Traditional Turkish Cuisine – 13 Must Eat Dishes In Turkey

Turkey has so much to offer beyond the classic doner kebab when it comes to food. I’ve traveled to Turkey for months, eating my way through the country and sampling their traditional Turkish cuisine. Let me broaden your culinary horizon by introducing you to some of the most popular Turkish food dishes (and a few unique ones) I’ve tried and loved.

From traditional street food like simit (a type of bagel-like bread coated in sesame seeds) and kokoreç (spicy lamb intestines) to classic meals like manti (dumplings filled with ground meat in a yogurt-garlic sauce) and lahmacun (baked flatbread topped with minced meat and vegetables), there’s something for everyone, no matter how daring or timid your taste buds might be.

So take the opportunity when you can to indulge in all the flavors that traditional Turkey cuisine offers, and keep this list close to heart, so you don’t always opt for the classic doner kebab!

13 Traditional Turkish Food Dishes

Traditional Turkish cuisine is a delicious blend of spices, fresh ingredients, and cultural influences that have come together to create dishes that are as exciting as they are mouthwatering.

Here are a few popular Turkish food dishes (and a few unique ones at the bottom) that you have to try when visiting.

Traditional Turkish Breakfast

A traditional Turkish breakfast is a delicious treat to start off your morning right. And trust me when I say, it will keep you to dinner – these things are a feast on their own.

A traditional Turkish breakfast

It consists of an array of dishes, all flavorful and oftentimes quite filling. From local favorite dishes like Menemen – an egg and tomato dish with bell peppers and spices – to olive oils, honey, halva, olives, feta cheese, jam, and fresh vegetables and fruits, there is something for everyone in this vibrant traditional meal.

You can also add Turkish tea or coffee topped with a dollop of frothy cream for the perfect accompaniment. My mouth is literally watering writing this!

Traditional Turkish Cuisine – Simit

Simit is a Turkish pretzel of sorts that’s been around for centuries and is now becoming increasingly popular around the world.

The very popular Simit.

This traditional food consists of a lightly sweetened twisted ring of dough encrusted with sesame seeds and can be served as a snack or breakfast item. Its flavor profile is crunchy and nutty, similar to a pretzel, but with an added sweetness.

There are many ways to enjoy simit, including spreading on cheese or jam, adding butter or honey, or just snacking it between meals. Best of all, it’s super cheap, and can be found on any corner or bakery.

Kokorec

Kokorec is a truly special treat rooted in the flavors of traditional Turkish cuisine. A garlicky blend of beef and lamb, often cubed and wrapped in natural casings, kokorec can be served plain or grilled and seasoned with oregano and other spices.

Whether you buy it straight off the skewer at an Istanbul street market or have a home-cooked version cooked up in your own kitchen, this delicious dish is amazing!

Manti

Manti is basically hand-made little dumplings filled with ground meat in a yogurt-garlic sauce, and is a traditional Turkish dish that can be best described as a comfort food.

It was brought to Turkey by Central Asian nomads, and since then, it has become an important part of Turkish cuisine. As I mentioned, the dish consists of small ravioli-like pasta filled with spiced ground lamb, which are boiled and served in a light yogurt sauce.

Onions and garlic are sauteed along with tomato paste, melted butter, stock and crushed walnuts to make an incredibly savory sauce that makes manti both hearty and delicious.

Lahmacun

Lahmacun, otherwise known as Turkish pizza, is a perfectly delicious dish with an interesting history. Brought by Arabs from Lebanon to the Ottoman Empire in the 1800s, it combines the centuries-old flavors of Middle Eastern cuisine with the simple convenience of flatbread.

Lahmucan

Made from a soft dough spread with minced meat and other fresh herbs, spices and vegetables, it’s small enough to have as an appetizer but indulgent enough for dinner. Commonly served rolled up around various fillings like parsley or tomatoes and onions, it’s one hell of a tasty treat!

Köfte

Kofte is a tender grilled mince steak covered in flavorful spices that can be served with a variety of dishes and sides. Whether you’re in the mood for something simple like kofte wraps or more elaborate such as kofte baked in an oven, there are endless ways to enjoy this dish.

On my road trip through Turkey, Kofte was my main dish outide of Turkish breakfasts and Borek. It really is a star of Turkish cuisine and should definitely be on your list for your next culinary adventure!

Börek

Borek is a beloved Turkish food that is not only served in Turkey, but also shared around the world. It’s a flaky pastry filled with savory ingredients, like cheese and spinach, and it can be enjoyed as an appetizer or a main dish.

Borek

I do admit to gorging myself with borek all along my hiking trips through this gorgeous country. While it does pack well for a snack, it’s best eaten right out of the oven, when the smell of puff pastry and buttery cheese is in the air!

Adana kebab

This traditional Turkish dish features a mix of herbs, spices and minced lamb that’s cooked on an open flame. Surprise, surprise, more spiced lamb meat on the popular Turkish food list!

Even though it sounds simple, adana kebab flavor can be quite complex – making it one of Turkey’s best-known and favourite dishes. Perfectly spiced with red pepper paste, chili flakes, cumin and garlic, this meal is sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Plus, because it’s served wrapped in a flatdread so it’s both super convenient and delicious! If you’re looking for a quick and mess-free culinary experience try Adana kebab the next time you visit Turkey – trust me, you won’t regret it!

Dolma

Dolma, or stuffed vegetables, has been a traditional Turkish food enjoyed by generations of families and cuisine connoisseurs alike. This delectable dish features various fresh vegetables like peppers, tomatoes and eggplants that are filled with a fragrant mixture of spiced meat or beans combined with aromatic herbs.

Accompanied by a sharp, tangy yogurt-based sauce, this simple yet flavorful meal dates back centuries and remains popular among modern Turks and people from other cultures all around the world.

