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25 Traditional Turkish Breakfast -Kahvalti- Recipes

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Breakfast (or Kahvalti) in Turkey is the most important meal of the day and is an experience more than just a meal.

Learn how Turkish people feast like a queen with these mouthwateringly delicious 25 Traditional Turkish Breakfast -Kahvalti- Recipes.

turkish breakfast items served on small plates
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What is Kahvalti - Traditional Turkish Breakfast?

Kahvalti is more like a brunch in Turkey and is mostly enjoyed with family and friends around a big table full of delicious breakfast items served on small plates.

Sitting at the breakfast table and sipping their Turkish tea even after they have finished eating is something to enjoy and take their time with.

The most popular Turkish breakfast items include a few different types of cheeses, Turkish Kaymak, olives, cold meat selection, sweet and savory dips (homemade jams such as Rhubarb Jam), egg dishes, salads, bread, sweet and savory pastries, and of course all accompanied with a few glasses of Turkish tea.

su boregi served with cucumbers and tomatoes

Turkish Breakfast on the Go for Busy Mornings

When there is no time for enjoying a scrumptious Turkish breakfast buffet style, cafes, bakeries, or small food carts offers a delightful selection of pastries and bread.

Start your day with a burst of flavor and energy as you savor traditional Turkish treats in a convenient way.

Enjoy flaky Turkish Boyoz Pastry, soft and fluffy Pogaca (Turkish Cheese Buns), or crispy and nutty Simit along with a sip of strong Turkish tea or rich coffee.

It's a simple and delicious way to kick-start your day with a touch of Mediterranean charm.

25 Traditional Turkish Breakfast - Kahvalti Recipes

A typical Turkish breakfast is not complete without bread to dip into delicious spreads or to wipe every last bit of this delicious egg dish "Cilbir - Turkish Poached Eggs".

Indulge your family&friends with these simple yet scrumptious recipes.

