A List Of The Best Turkish Appetizers:
1. Turkish Eggplant Salad Recipe
I know a lot of people with eggplant splits and I think it has a lot to do with texture. Like mushrooms, they can become mushy when undercooked.
The taste is undeniably sweet, but due to its spongy texture, the eggplant will soak up the flavor like a sponge!
When roasted, the eggplant becomes rich and rich, while the tomatoes, parsley, and pistachio topping add wonderful color to this flavorful vegetable.
2. Turkish-Style Mashed Beans
The beans have a wonderfully unique flavor, with hints of nuts, sweetness, and even cheese. This appetizer is very popular in Turkey and can be made either as a solid or as a dip.
When it stays firm, it can be served as a snack or sliced and served with crackers as a cheese substitute.
If you want to use it for soaking, try adding lemon juice and adding oil. It’s a great alternative to hummus.
3. Turkish Flatbread With Greek Yogurt (Bazlama)
If you want to try homemade flatbread but don’t have a blender, this recipe is for you! This soft and fluffy flatbread recipe can be made in a bowl without much kneading and just needs to stand for 15 minutes.
It incorporates Greek yogurt into the dough, which adds moisture and a sour taste. Make them as big or small as you like and serve them with dinner.
4. Turkey Beans
These are not the sweet BBQ beans you may be used to. Mediterranean spice makes it a great side dish to any meal. Cranberry beans have a milder flavor than pinto beans and are available in Turkey. You can buy them dry or canned, but you can go for pinto if that’s all you have.
5. The Best Recipe Of Sautéed Eggplant With Tomato
Between succulent grilled tomatoes and crispy garlic slices, I could have this as my main meal any day. The key to getting the perfect eggplant texture is to salt your slices and let them “sweat” for about 45 minutes. This will remove any excess moisture and make them perfect for frying.
Be careful with the peel, as some eggplants have thicker skins and you may need to peel them before slicing and cooking.
6. Turkish Bread (Pide)
I fell in love with these pizza-like bread boats years ago. It’s a combination of stuffed bread and savory cake, and I want to make this more often. Again, this can be done by hand and will require minimal kneading to form a smooth dough.
After resting and dividing it into sections, you will need to laminate the oval. Fill in the middle with the desired fill. Highly recommend the feta and mozzarella mix. Then pin the ends together to create a canoe shape.
7. Turkish Vegetarian Meatballs 20 Minutes
There’s no reason vegetarians should miss out on a plate full of “meat-rich” meatballs and spicy sauces. I love finding vegan alternatives, and this one was great. Between red lentils and Bulgarian wheat, you’ll have a super hearty meatball. Our only suggestion is to fry them after you have shaped the meatballs to create a nice outer crust. It is known as one of the Best Turkish Appetizers.
8. Grilled Red Chili Sauce (Muhammara recipe)
Lightly sweet, slightly smoky, and as spicy as you want, this dip is on another level from the boring old hummus. One important thing to note is that this recipe uses roasted nuts to create a creamy texture. You can substitute cashews or use chickpeas if you don’t want nuts. If you can’t find pomegranate molasses in the store, you can easily make your own.
9. Spicy Turkish Ezme Salad
This recipe is almost like a Turkish chimichurri. It uses tomatoes, onions, garlic, and parsley and will enhance everything from kebabs to burgers to chicken. One of the essential ingredients is pomegranate molasses. As mentioned above, it is very easy to create your own color and you cannot replace the vibrant color it gives. As tempting as it is to toss everything in a food blender, this dish needs a little love. It’s best to cut everything by hand to avoid excess moisture.
10. Turkey-Style Cucumber Tomato Salad
It’s sharp and beautiful and will brighten up any table. And then there’s the taste! Succulent tomatoes, crispy onions, peppers, and perfectly cooked cucumbers are mixed with a simple sauce to keep the dish fresh and light.
11. Turkish Fried Zucchini (Kabak Mücveri)
There is nothing better than a crispy fried vegetable dish. They can be served as a simple snack or as an accompaniment to the perfect roast chicken.
These are more special because they have dill and feta cheese in the mix. Be sure to grate and salt your zucchini, so they have time to remove any excess moisture that will prevent crisps in the pan. It is one of the Best Turkish Appetizers.
12. Sigara Borek Turkish Recipe
I can only describe them as traditional Turkish dishes! Warm, crunchy, and full of melted cheese, they’re a step up from soggy mozzarella sticks.
You don’t want anything too watery, like cream cheese. Add whatever you think will work too. I love the extra onion and even leftover chicken.
Using phyllo will ensure a crispy crust and you can have a batch on your plate in as little as 30 minutes.
