Authentic Turkish cuisine is all about fresh seasonal ingredients, exotic spices, and fresh herbs. You can create your own Turkish inspired feast at home with this collection of must-try authentically Turkish recipes. Whether you’re making a quick weeknight family dinner or hosting a party for a special occasion, these tried-and-true recipes will add a fun twist.
Tarhana Soup
Turkish Tarhana Soup, or Tarhana Çorbası, starts with dried tarhana powder—a fermented blend of flour, yogurt, and vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, onions, and herbs. The result is a deliciously rich, tangy soup with a creamy texture, perfect for chilly days or when you want something warm and nourishing.
To learn more: Turkish Tarhana Soup - Tarhana Çorbası
Sulu Kofte
Sulu Kofte is a rich and hearty Turkish Meatball Soup / Stew consisting of juicy meatballs and vegetables cooked in a tomatoey broth.
This traditional Turkish meatball dish is full of Mediterranean flavors and extremely easy to make.
To learn more: Sulu Kofte - Turkish Meatball Soup
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
Tas Kebabi
Tas Kebabi is a Turkish Beef Stew gently cooked with onion, garlic, spices, and stock until the meat is tender. This authentic beef stew is usually topped with sauté potatoes and peppers and served on a bed of Turkish Rice (Sehriyeli Pilav).
To learn more: Tas Kebabi - Turkish Beef Stew
Green Bean Stew
Etli Taze Fasulye Yemegi, or Green Bean Stew with Meat, is a traditional Turkish vegetable stew where fresh green beans and meat are simmered in a simple tomato sauce until tender. This delicious and simple summer dish has been a family favorite in our household for many years.
To learn more: Etli Taze Fasulye - Green Bean Stew with Meat
Braised Leeks
Zeytinyağlı Pırasa Yemeği (Turkish Braised Leeks) is a simple, unique, and delicious dish made with fresh and wholesome ingredients such as leeks, carrots, bulgur, and olive oil.
The slight sweetness of the carrots and leeks pairs perfectly with the nice tangy punch coming from lemon juice.
To learn more: Zeytinyağlı Pırasa Yemeği (Turkish Braised Leeks)
Cokertme Kebabi
Cokertme Kebabi is a traditional Turkish dish consisting of marinated beef strips and thin crispy fries covered with tomato sauce, and yogurt.
Same as Orman Kebabi and Tas Kebabi, this special Bodrum Çökertme Kebabı is very easy to make at home with a few fridge ingredients.
To learn more: Cokertme Kebabi
Turkish Okra
Bamya, also known as Bamia or Bamyeh, is a classic Turkish stew dish made with okra, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and lemon juice.
This delicious and healthy stew traditionally contains lamb, beef, or chicken, and the secret to its rich flavor is the long, slow simmering process that gently brings the flavors together.
To learn more: Bamya - Turkish Okra Stew
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)
Turkish Cabbage Rolls
Turkish Cabbage Rolls (a.k.a Lahana Sarmasi or Dolmasi) is a flavourful dish made of cabbage leaves filled with spiced meat&bulgur mixture.
You can prepare these stuffed cabbage rolls ahead and reheat them before serving them to your dinner guests. Perfect dish for entertaining!
To learn more: Lahana Sarmasi - Turkish Cabbage Rolls
Karniyarik - Meat Stuffed Aubergines
Karniyarik - Meat Stuffed Aubergines, also known as "split belly" in Turkish, is a popular and delicious dish that originated in the Ottoman Empire. This traditional recipe features tender aubergines stuffed with a savory mixture of minced meat, onions, tomatoes, and spices.
To learn more: Karniyarik - Meat Stuffed Eggplants
Turkish Meatballs
This spicy Homemade Kofte (Turkish Meatballs) recipe is extremely easy to make and full of flavor.
You can serve them as an appetizer on their own or as a main meal along with some Crispy Sauté Potatoes with Garlic, Greek Pita Bread, or Turkish Rice (Sehriyeli Pilav).
They are soft, juicy, and extremely delicious, the perfect comfort food to feed your family.
To learn more: Homemade Kofte (Turkish Meatballs) Recipe
Meat Borek
Turkish cuisine has a very large selection of borek recipes of all types and Kiymali Borek (Turkish Meat Burek) is probably one of the most popular among them. These scrumptious Turkish pastries are made with spiced mince and onions wrapped in yufka sheets. They are perfect for parties as finger food as well as for breakfast/brunch, picnics, or packed lunches.
To learn more: Kiymali Borek (Turkish Meat Burek)
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