Our 16 favorite Turkish culinary specialties • Wanderlix

In order to finally convince you to discover Turkey, and to put the water in your mouth before staying there, here are our favourite Turkish culinary specialties...

For some, the desire to travel lies in the temptation to discover new landscapes, populations with unknown customs, architectures dating back centuries and to accumulate a maximum of photos of the world...

For others, a good reason to travel would be to learn a new musical culture, to go hunting local artists and to perfect their playlists. Finally, for gourmets, travelling is especially the opportunity to awaken your taste buds! Gouter new product associations, discover the typical dishes of each country...

It is for all these reasons that Wanderlix now offers you to find, for multiple destinations, our playlist travel , our top of the most beautiful pictures but also our top of culinary specialties !

Travel to Turkey today, where gastronomic culture, rich in its influences, is particularly diverse. A mix of Mediterranean, oriental and Asian flavours will be the highlight in this top of our 16 favorite Turkish culinary specialties!

Street-Food

1. Pide & Lahmacun

If we start our selection of Turkish culinary specialties by evoking street-food, it is because it is particularly delicious! The Pide & Lahmacun is a Turkish version of the pizza, which is divided into two large families.

First, the Pide , which is a version of the pizza that is mainly filled with cheese, meat (alling beef with chorizo) and egg. Rich enough, it usually consumes in main dish.

Then, the Lahmacun which is much lighter. This is then a fine cake with lamb meat, several vegetables and condiments such as onion, garlic, pepper and tomato. By adding a few spices to this, everything quickly becomes delicious.

2. Börek

The Börek is a speciality coming from the Ottoman Empire, and which has been transmitted since then. Out of salt pastry, the Börek declines in many ways. Vegetables, cheeses, meats, you will find all kinds of vegetables.

Especially, you can simply ask for a simple piece in case of small hunger, but you will also have the opportunity to consume it in full (if you have courage!).

3. Dürüm

The Dürüm , a word of Turkish origin, literally means “enroulade”. In fact, it can designate all kinds of preparations wrapped in a Turkish galette. There are several varieties: Sucuk Dürüm (with Turkish cheese and sausage) sucuk ), Salata Dürüm (Vegetarian version based on green salad, tomatoes, onions and olives), but most importantly known: the "kebab" version.

We often talk about it Döner , which illustrates how to cook lamb meat by spinning it on a brooch.

4. Döner Kebab

If the origins of the Kebab remain vague, no one can deny that Turkey is intimately linked to its history. You can also find the Kebab story here .

It was obviously impossible for us to mention her street-food Turkish without evokeing Döner Kebab , and are cooking mode at the rotating pin so special, which makes meat so tender.

5. Balik Ekmek

If he is not known to many people, it is because Balik Ekmek has long been the victim of a general “ boycott”, especially Turkish people themselves. Indeed, this sandwich was questioned for the freshness of its main food: fish.

Obviously today, it is no longer the case, and if you walk on the Bosphorus widths, or especially after the Galata Bridge, you will find delicious!

Typical dishes

6. Köfte

♪ Köfte are a real must in Turkish cuisine. If they only appear as simple meatballs, they actually represent much more than that. Here, the base is a mixture of beef and lamb meat, onions, spices and a multitude of gestures that are transmitted between generations.

While many countries claim "best meatballs", it is important to admit that those from Turkey are particularly successful.

7. Mantı

Even if they are known in other countries in the region, Manti remain from Turkey! In fact, these ravioli are usually stuffed with meat, but also diverted into potato version, are regularly prepared by hand by Turkish women, and highlighted in the showcases.

Served with a yoghurt sauce and with garlic or mint, it’s a real treat!

8. Dolma

♪ Dolma may be the Turkish specialty to remember in all this list! Peppers full of rice and/or minced meat, they are a legacy of Ottoman cuisine, and what a legacy!

There are many variants, in eggplant, courgette or bulgour.

9. Menemen

Composed of eggs, tomatoes, onions, peppers and Turkish sausages ( sucuk ), Menemen is a traditional Turkish breakfast dish! Indeed, because of its multiple nutritional contributions, this typical dish makes the happiness of families.

Consumed directly in a frying pan, it is a symbol of union and sharing.

10. Imam Bayıldı

The Imam Bayıldı is a dish of eggplant and ground meat served cold. Serve hot, it then changes name to become the Karniyarik .

This is simply eggplant stuffed with chopped meat and seasoned with multiple spices, which is then cooked in the oven: a delight not to be missed!

Turkish desserts and cakes

11. Künefe

Since a good meal always ends with a dessert, we continue our top of Turkish culinary specialties with the Künefe ! It is a pure Turkish pastry that is found everywhere in the country.

Composed of paste kadayıf (Changelo) and a cheese made in the south of the country (to Hatay ), this dessert is a pure treat when accompanied by a ball of ice or kaymak (a typical milk cream of Turkey).

12. Loukoums

How to talk about Turkish desserts without evokeing the famous Loukoums ? This Turkish confectionery has now exported to all parts of the world, particularly in all countries related to the Ottoman Empire.

Having a similar consistency to that of candy, Loukoums are made from a mixture of starch and sugar. They are then flavored with lemon, rose water and sometimes enriched with pistachio, hazelnuts or nuts... just delicious!

13. Güllaç

The Güllaç is a Turkish dessert based on milk, pomegranate, special paste and drops of rose water. This sweetness has become the traditional dessert tasted during the Ramadan periods in Turkey, thanks to its low caloric composition.

According to legend, Güllaç would have been created in the 15th century, under the reign of Murad II . He would be the precursor of Baklava , next dessert to our top of Turkish culinary specialties!

14. Baklavas

Ottoman influence is particularly felt when talking about gastronomy in Turkey. And for cause, Baklava is a traditional dessert common to the peoples of the ancient Ottoman and Persian empires (we had already presented to you in our top of the Greek culinary specialties ).

Despite the many variants that exist, the favorite of the writing is still the one with nuts! A pure treat that you are advised to enjoy at tea time in Turkey!

Traditional drinks

15. Rakı

To finish our selection of the best Turkish specialties, it is impossible not to mention the country's iconic drink! Promoted as a living art, the Raki gets closer to our national pastis by its anise taste.

Elongated with iced water in transparent glasses, it is a must for all Turkish aperitives, although it can also be consumed during meals to accompany them meze .

Attention: the Raki Always drink while eating, you don't drink it in shots!

16. Ayran

To finish in beauty, place at one of the most consumed drinks in Turkey! Very refreshing, the salty taste of the Ayran is a little surprising at first, but becomes very addictive!

It is certainly his simplicity that makes his success! Indeed, it is enough of a little salty water and fresh yogurt (usually sheep milk but also walks with cow or goat milk) to concoct it...!

After testing these specialties, don’t hesitate to tell us what your favorite Turkish specialty is!