Bread And Savory Pastries

Pogaca (Turkish Cheese Buns)
Turkish Breakfast is not complete without bread/pastries and these Pogaca (Turkish Cheese Buns) are one of the most loved ones. The most popular version of Pogaca is the soft, fluffy one with feta cheese and herbs. Other filling options are minced beef, olives, or potatoes but the plain ones are equally yummy with some delicious spread.
Check out this recipe
Pogaca Turkish cheese buns
Spinach Borek - Ispanakli Borek
Spinach Borek (Ispanakli Borek) is a delicious Turkish pastry made of thin flaky dough called "yufka" filled with spinach and onions. They are one of the most popular breakfast items or a snack on the go!
Like Pogaca (Turkish Buns), borek also comes with different shapes and fillings. Cheese, spinach, potatoes, or meat are the most popular fillings for boreks, but this vegetarian spinach borek is probably my favorite among them. 
Check out this recipe
Turkish savoury pies made with spinach and yufka
Mushroom and Cheese Pide
Turkish Cheese Pide (translated as Kasarli Pide) with Mushrooms is a type of flatbread topped with veggies and Kasar cheese, very similar to pizza but without tomato sauce. This cheesy pide is buttery, packed with flavor, very easy to make, and perfect for Turkish kahvalti or lunch.
Although there are some traditional fillings to top these flatbreads, you can customize yours with your favorite toppings. My other favorite Pide is Kiymali Pide, the one filled with mince and small chopped vegetables.
Check out this recipe
cheese and mushroom pide topped with an egg
Bazlama Bread
Bazlama is similar to Greek Pita Bread and it is great for dipping into soups or stews. It is also perfect for serving at breakfast/brunch, a very popular component of a traditional Turkish breakfast. This fluffy Turkish flatbread is best when served warm and freshly cooked.
Bazlama bread has become more popular over the last few decades. It is one of the oldest Turkish bread recipes, and probably the favorite of many as well. This versatile flatbread is very easy to make and needs only a few ingredients you might already have in hand.
Check out this recipe
bazlama turkish flat bread recipe
Cig Borek
Çiğ Börek (Çiborek or Chebureki) is a thin crispy deep-fried pastry filled with ground beef, onions, and spices. They are perfect as an appetizer, breakfast/brunch item, or snack on the go.
These scrumptious fried boreks were brought to Turkey from Central Asia by Crimean Tatars who migrated to Eskişehir city of Turkey. They are one of the most popular breakfast items as well as a snack or street food. My version of Chebureki is very easy to make at home with a few simple ingredients and is always a hit among the family.
Check out this recipe
fried ciboria served with salad
Simit
Simit (also known as Turkish Sesame Bagel), is a sesame-crusted circular bread that is usually served for breakfast. It is the real star of the kahvalti spread. Same as Pogaca (Turkish Cheese Buns), simit bread is mainly served for breakfast along with Kuymak (Mihlama) or Menemen - Turkish Scrambled Eggs and some cheese, olives, tomatoes, and a cup of Turkish tea.
In Turkey, nobody would bother making this delicious simit bread at home as they are widely available and they are so good&cheap. But if you live abroad like me, it is almost impossible to find a good one to buy. I had this simple recipe for many years but only started making them when I moved to the U.K.
Check out this recipe
freshly baked simit bread
Su Boregi - Water Borek
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. Us Turks love these delicious savory treats and we eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack any time of the day.
Su Boregi has a reputation for being the most challenging boreks to make. I have tried a few different ways over the years and finally have found what works best and quicker. Although it takes some time to put it together, it is very easy to make this unique borek and impress your guests.
Check out this recipe
a portion of su borek
Sigara Boregi
Sigara Boregi - Cigarette Borek (Turkish Cheese Rolls) are crispy pastries made with thin filo sheets called yufka, filled with feta cheese, and then shallow-fried for extra crispness.
They are perfect as finger food, snack, breakfast, or as part of a mezze platter. You can make them in advance in big batches and freeze them for later. 
Check out this recipe
turkish cheese rolls sigara borek
Gozleme - Turkish Pancakes
Gozleme (Turkish Pancakes) is a delicious savory flatbread filled with various fillings such as mince, cheese, spinach, or potatoes. The options for stuffing are endless and mostly depend on the region as well as on personal preferences.
These incredibly tasty pastries are traditionally served for breakfast or as a snack but they now have become very popular street food over the last few decades. Whether eaten as a savory snack or for breakfast, gozleme is the nation's favorite.
Check out this recipe
Sucuklu Pide
Sucuklu Pide is a crispy and delicious Turkish bread topped with spicy "sucuk" and melty & stretchy "kasar cheese". Same as Cheese Pide with Mushrooms, Sucuk Pide is one of the most popular breakfast items and snacks in Turkey. And the good news is that you can easily make your own pide at home and impress your family with this simple recipe.
Check out this recipe
turkish pide with sucuk

Egg Dishes

No Turkish breakfast is complete without eggs. Eggs with sucuk, Menemen (Turkish Scrambled Eggs and Cilbir (Turkish Poached Eggs) are a kahvalti favorite.

Here are some of our family favorites to serve on a Kahvalti table.

Menemen
Menemen or Turkish Scrambled Eggs is a very popular and loved breakfast dish in Turkey. Traditionally, this simple yet delicious egg dish is made with juicy tomatoes, Turkish green peppers, and eggs. However, the modern versions might include onions, sucuk (Turkish spicy sausages), cheese, or pastirma (air-cured beef).
Check out this recipe
Cilbir (Poached Eggs)
Cilbir (or Çılbır) is a Turkish breakfast dish made with poached eggs served on a bed of garlicky herb yogurt and then drizzled with a generous amount of chili-infused butter. This popular Turkish egg dish is dating back to the Ottomans in the 15th century and is almost as famous as Menemen - Turkish Scrambled Eggs.
Check out this recipe
Turkish poached egg - Cilbir
Kaygana - Turkish Omelet
Kaygana is a delicious and filling Turkish Omelette made with eggs, flour, milk, herbs, and seasoning. This versatile egg-based dish is effortless and quick to make, and the things you can serve it with are limitless.
This scrumptious egg dish Kaygana isn't just perfect for breakfast, but it is great for brunch, lunch, dinner, and snacks, too!
Check out this recipe
kaygana - turkish omelette
Spinach and Eggs
Spinach with Eggs (Ispanakli Yumurta) is a delicious, healthy, and filling one-pot dish you can serve as a part of the Turkish breakfast spread.
You can customize this dish by adding more vegetables such as mushrooms, peppers, or tomatoes. Also, you can substitute mince with sucuk (a type of Turkish spicy sausage) or chorizo, or omit it and make this dish vegetarian.
Check out this recipe
spinach and eggs

Spreads and Dips

Here are some of my favorite dips and spreads for you to tear your Simit and dip it into!

