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    Cooking Gorgeous » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Kumpir - Turkish Baked Potato

    Published: May 25, 2022 · Modified: Mar 26, 2023 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Kumpir (or Turkish Style Baked Potato) is a popular Turkish street food made with large baked potatoes served with a pile of delicious toppings and finished with a sauce such as mayonnaise, yogurt, ketchup, or sour cream.

    kumpir topped with various fillings

    Same as Gozleme (Turkish Pancakes), Izmir Kumru, Turkish Boyoz Pastry, and Turkish Lahmacun, this Turkish street food is very easy to make at home with a few simple ingredients.

    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works?
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • Topping Ideas
    • How to Make Kumpir?
    • Top Tips From the Chef
    • How to Serve Kumpir?
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Kumpir - Turkish Baked Potato

    Baked Kumpir Potato dish is highly popular throughout Turkey. And the most famous place to eat them is in Istanbul, a waterfront district with a view of the Bosphorus called "Ortakoy". The good news is that you can easily make your own Kumpir at home with step-by-step instructions. 

    serve kumpir while still warm

    Kumpir is a versatile dish, and toppings can vary depending on the region or personal preferences. It is typically served hot and fresh out of the oven, and it is a popular fast food or snack in Turkey.

    The popular toppings are cheese, butter, sweetcorn, peas, tuna, sausages, olives, and some sort of salad such as Kisir (Turkish Bulgur Salad), Turkish Pickled Red Cabbage, or Russian Salad (Olivier Salad).

    Why This Recipe Works?

    • To create a delicious Kumpir that you'll all love, you don't need to follow the recipe below apart from the few basic steps. Simply fill it with what you have/love!
    • It is extremely easy to make and very versatile. Unlike the jacket potato in the UK, which is usually served with cheese, beans, and butter, Kumpir - Turkish Baked Potato can be served with a variety of toppings.
    • You can easily make this popular street food vegetarian by omitting meat fillings.
    • The base for Kumpir always remains the same; large potatoes, butter, cheese, and a bit of seasoning. The rest is up to your imagination or what you have in your fridge/pantry!

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

    Labelled picture of ingredients for kumpir
    • Potatoes - Varieties like King Edward, Russet, and Desiree are the best potatoes for baking since their relatively high starch content gives you that soft and fluffy inside. When choosing potatoes for Kumpir, make sure they are nice and big as well as even in size to ensure that they bake evenly.
    • Butter - I use plenty of good quality salted or unsalted butter to fluff the potatoes.
    • Cheese - No Kumpir would be complete without plenty of cheese. I use kasar cheese, cheddar, and mozzarella but you can use any soft cheese or hard cheese you prefer.
    • Seasoning - Salt and pepper are enough for me but you can use extra flavorings such as cayenne, paprika, or grated nutmeg.

    Topping Ideas

    These are my favorite toppings for Kumpir. However, it is really up to you what to put on your potato and create your own delicious street food.

    • Homemade mayonnaise
    • Wild Garlic Pesto
    • Roasted red peppers
    • Sweetcorn
    • Russian Salad (Salad Olivier)
    • Sliced olives
    • Spring onions
    • Turkish Pickled Red Cabbage
    • Cornichon
    • Smoked sausages
    • Ketchup

    How to Make Kumpir?

    This delicious Kumpir recipe is extremely easy to make and very versatile. However, you need to follow a few simple steps to achieve the best results: 

    Bake the Potatoes

    Wash your potatoes thoroughly and wrap each in aluminum foil. Preheat your oven to 200° C (392° F) and put the potatoes on a rack in the middle. Bake the potatoes for about an hour and remove them from the foil. Cook for another fifteen minutes, or until they are cooked thoroughly.

    2 baked potatoes on a cutting board

    You can check them by poking them with a skewer or a small knife. Take the potatoes out of the oven, and cut them lengthwise, but not entirely through.

    Add 20 grams of butter, a pinch of salt&pepper and some of the cheese, and mix it thoroughly using a fork to fluff the inner flesh of the potato without damaging the crispy skin. 

    Butter and cheese added in a baked potato

    Place your Kumpir on a serving plate and add your favorite toppings. Serve immediately as Kumpir tastes best when made freshly.

    Kumpir is filled with various salad and fillings

    Top Tips From the Chef

    • Kumpir is traditionally made using large potatoes that have a high starch content. Look for potatoes that are oval in shape and have rough, thick skin.
    • Wash the potatoes and bake them in a preheated oven at 200° C (390° F) for about an hour or until they are fully cooked. The potatoes should be soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.
    • The middle of the potato needs to be as hot as you can handle to melt the butter and cheese to achieve a creamy texture. You can use a clean kitchen towel or tongs to hold the potatoes to avoid burning your fingers.
    • Kumpir is best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the oven. Serve it immediately with a side salad or some pickled vegetables for a complete meal.
    • The measurements for the toppings in the recipe card below might vary depending on your personal preferences.

    How to Serve Kumpir?

