Discover Turkish Cuisine (Foodies, Put Turkey on Your Itinerary)

Last updated on October 6th, 2022 at 10:59 pm

Ready to discover all there is to love about Turkish cuisine? Keep reading to see why Turkey’s unique flavors must are a must-try for any foodie.

Most of us love to travel. New sights, sounds, and experiences are something many of us crave. And, travel has plenty to offer for those who are looking to experience new cuisines. A region or country’s food can be one of the best parts of a vacation.

From decadent European cakes to savory and delicious Indian curries, to deep-fried American foods, there are so many things to try. When it comes to unique and delicious national cuisines, Turkey should be on every foodie’s itinerary. 

Turkey is a melting pot of cultures, styles, and cuisines, making it an underrated but essential spot for foodies. If you’re still not convinced, read on for more about just some of the fabulous Turkish cuisine that will be waiting for you when you get there.

Discover Turkish Cuisine: 5 of Our Favorites

Turkish Barbeque

If you’re looking for barbeque with a twist, you cannot miss the Turkish variety. Traditional Turkish meat and lamb skewers are a must-try for anyone visiting this region. With an iconic mix of herbs and spices, the meats are excellently seasoned and perfect for any occasion. 

The Iskender kebap, or Alexander kebab, is the most popular dish in the northwest part of the country. This specialty of the Bursa region is now available all over the country as a popular street food döner served with tomatoes, yogurt, and pita bread. Don’t miss out on this delicious Turkish barbeque street food!

Delectable Wines

An often overlooked aspect of Turkish food and drink is their wines. With such a rich history, wine-making in Turkey goes back a long way. From almost the dawn of time, this region has been making delicious wines in both white and red varieties. 

Emir, Narince, and Sultaniye are some of the most popular white wines, whereas Çalkarası, Kalecik Karası, and Öküzgözü are popular red wines. Although their names may be hard to pronounce, once you try Turkish wines, you won’t want anything else! Next time you’re grabbing a bite to eat in Turkey, make sure to sample some of the local wines with your meal.

Corba: Lentil or Tomato Soup

There’s more to Turkish cuisine than barbequed meats. Turkey is famous for its delectable soups in the form of corba. This creamy lentil or tomato soup can be found in almost any restaurant across the country, and for good reason. With its blend of carefully guarded Middle Eastern spices, it’s a dish that will make any mouth water and warm any heart. 

Corba is usually eaten in the afternoon before the main meal of meat, served with fresh herbs and pita bread. This dish is a great introduction to the unique flavors of this region, especially for those who don’t eat meat. If you’re looking for a delicious and creamy comfort food, look no further than this humble yet flavorful soup.

Sweets and Halva 

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll love Turkey with its wide selection of sweets ranging from candied fruits to decadent, syrupy pies. Once you’ve sampled some of the candied pineapples and rose Turkish delights, you can set your sights on the queen of Turkish desserts–halva. 

This sweet, traditional dessert is made from a blend of sesame seed paste and other ingredients that give it a unique flavor and texture. Halva has a warm, nutty flavor that makes it the ideal companion to your Turkish coffee or tea in the afternoon. Don’t miss out on this unique dessert the next time you’re in Turkey!

Baklava

Last but not least, one cannot talk about Turkish cuisine, particularly sweets, without mentioning the magnificent baklava! This scrumptious dessert can be found all over the Mediterranean, Balkans, and Middle East. Baklava is a pastry made with layers of pastry stuffed with walnuts, bound together by a sweet syrup. 

The combination of walnuts, syrup, and pastry makes this dessert simple, yet amazing. Other desserts in this category include kunefe with cheese and syrup and fried lokma dough balls in syrup. Like many other Turkish pastry desserts, the baklava is syrupy and very sweet, so remember that a little piece goes a long way!

There you have it, some of the best of Turkish cuisine. With this list in mind, it’s easy to see why missing out on Turkish food is a huge mistake.

The food of Turkey is rich, comforting, and flavorful. If you’re a lover of meat and spices, don’t miss out on any of the local barbecues. Try the local wines, and delight your palate. 

Warm your heart and delight your taste buds with the lentil or tomato corba. Last but not least, don’t miss out on any of the sweets this country has to offer. From the unique sesame flavor of halva to the syrupy goodness of baklava, Turkish cuisine has so much to offer.

Keep this list in mind, and make your next culinary adventure a trip to Turkey.

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