If you love Turkish food, have a look at my collection of 19 must-try Turkish dishes, featuring kebabs, desserts, vegetable dishes, dips, and more!
Turkish cuisine is a vibrant celebration of bold flavors, offering much more than its famous kebabs. Some of my must-try Turkish dishes use simple ingredients to create incredibly delicious flavors.
Meat Stuffed Grape Leaves - Dolmas
Meat Stuffed Grape Leaves (a.k.a Dolmas or Dolmades) is a Turkish dish that is also very popular in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.
This dish is known as "Etli Yaprak Sarma" in Turkey and is made with ground meat, fresh herbs, and rice wrapped in vine leaves.
To learn more: Meat Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)
Pistachio Baklava
My super easy Turkish Pistachio Baklava (Fıstıklı Baklava in Turkish) recipe is perfect for you if you want to learn how to make your homemade version.
Baklava is a very popular Turkish sweet dating back to the Ottoman Empire, featuring flaky filo pastry layers, nuts, and syrup.
To learn more: Easy Turkish Pistachio Baklava Recipe
Manti - Turkish Ravioli
Manti (or Mantu) is a delicious and popular Turkish dish made with small, savory, and tender dumplings. The dumplings are typically filled with a juicy and flavorful mixture of meat and spices.
They are traditionally served with tangy garlic yogurt and drizzled with spicy butter sauce, adding even more depth and complexity to this famous Turkish dish.
To learn more: Manti Dumplings - Turkish Ravioli Recipe
Hummus Dip
Hummus Dip is a Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern spread made with chickpeas and tahini, then seasoned with lemon, garlic, and cumin.
This extremely creamy, smooth & fresh dip comes together in just 25 minutes!
To learn more: Mediterranean Hummus Dip
Kuzu Tandir Kebab
Kuzu Tandır Kebab is a delicious slow-cooked Turkish Roasted Lamb dish traditionally cooked in a clay "tandır oven" for long hours, until fork tender.
With this simple recipe, you can easily make this special lamb dish at home with only a few ingredients and 10 minutes of preparation.
To learn more: Kuzu Tandir Kebab - Turkish Roasted Lamb
Tantuni - Turkish Beef Wraps
Tantuni is an iconic Turkish street food made with lightly seasoned small cubes of beef stir-fried in a special pan.
This traditional dish is typically served wrapped in lavash bread together with chopped onions, tomatoes, sumac, and parsley.
Originating from Mersin city of Turkey, this delicious Tantuni kebab wrap is full of Mediterranean flavors you will love!
To learn more: Tantuni
Adana Kebab
Adana Kebab (a.k.a Adana Kebap or Adana Kofte) is a delicious hand-minced meat kebab mounted on a skewer and then grilled over charcoal.
This delicious spicy ground lamb kebab is a staple of Turkish street food and can be found on menus around the world.
To learn more: Adana Kebab (Adana Kofte)
Lahmacun
Homemade Turkish Lahmacun (or Lahmajun-Lahmajoun) is a super-thin crispy flatbread topped with minced beef or lamb mixed with vegetables, herbs, and spices.
You can find this popular street / fast food everywhere in Turkey, in restaurants, cafes, and fast-food shops.
To learn more: Turkish Lahmacun
Gozleme
Gozleme, also known as Turkish Pancakes, is a delicious savory Turkish flatbread filled with a variety of ingredients like mince, cheese, spinach, or potatoes.
If you've ever traveled to Turkey or even just walked around a Turkish neighborhood, you've probably come across gozleme. It's a popular street food in Turkey, often enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack.
To learn more: Gozleme (Turkish Pancakes)
Lamb Shish Kebab
Lamb Shish Kebab (or Shish Kabob) is a very popular Turkish / Middle Eastern dish typically served in restaurants or takeaway kebab shops.
This simple recipe explains how to make your homemade version of this lamb kebabs from scratch with a few ingredients.
To learn more: Lamb Shish Kebab
Su Boregi
Su Boregi which means "Water Borek" is one of the most loved boreks in Turkey, and is by far the best of all Turkish Pastries.
It is a delicious savory treat that you can eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack any time of the day. Although it takes some time to put it together, it is very easy to make this unique borek and impress your guests.
To learn more: Su Boregi - Water Borek
Turkish Stuffed Aubergines - Imam Bayildi
Imam Bayildi (Turkish Stuffed Eggplant) is a classic Ottoman dish made with eggplants cooked in a generous amount of olive oil and then stuffed with a mixture of onions, tomatoes, and garlic.
Packed with Mediterranean flavors, this baked stuffed aubergine dish is a very easy yet extremely delicious recipe to make.
To learn more: Imam Bayildi (Turkish Stuffed Eggplant)
Arnavut Cigeri - Turkish Liver
Arnavut Cigeri (or Albanian Liver) is a Turkish Liver dish consisting of a pan-fried lamb or veal liver cubes seasoned with chili flakes and served with sumac, onion, and parsley salad.
This simple recipe is extremely easy to prepare and tastes great.
To learn more: Arnavut Cigeri - Turkish Liver
Kuzu Guvec - Turkish Lamb Casserole
Kuzu Guvec is a Turkish Lamb Casserole dish made with lamb and vegetables slowly cooked in an earthenware pot.
Same as Baked Prawns (Karides Guvec), this authentic dish has rich, earthy, and smoky aromas, and is low in calories, nutritious and gluten-free.
To learn more: Guvec (Turkish Lamb Casserole)
Cacik - Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber Dip
Cacik is a delicious and refreshing Turkish Yogurt Dip made with cucumbers, yogurt, and herbs.
It is very easy to prepare, ready in just 10 minutes and only needs a few fridge ingredients. This wonderful Mediterranean sauce is similar to its Greek cousin known as "Tzatziki".
To learn more: Cacik (Turkish Yogurt Dip)
Sekerpare - Turkish Semolina Cookies
Sekerpare (Turkish Semolina Cookies) is a sweet, moist, and tender dessert that's traditionally served for religious celebrations, such as Seker Bayrami which marks the end of Ramadan.
It is a great alternative to Turkish Baklava, Tulumba - Turkish Fried Dough Dessert, or Baklava Cheesecake for your sweet cravings when you want something much simpler & quicker.
To learn more: Sekerpare (Turkish Semolina Cookies)
Kiymali Pide - Turkish Meat Stuffed Flatbread
Turkish Kiymali Pide is an authentic Turkish flatbread topped with ground lamb or beef mixed with peppers, onions, and tomatoes.
They are shaped in a long oval and traditionally cooked in a wood oven.
The good news is that my pide recipe explains how to cook this delicious Turkish flatbread at home without needing a wood oven!
To learn more: Kiymali Pide - Turkish Flatbread with Meat
Turkish Courgette Fritters - Mucver
Mücver (Turkish Zucchini Fritters) are small vegetable pancakes that contain zucchini (or courgettes), egg, flour, spring onion, and fresh herbs.
These crispy, savory treats are easy to make and packed with flavor, making them a perfect addition to any meal or party.
To learn more: Mücver (Turkish Zucchini Fritters)
Izgara Kofte - Grilled Lamb Kofta
Grilled Lamb Kofta (Izgara Kofte in Turkish) is one of the most popular street foods in Turkey made with minced lamb and aromatic spices such as coriander and paprika.
It is extremely easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients and some basic cooking skills.
To learn more: Turkish Grilled Lamb Kofta - Izgara Kofte
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