Turkey is a place that combines flavors of its rich history and cultural diversity. Enjoy a beautiful coastal town, walk around bustling streets of Istanbul or prepare to crave more with Turkish cuisine. Savory kebabs to out of the world desserts are just stories of tradition and taste. Analysing the food of a country should be part of any plan for your dream vacation. Turkey tour packages and Turkey holiday packages offer you to discover amazing tastes with this unforgettable land in the best way. These are the must try Turkish foods , and you are ready to embark on a delicious journey.
Here are the 12 Turkish Foods You Have to Try on Your Trip
1. Kebabs
One of the most iconic dishes of Turkey, kebabs, each region has a twist of its own. Spicy minced meat is what makes the Adana kebab famous, and Iskender kebab is a delicious dish with butter, tomato sauce, and yogurt layered on top. Kebabs are great, whether grilled, skewered, or roasted, served with rice, grilled vegetables and freshly baked bread, they are a meat lovers dream come true when visiting Turkey.
2. Meze
Meze is a wonderful selection of small dishes which are usually served as an appetizer before the main course. Hummus, baba ghanoush, ezme, stuffed vine leaves (dolma) and a combination of creamy, tangy, spicy. Meze is often served with rakı, Turkey’s anise-flavoured spirit, and perfectly paired with freshly baked bread. It is a favorite part of any Turkish meal because of its variety of textures and flavors.
3. Pide
One of the most popular types of pizza that are called Pide, also known as “Turkish pizza”, is a boat-shaped flatbread that is topped with minced meat, cheese, eggs and vegetables. It is baked in a stone oven, and has a crispy texture that is soft at the same time, which only adds to its rich flavors. Pide is a go to meal, enjoyed plain or with spicy sausage (sucuk), which is both satisfying and a good meal to share with friends and family.
4. Lahmacun
It’s a thin, crispy flatbread with minced meat, tomatoes, onions and the most delicious spices upon it. Unlike pizza, it rarely comes with fresh parsley, lemon or sumac onions to give it an extra tang. Lahmacun is a light, flavorful and easy to eat dish, which is served as a quick street food or in restaurants and a favorite of locals and tourists alike.
5. Manti
Manti is the name of Turkey’s dumplings, small parcels of dough stuffed with minced meat seasoned with spices. They are boiled or steamed and topped with a lot of garlic yogurt, melted butter and red pepper flakes. The combination of rich creamy sauce with the tender dumplings gives a burst of flavor in every bite. Manti is a comfort food that is a must try and is representative of the heart of Turkish home cooking.
6. Kofte
K0fte is a mixture of minced meat, onions, herbs, spices, shaped into small patties or balls. Grilled, fried or cooked in a tomato based sauce, there is a specialty to each region. There are variations of İzmir kofte served with potatoes and cig kofte, a raw version mixed with bulgur which offer different flavors to discover.
7. Simit
Simit is a street snack in Turkey that is often compared to a bagel, but crunchier. This circular bread is sesame seed covered, having a slightly nutty flavor. Simit is usually eaten for breakfast or midday snack, and it goes well with Turkish tea, cheese or kaymak (Turkish clotted cream). Simit is easy, simple, but tasty, whether fresh from the bakery, from the street vendor.
8. Menemen
Scrambled eggs, tomatoes, green peppers, and spices are ingredients of menemen, a traditional Turkish breakfast dish. Cheese, sucuk (spicy sausage) or onions may be some of the variations. The eggs are cooked in the tomato mixture, which is juicy, soft, and flavorful, and this is something that is best enjoyed with crusty bread. Menemen is rich, hearty, easy to prepare and a staple breakfast food in Turkish households.
9. Baklava
It is a legendary Turkish dessert which is made of thin layers of filo pastry, finely chopped nuts, and sweet syrup or honey. Every bite is heavenly with a delicate crunch, then a syrup soaked texture. The most popular variety is filled with pistachios, but there are other varieties which include walnuts or hazelnuts. Baklava is a treat, which is often served with Turkish coffee or tea, and it’s a perfect representation of the richness of Turkish desserts.
10. Turkish Delight (Lokum)
Lokum (Turkish Delight) is a chewy confection made of sugar, starch, and different flavors hissing up of rose, pistachio, and pomegranate. Dusted with powdered sugar, these soft jelly like cubes had a light and sweet finish. Lokum is a centuries old delicacy that is often served as a gift or with Turkish coffee and is still a favorite for locals and visitors.
11. Dondurma
Turkish ice cream, Dondurma, is unlike any other ice cream in the world. It is made with salep (wild orchid root) and mastic (a plant resin) and has a chewy, stretchy texture and melts much more slowly than regular ice cream. Of course, street vendors have a reputation for amusing customers by playfully tricking them before handing over the ice cream. Dondurma is a must try treat with its rich flavor and this fun experience to go with it.
12. Cay (Turkish Tea)
Turkish culture is incomplete without tea, or Cay, which is drunk all day long. Turkish tea is generally served in small glasses, served strong and flavored, without milk. In some cases, it is accompanied by sugar cubes or a piece of Simit. Turkish tea is a ritual that has tied people of all kinds together in the big cities and cafes.
Conclusion
Turkish foods entails flavorful, traditional and necessary dishes, all fused so well that each dish becomes superb, a gastronomic feast that will balance your stomach and soul. No matter if you’re having freshly baked pide, sweet baklava or a traditional cay it will bring you closer to Turkey’s rich culture with every bite. Turkish hospitality can be summed up by food, because every traveler leaves with a full stomach and a satisfied heart.
So, planning a vacation, don’t visit turkey to only look at the sights, experience turkey through its incredible food. Turkey tour packages and Turkey France holiday packages allow you to enjoy the country’s stunning landscapes and its culinary delights. Ready to enjoy the tastes of your Turkish experience and never forget.