Typical Turkish food

 

Typical Turkish food: food of heaven

When it comes to typical Turkish food, it should be noted that this country has provided the world with one of the most popular fast-food preparations: the döner kebap (or kebab). It is rare to find someone who has not tried this dish and restaurants are specializing in this traditional recipe in the most unexpected places on the planet.

But, with kebap being popular and well known, typical Turkish food goes much further. It can be said that Turkey can boast of having one of the most varied, rich, and delicious cuisines on the planet.

The reason is in the long history of this country, in the influences received from the most diverse civilizations, and in its geographical location. A true bridge between Europe (especially through the Mediterranean), the Far East (as a fundamental crossing point between Asia and the West), and most of the Islamic countries.

Baklava: much more than a sweet

Among the most representative dishes of typical Turkish food, the baklava stands out. Sweets that are not exclusive to Turkey, since they can also be tasted in practically the entire Maghreb and which, of course, are irresistible for those with a sweet tooth.

They come in different shapes, sizes and geometries, but always with the same base: a filo dough, crunchy and flaky, filled with dried fruits (especially pistachios, walnuts and almonds) and bathed in (a lot) of honey.

Baklava

The international döner kebap

As we have already mentioned, of all the typical Turkish food, the döner kebap is undoubtedly the best known and most widespread preparation. The translation of its name is meat that turns on the grill. And that is in essence this dish.

A meat preparation (usually lamb or chicken), which is cooked over a fire, cut into thin slices, and served inside pita bread, accompanied by vegetables or lettuce and tomato and yogurt-based sauces.

doner kebap

Lahmacun

In many eating places within the united states of america, they sell lahmacun (or Lehman) as "Turkish pizza. " And, in essence, this dish of normal Turkish meals is pretty much like that Italian recipe, although with extremely good differences.

The first is that it does not have mozzarella or cheese. The second is that the minced meat that crowns the dough is cooked with onion, parsley, bell pepper, and all kinds of spices. Be that as it may, it is a succulent and very decisive dish, especially if you are in a hurry at lunchtime.

Lahmacun

Filling

The translation of the word dolma refers to something that is stuffed. In Turkey (and other countries of the Islamic world, in addition to Greece) this dish is always associated with grape leaves stuffed with cooked rice and sometimes pieces of meat, seasoned with lemon.

As a representative part of typical Turkish food, they make an irresistible appetizer.

Filling

Meze

The meze comes to be the typical Turkish snacks food: dishes of salads different, pickles, roasted vegetables (such as eggplants or peppers) seasoned with delicious sauces, as well as skewers of chicken and lamb and nuts.

Meze

Pastry

With this name, a type of pie or cake is known that is made with dough, filo type, which is filled with Turkish white cheese or feta, minced meat (or vegetables), and some vegetables. It is also known as bores or bureau. It is usually taken with Turkish tea. The spinach one is delicious, so make sure you try it.

Pastry

Menemen

The menemen is the interpretation of the typical scrambled eggs that are taken for breakfast in many parts of the world. In this case, the eggs are accompanied by pieces of vegetables: tomato, onion, pepper ...

Menemen

Rice

To speak of pilav is to make it the companion by definition of any Turkish meal. But there is not just one way to prepare it, but many. Because, in essence, what in Turkey is known as pilav are different rice recipes.

Many of them have a very clear oriental influence (pilav is the typical rice of India ), seasoned with spices and vegetables. And each uses a different variety.

Rice

Manti

The manti (or mantu) is one of the Turkish food dishes of the clearest oriental origin. Turkey shares it with many other Central Asian countries, such as Armenia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

It is a pasta filled with lamb meat, bathed in a rich yogurt sauce seasoned with onion and various spices.

Manti

Meatball

The köfte (or kofta) are meatballs, usually of beef or lamb, with onion and, of course, seasoned with fragrant spices. They are usually cooked over a wood fire and are delicious.

Meatball

Lentil Meatballs

As part of typical Turkish food, mercimek köftesi are the equivalent of our croquettes. Of course, of a vegetable type, since the base is a dough of lentil flour and, sometimes, also of wheat.

They are usually dipped in sauces such as muhammara, made with peppers and nuts and which are quite spicy.

Lentil Meatballs

'Pide', a snack for quick consumption

If you have already been to Turkey, surely when you read 'ask' you have thought about that flatbread, similar to pita, that they make there and that it is so good. Well, you should know that, apart from that bread, the ' asks' is also a meal and that depending on where you try it it will be different since there are variants in different parts of the Turkish geography. To give you an idea, the 'asks' is similar to pizza but smaller and longer, on which a series of ingredients is placed and then placed in a stone or wood oven.

In some places, like in the Black Sea area, the ingredients are put inside like a patty. Some 'order' options have minced meat, veal or sheep, and cheese. But in the variant called 'yagli', the 'request' is spread with butter, an egg is added on top, and then it goes to the oven.

A curious tradition is that if you want to make it at home and you do not have a suitable oven, in some towns in Turkey it is easily taken to the local bakery.

Pide

Lökum, Turkish delight

If you have a sweet tooth and are curious about gastronomy, you will love lökum, a type of pastry that is also known as Turkish delight. These compact gelatin snacks contain dried fruits (pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, etc.) and are covered in sugar or coconut. Aesthetically they are very beautiful given the contrast of colors and textures. They usually wear them when you order a coffee, but it is also possible to buy them in supermarkets and street stalls. It is advisable to ensure that they are recent and comply with hygiene standards. In some patisseries they sell them in boxes, such as chocolates, so they can be a good gastronomic souvenir.

Lokum

Lüfer, blue fish from the Bosphorus

If among your favorite foods are not those with beef or lamb, in Istanbul you can opt for fish. And if it is fresh and comes from the Bosphorus, much better. When you see "lüfer" on the menu they refer to a very common bluefish in this area and that tastes very good even with the simplest preparations. Grilled with oil, garlic, pepper, and some spices, as well as some vegetables to accompany it, it is delicious. Fish experts say that if you want to eat lüfer fresh, you have to order it between August and December.

Typical drinks of Turkey

A preliminary consideration: in Turkey, you can accompany your meal with wine or beer. Both drinks are produced here and with fairly quality labels. But, as a Muslim-majority country, many non-alcoholic alternatives are worth exploring:

Turkish tea

Known as çay, it is a strong variety of (black) tea that is usually brewed in large, gaudy teapots. Turks are very fond of this drink at any time of the day.

Turkish tea

Turkish coffee

As popular or even more popular than tea, Turkish coffee is prepared highly concentrated and cooked directly in a container of water, without a filter. Therefore, it leaves a lot of grounds.

Turkish coffee

Ayran

It is one of the most popular typical Turkish drinks during the warm months. It is a kind of smoothie made with yogurt and water, topped with a lot of foam.

North

It is an alcoholic drink, shared with the rest of the Ottoman-influenced countries (among them, Greece), very similar to other aniseed drinks from the Mediterranean, such as pastis, ouzo, and, of course, Spanish anise.

Turkish ice creams

More than quality, what makes ice creams stand out in typical Turkish food is because of the skills and fun that its street vendors tend to be, attracting potential customers with their tricks. Especially those in the historical area of ​​Istanbul.

Turkish ice creams

These are usually milk-based sorbets and various flavors served in tubs or cookie cones.