You only need a couple of sweet and savory spreads on your Turkish breakfast table since there will be other plenty of other choices.

Muhammara a.k.a Acuka
Muhammara (or Acuka) is a delicious Middle Eastern dip/spread/meze made with red pepper paste, garlic, walnuts, spices, and olive oil. It is extremely easy to prepare and is ready in 15 minutes with minimal cleaning up! 
In Turkey, Muhammara (or Acuka) is served as a breakfast spread along with Homemade Sandwich Bread or Simit (Turkish Sesame Bagel. 
Check out this recipe
Tirokafteri - Spicy Feta Dip
Tirokafteri is a spicy, salty and tangy Whipped Feta Dip made with a handful of ingredients including roasted red peppers, feta cheese, vinegar, and olive oil. It is ready in 15 minutes and is commonly served for breakfast /brunch with warm freshly made Greek Pita Bread, or as part of a Mediterranean mezze platter.
Check out this recipe
spicy greek feta dip served in a bowl with pita bread
Hummus
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!
The most simple version of hummus is made with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. However, there are many different variations of Hummus dip created by adding different flavorings such as roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, beetroot, or different spices such as chili, cayenne, or paprika.
Check out this recipe
authentic hummus served with crudités
Haydari - Turkish Yogurt Dip
Haydari is a delicious Turkish Yoghurt Dip made with feta cheese, thick strained yogurt, fresh herbs, and chopped walnuts. This tangy dip is one of the most popular mezes in Turkey and also is widely served in Turkish restaurants with kebabs and Pita Bread along with Ezme Salad (Acili Ezme).
You can serve Haydari as a part of a meze platter, as a spread on a piece of toast for breakfast, or as a dipping sauce to serve with vegetable crudités, kebabs, and BBQs.
Check out this recipe
Turkish meze haydari

Salads

Fruits and vegetables are also a great part of the Turkish Breakfast table.

Depending on the season, it is common to serve sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, fresh herbs, salads, or even fried vegetables.

Here are some of my favorite kahvalti salad recipes you can serve for your family.

Saksuka
Saksuka (Turkish Vegetable Meze) is a very much loved vegetarian/vegan dish made of shallow-fried vegetables and a simple tomato sauce. The star ingredient for this traditional Turkish dish is the aubergines/eggplants and the rest of the vegetables added to the dish vary from region to region.
Şakşuka is such a great versatile dish that can be served as a part of a mezze spread, as a breakfast/brunch item, as a side dish, or as an appetizer. Also, you can make this tasty vegetarian dish all year round with any vegetables that are in season as long as you keep the aubergines and tomatoes as the main ingredients!
Check out this recipe
turkish meze saksuka is served in a bowl
Baba Ganoush
This Turkish-style Baba Ganoush without tahini is a smokey and flavorsome eggplant dip made with fresh Mediterranean ingredients. This aubergine dip is typically served as a cold meze /starter, as a side dish to the main meal, and as a breakfast dip for flatbread. It has a wonderful balance of smokey and tangy flavor from the roasted aubergines and the lemon.
Check out this recipe
aubergine dip without tahini
Piyaz - Turkish White Bean Salad
Piyaz (Turkish Bean Salad) is a healthy and nutritious side dish and a perfect accompaniment to your meals. It is made of beans, onions, tomatoes, and parsley then dressed with tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil. This cold Turkish salad is very easy to make and is ready in 15 minutes.
This simple yet delicious salad is originally from the Antalya province of Turkey where it is considered the main dish. 
Check out this recipe
piyaz (Turkish bean salad) served with boiled eggs
Coban Salatasi - Turkish Shepherd's Salad
Coban Salatasi (or Turkish Shepherd's Salad, Choban Salad) is a light, easy-to-make, and incredibly refreshing side dish made with juicy summer tomatoes, cucumbers, and green peppers. 
It is very easy to make and comes together in only 10 minutes. All you need to do is finely chop the ingredients, drizzle on olive oil and lemon, season with salt and pepper, and then mix them all together.
Check out this recipe
Coban salatasi

Cheese

Turkish cheeses are a breakfast staple in Turkish cuisine and are one of the most important elements of a Kahvalti table.