    You can serve Kumpir as a main meal along with a nice leafy salad such as Lebanese Fattoush Salad or Rocket Salad With Parmesan. You can also serve this Turkish-style baked potato as a side dish to your BBQ dishes or grills such as BBQ Garlic Butter Prawns, Mediterranean Baked Salmon, or Adana Kebap (Adana Kofte).

    Recipe FAQs

    Where is Kumpir originally from?

    According to some, Kumpir is originally from the Balkans, former Yugoslavia. However, Turks gave it a completely new style, as it is now baked and many different fillings are added. Others claim the exact opposite and say that the Ottomans introduced the potato to the Balkans during the expansion of their empire.

    Is Kumpir gluten-free?

    Yes, Kumpir is gluten-free as long as no gluten-containing ingredients are used in the toppings.

    Can I make Kumpir in advance?

    I do not recommend making Kumpir in advance, as the potato may become dry and lose its texture when reheated.
    Kumpir is best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the oven. However, you can prepare the toppings a couple of days in advance.

    Related Recipes

    For more delicious Potato dishes why not try:

    • Perfectly crispy sauteed potatoes with garlic and rosemary
      Crispy Sauté Potatoes with Garlic
    • Turkish pastries made with cheesy potato filling wrapped in yufka pastry
      Potato Borek - Patatesli Börek
    • Austrian potato salad served with rocket leaves
      Austrian Potato Salad (Erdäpfelsalat)
    • freshly baked Potato Boulangere
      Potato Boulangere

    Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

    I hope you enjoy the process of making this popular Turkish street food "Kumpir" as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂 

    Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!

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    kumpir - turkish baked potatoes

    Kumpir - Turkish Baked Potato

    Ayla Clulee
    Kumpir is a Turkish Style Baked Potato filled with a delicious pile of toppings such as cheese, olives, salads and dill pickles.
    5 from 4 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 55 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine Turkish
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 864 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 kitchen scale
    • 1 measuring spoons
    • 1 Measuring cups
    • 1 large baking sheet

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 large potatoes (Preferably Desiree, King Edward or Russet)
    • 80 g butter (cubed)
    • 200 g kasar cheese, mozzarella or cheddar cheese
    • 1 TSP salt
    • ½ TSP freshly ground black pepper

    Optional Topping Ideas

    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • ½ cup ketchup
    • ½ cup pickled red cabbage or beetroots
    • 1 cup salad Olivier (Russian Salad)
    • ½ cup sweetcorn
    • ⅓ cup sliced pitted olives
    • ⅓ cup cornichons or sauerkraut (cubed)
    • ¼ cup wild garlic pesto
    • ¼ cup spring onions (sliced)
    • ¼ cup chopped herbs
    • ⅓ cup sour cream or yoghurt
    • ⅓ cup sausages or sucuk

    Instructions
     

    • Wash your potatoes thoroughly and wrap each in aluminum foil.
    • Preheat your oven to 200° C (392° F) and put the potatoes on a rack in the middle.
    • Bake the potatoes for about an hour and then remove them from the foil. Cook for another fifteen minutes, or until they are cooked thoroughly. You can check them by poking with a skewer or a small knife.
    • Take the potatoes out of the oven, and cut them lengthwise, but not completely through.
    • Add 20 grams of butter, a pinch of salt&pepper and some of the shredded cheese, and mix it thoroughly using a fork to fluff the inner flesh of the potato without damaging the crispy skin.
    • Place your Kumpir on a serving plate and add your favourite toppings.
    • Serve immediately as Kumpir tastes best when made freshly.

    Notes

    • You can easily make this popular street food vegetarian by omitting meat fillings.
    • Kumpir is traditionally made using large potatoes that have a high starch content. Look for potatoes that are oval in shape and have rough, thick skin.
    • Wash the potatoes and bake them in a preheated oven at 200° C (390° F) for about an hour or until they are fully cooked. The potatoes should be soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.
    • The middle of the potato needs to be as hot as you can handle to melt the butter and cheese to achieve a creamy texture.
    • You can use a clean kitchen towel or tongs to hold the potatoes to avoid burning your fingers.
    • Place your Kumpir on a serving plate and add your favorite toppings. Serve immediately as Kumpir tastes best when made freshly.
    • You can check the doneness of potatoes by poking them with a skewer or a small knife.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 864kcalCarbohydrates: 94gProtein: 26gFat: 51gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 17gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 2101mgPotassium: 2006mgFiber: 11gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 1268IUVitamin C: 83mgCalcium: 405mgIron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingorgeous or tag #cookingorgeous!

    This post uses affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and then buy something, we get a small amount of commission to keep the site running, but it doesn’t cost you anything more.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amira

      May 27, 2022 at 2:40 pm

      5 stars
      Looks so amazing! Need to try this soon.

      Reply
    5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious easy-to-follow recipes and culinary inspiration await you! My name is Ayla Clulee, a passionate and professional Cordon Bleu-trained chef, recipe developer, and food content creator with decades of experience. I am based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here.

    The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy.

    More about me →

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