Whether served as an appetizer or eaten as a main course, dolma provides a true taste of Turkish culture.

Sarma

Sarma is a traditional Turkish food that is often eaten during special occasions. It’s made from grape leaves stuffed with seasoned rice, usually including some kind of minced meat, though vegetarian variations have gained popularity in recent years.

Sarma

Fun Fact: As a Romanian, we also have borrowed the sarma into our cuisine, and it’s usually eaten at Christmas or for weddings.

While the end result looks almost like a dumpling, it’s actually more of a savory pastry. The vine leaves add to the flavor, offering an interesting and unique taste you won’t find in many other cuisines.

Making sarma is also said to bring people together — while enough stuffing or ingredients are readied, family and friends pick up a leaf and start wrapping!

Enjoyed either hot or cold depending on personal preference, this protein-packed dish will definitely leave you full and satisfied.

Corba

Corba is a delicious soup that can be made with a variety of ingredients such as onions, carrots, and celery to give it loads of flavour. It’s usually served warm and then complemented with toppings such as herbs and a dollop of yoghurt.

Not only is corba a great meal choice for lunch, but it can even be enjoyed as a side dish. I’m usually not a fan of soups, but in the colder months of the year in Turkey, this is a welcome cup of joy.

Turkish Delight

Turkish Delight, also known as lokum, is a traditional Turkish dessert that has been enjoyed for centuries. A chewy and delectable treat, Turkish delight is made from ingredients such as starch, sugar, lemon juice and rose water.

Turkish Delight

It’s typically flavored with various nuts or dried fruits. Most of them are coated with icing sugar, and in some cases, cocoa powder – such an irresistible combination!

Originating in the Ottoman Empire hundreds of years ago, it truly immerses you in the rich culture and culinary tradition that defines this part of the world. So if you’re looking for a delectable treat to fill your sweet tooth, try some authentic Turkish delight!

Baklava

Saving the best for last, baklava has been a classic Turkish confection for centuries. Its sweet, crunchy layers of pastry nestled in deliciously sticky honey will have your mouth watering from the first bite.

Baklava

Its base is made up of layers of thin pastry dough layered with chopped nuts, such as pistachios or walnuts. It’s then coated with a generous helping of honey or syrup, giving it its perfect sweetness.

As the syrup seeps through the layers it transforms the texture, making it both moist and crunchy – absolute perfection. This classic treat can be found in bakeries all over Turkey and is a must-try when visiting this beautiful country!

Some More Unique Turkish Foods

Like a lot of it’s neighbors traditional Turkish cuisine embraces the use of offal. This includes the heart, brain, tripe, tongue, liver, intestines, and every other part of an animal, nothing is wasted.

And as a good traveler, one must try everything at least once, right!? Here are a few of my favorite unique dishes that are insanely delicious:

• Grilled Liver with Garlic – take livers, grill them with tons of spices, add garlic, and you have yourself a tasty meze snack. This method is used in a lot of Eastern European dishes. The French also dabbles in intestines, but the original gangsters of grilled deliciousness are most definitely the Turks.
• Ram Testicle Kebab (Billur Kebab) – it’s basically what it sounds like, but grilled. And with pita bread… and you thought the grilled liver was stepping outside your culinary comfort zone!
• Brain Salad (Beyin Salatasi) – Sheep brain is boiled, then sliced into pieces. The dressing is made with oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, a handful of parsley, and a squeeze of lemon. The sheep brain is coated with the dressing and you have yourself a unique and tasty Turkish favorite.

Brain Salad

What Is Traditional Turkish Food?

Traditional Turkish food is something special. Its unique culinary history and cultural influences create flavors that are bold and flavorful, yet subtly complex.

Think aromatic spiced beef and lamb dishes cooked with fresh vegetables. Imagine savory pastries filled with creamy cheeses, and sun-dried vegetables. And who can forget those delicate desserts like baklava and so many other delectable treats.

Traditional Turkish food combines the cuisines from countries on its European and Middle Eastern borders. The traditional dishes are wonderful mixtures of spices, herbs and seasonings expertly blended to produce truly scrumptious dishes.

What Is Turkey’s Most Famous Food?

Turkey is incredibly rich in culinary culture, so narrowing down the best foods can be a tough task. Almost like asking a mother who her favorite child is?! I digress…

One of the most well-known options would have to be its famous kebaps. Everyone from locals to tourists line up for delicious stews such as Iskender Kebap and Adana Kebap – both made on the spit and very succulent.

Not only that, but Turkish desserts are also incredible. Turkish delights and baklava, mentioned above, are popular Turkish desserts, but there’s so much more. They have countless desserts that entice the palate and count as traditional Turkish food.

For example, one of my favorite unique desserts not mentioned in the list is Halva. Halva is a type of confection made from sesame seed paste, nuts, fruits and spices. It’s topped with kazandibi, a creamy milk pudding that’s caramelized on top. Everything comes together to create a rich, delicious flavor experience!

Anyways, with flavorful foods dominating the scene in Turkey, it’s clear that there is no shortage of deliciousness around here.

Conclusion: Popular Turkish Food

Traditional Turkish cuisine is renowned worldwide for its vibrant flavors, intriguing combinations of spices, and use of fresh ingredients.

With endless choices from traditional Turkish street food to fine dining restaurants, there’s something savory or sweet for everyone!

If that’s not enough to pique your interest in visiting this beautiful country, I don’t know what is.

Huge thanks to Mariana Barbuceanu from Road Trip Euroguide for this guest post. After 10 years in corporate America, she decided to leave that world and adventure. She’s now a full-time travel blogger, a citizen of both Europe and the US, and an all-out road trip guru. Beyond that, she love visas in her passport, planning trips, a strong espresso, and an even stronger Negroni!