No kahvalti is complete without at least 3 different types of cheeses and the most popular ones are beyaz peynir (white cheese), kasseri or kasar cheese, tulum peyniri, ezine cheese, and Kars gravyeri.

There are many recipes you can make with cheese and serve as a breakfast spread as well as serving these cheeses on small plates.

Kuymak-Mihlama
Kuymak (or Mihlama) is a regional breakfast dish originating from Turkey's northern Black Sea Region. It is made by melting the cornmeal and cheese together in a copper pan called "sahan" and is usually served with bread or simit. This delicious Turkish breakfast item is ready in 15 minutes and only requires 3 main ingredients!
Check out this recipe

Sweet pastries are also commonly presented on Turkish breakfast tables.

These sweet treats are typically consumed in the end while sipping some Turkish tea for a bit longer.

Chocolate Tahini Pastries
Chocolate Pastry Rolls are buttery, flaky, and delicious sweet treats made with a homemade pastry filled with dark chocolate chips, tahini, and walnuts. They are perfect for breakfast and a great accompaniment to your morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Check out this recipe
Golden and crispy chocolate and tahini filled pastries
Baklava Cheesecake
This impressive Middle Eastern-inspired dessert is made with indulgently sweet and nutty Turkish Baklava layers topped with creamy and rich cheesecake. Although it requires a bit of time and patience, it is easy to make and is perfect for any special occasion and upcoming festive season.
Check out this recipe

Turkish Food Culture

In Turkey, home cooking is still very popular, and every meal is important.

Every member of the family is expected to be at the dining table.

Spending time with family, particularly at meals, is an essential cultural concept.

And the breakfast table is the best place to start the day and to spend time with your favorite people while eating delicious food! 

Variations Across Regions in Turkish Cuisine

Turkish food reflects different regions, resulting in a diverse culinary scene throughout the country.

From the bustling markets of Istanbul to the tranquil villages in the east, each region boasts its unique flavors and specialties.

In the coastal areas, seafood takes center stage, with dishes like grilled fish and mezes made from the catch of the day.

Some popular recipes for the coastal area includes BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers, Watermelon Feta Salad with Basil and Cucumber, and Haydari (Turkish Yogurt Dip).

In the Aegean region, olive oil and fresh vegetables shine, giving rise to refreshing salads and herb-infused dishes such as Zeytinyagli Enginar Dolmasi - Stuffed Artichokes, Coban Salatasi (Turkish Shepherd's Salad), and Saksuka (Turkish Vegetable Meze).

Moving inland to Central Anatolia, hearty meat dishes and pastries such as Potato Borek (Patatesli Borek), Turkish Moussaka - Patlican Musakka, and Turkish Rice Pilaf (Sehriyeli Pilav) dominate the table, reflecting a more robust and land-based diet.

To the southeast, spices and bold flavors define the cuisine, resulting in aromatic kebabs and stews such as Lamb Shish Kebab, Turkish Lahmacun, and Patlican Kebabi - Eggplant Kebab.

The Black Sea region leans on its agriculture, featuring dishes enriched with corn, anchovies, and leafy greens.

Lastly, the southeastern provinces embrace Middle Eastern influences, leading to dishes like baklava and kebabs served with pita bread.

These differences highlight the diverse cultures and landscapes that shape Turkish food, creating unique recipes that celebrate Turkey's culinary history.

Health Benefits of Turkish Food

Turkish food is full of nutrition and is cooked with seasonal fresh ingredients.

All around the nation, Freshly produced fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy products, and meat result in highly nutritious and delicious food. 

Spices and flavorings in Turkish cuisine are not only adding deliciousness to food but also act as antioxidants and help strengthen the immune system.

Turkish pogaca

Did you make any of these recipes? Please let me know how they turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

I hope you enjoy the process of making these Turkish Breakfast recipes as much as you enjoy eating them! 🙂 

Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!

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Comments

  1. Mina

    They all look so delicious, I can’t wait to try them!

    Reply

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