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1. Turkish coffee
From the Bosphorus Strait to the borders of Iran, Iraq and Syria, and the Black Sea to the Mediterranean – Turkey is rich with the aroma of coffee at any time of the day or night!. And not just any coffee, but a delicious drink that is brewed according to a specific ritual in a special ibrik pot heated in hot sand. Türk kahvesi is black, thick, bittersweet and extremely aromatic. Since the 16th century, it has been an inseparable element of Turkish culture, which is why it was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. After drinking this black ambrosia from a decorative cup, you can, just like the Turks, try to read your fortune in the grounds.
2. Lokum – rose jelly
Rose oil in Turkey is not only used in cosmetics, but also in the kitchen. Turkey’s famous jelly is made of sugar, wheat or corn starch then flavoured with rose petal oil for a sticky, chewy and very sweet treat. Most often it is served with çay, which is. Turkish tea or coffee from a pot. Turkish Delight originated in Istanbul in the 18th century and is now popular throughout Turkey, with hundreds of varieties, for example with the addition of pistachios, nuts or coconut flakes.
3. Lahmacun – Turkish pizza
Known as Turkish pizza, lahmacun is an ideal dish – filling, tasty, cheap and easily available on almost every Turkish street. This thin pie with a well-seasoned lamb filling is most often available as urfa – where the meat is seasoned with garlic – or gaziantep, where onion is the preferred addition. Its amazing texture, with a crispy dough and soft filling, is due to lahmacun being baked in a stone oven. Don’t forget to sprinkle the whole thing with lemon juice and a bite of fresh coriander.
4. Osmanlı Macunu – colourful, sweet lollipops
The Turks really love sweets, and one of Turkey’s favourite snacks is the extraordinary popular Osmanlı Macunu. These candies have a history dating back to the Ottoman Empire andare made and served by street vendors. The seller puts hot, colourful and very sweet sugar mixture onto sticks, creating unique compositions. Traditionally, this delicacy was made from natural ingredients, including ginger, cloves, hibiscus, lemon, orange and mint, but nowadays you can also find strawberries, bananas and kiwi.
5. Iskender kebap
Kebab is the national dish of Turkey and has been available in one form or another for over a thousand years. The delicious iskender kebap consists of thin slices of roasted meat, placed on a thin pide dough and topped with natural yoghurt,. It is then covered in a tomato sauce and melted butter before being accompanied by roasted vegetable side dishes. This dish comes from Bursa and was invented by Iskender Efendi. Today, due to its can find this dish all over Turkey.
6. Kokoreç – meat snack
In every country’s cuisine, you will find a particular dish that arouses extreme emotions among gourmets. In Turkey, this dish is adana, also known as Kokoreç. It is a kind of street food made of lamb intestines stuffed with offal. These are heavily seasoned, grilled, chopped into pieces and placed in a roll or on a plate. his dish is most often served either with an olive oil, lemon juice and oregano marinade, or as a spicy version with tomatoes, green and red peppers.
7. Adana kebap
There can only be one king. The adana kebap has been the ultimate Turkish kebab for many years. The dish was invented in Adana, Turkey’s most most fertile Black Sea region, and it delights the tastebuds with the juiciness of minced lamb roasted on şiş skewers. The kebab is seasoned with special spices, onions and garlic for an even more mouthwatering taste. The meat is served on a thin crust with the addition of grilled vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers and you will always find a garnish of fresh parsley and sumac on top. Best enjoyed with a refreshing salty yoghurt drink.
8. Simit – bagel with sesame
No Turkish breakfast can be complete without this soft and crunchy bagel sprinkled with sesame seeds. It can be dipped in honey, kaymak or menemen tomato scrambled eggs. The history of these wheat pastries dates back to the Ottoman Empire, when they were served to rulers for breakfast and during Ramadan. Today, you can buy them from street vendors, known as simitçi, or in special bakeries. Increasingly you’ll find tomato or cheese simit available, especially in the larger cities.
9. Mantı – dumplings in garlic sauce
Like Polish pierogi in or Italian tortellini and ravioli, Turkish Mantı dumplings are a must-try. These tiny parcels are full of flavour and are usually served with a garlic yoghurt sauce. Although they are traditionally filled with minced lamb or beef, you can also find vegetarian versions stuffed with potatoes or pumpkin. Before serving, they are sprinkled with dried mint leaves, chilies and sumac, and melted butter is poured over them to further enrich the flavour. This dish is popular throughout Asia Minor, because it originates from the traditional dishes of Turkish and Mongol nomadic tribes.
10. Baklava
Sweet, sticky and utterly delightful,baklava is the queen of Turkish cuisine. It is prepared from yufka, honey or şöbiyet sugar-butter syrup, as well as pistachios, nuts and almonds. Its modern homeland is Gaziantep a famous pistachio-growing region, but these sweets were first created for the sultan in Istanbul’s Tokapi Palace. You can buy baklava in pastry shops, where counters are filled with dozens of varieties. Enjoy with Turkish coffee or tea – the bitterness pairs perfectly with their sweetness.