Check out some of the most popular must-try Turkish recipes that bring authentic flavors straight to your kitchen. Turkish cuisine is all about fresh seasonal ingredients, bold spices, and rich traditions. From hearty kebabs to delightful pastries, these recipes will be a family favorite.
Turkish Delight
This homemade Elderflower Turkish Delight (Lokum) is a fun, modern twist on a classic Ottoman treat. It's incredibly easy to make, and you don't need any fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients. Not a fan of elderflower? No worries—you can easily switch it up with your favorite flavor!
To learn more: Homemade Elderflower Turkish Delight (Lokum)
Doner Kebab
If you want to try some popular and delicious Turkish street food at home, this Doner Kebab Recipe is an excellent choice.
It is a popular dish that people all over the world enjoy, just like pizza, pasta, and hamburgers. It can be served as a fancy meal or as a delicious street food you can eat on the go.
To learn more: Turkish Doner Kebab Recipe
Cig Kofte
This Easy Meatless Çiğ Köfte Recipe is a vegetarian twist on the popular Turkish street food from Urfa, a city in southeastern Turkey. It also makes a great appetizer or meze and is similar to Kibbeh Nayyeh from Levantine cuisine.
To learn more: Easy Meatless Çiğ Köfte 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
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
Boza Drink
Turkish Boza Drink is a delicious, unique, and nutritious fermented beverage that has been around for centuries.
Depending on the location, it's typically made from corn, millet, bulgur, rice, or wheat. Boza has a thick texture, low alcohol content (around 1%), and a subtly sweet, tangy, and slightly acidic taste.
To learn more: Turkish Boza Drink
Homemade Walnut Baklava
This Authentic Turkish Walnut Baklava is a scrumptious creation that beautifully combines layers of filo pastry with the richness of walnuts and a sweet simple syrup. But what truly makes this recipe special is the love and artisanship that goes into creating each delicate layer of hand-rolled phyllo sheets.
To learn more: Authentic Middle Eastern Walnut Baklawa
Kuru Fasulye
Kuru Fasulye is a hearty and rich Turkish stew made with white beans and diced lamb or beef slowly cooked in a tomato sauce. In Turkey, every "lokanta" (a small restaurant that serves cheap, cheerful but tasty ready-made meals) has this famous dish on its menu. I have been to one of them in Istanbul that only serves "Kuru Fasulye and Turkish Rice Pilaf" dished up together.
To learn more: Kuru Fasulye
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
Simit - Turkish Sesame Bagels
Simit (also known as Simit Bread or Turkish Sesame Bagel), is a sesame-crusted circular bread that is usually served for breakfast. It is often sprinkled with sesame seeds and has a slightly sweet and nutty taste.
Same as Pogaca (Turkish Cheese Buns) and Turkish Boyoz Pastry, Simit bread is one of the most popular street foods in Turkey and you can easily buy them from cafes, bakeries, or small food carts.
To learn more: Simit (Turkish Sesame Bagel)
Ayran - Turkish Yogurt Drink
If you've ever visited Turkey, you may have come across a popular beverage called Ayran.
This refreshing Yogurt Drink is a staple in Turkish cuisine and is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.
To learn more: Ayran (Turkish Yogurt Drink)
Cokertme Kebabi
Cokertme Kebabi is a traditional Turkish dish consisting of marinated beef strips and thin crispy fries covered with tomato sauce, and yogurt.
This delightful kebab originates from a village in the Milas district of Muğla province and is widely available in restaurants. 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
Tantuni
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.
To learn more: Tantuni
Kumpir - Turkish Baked Potatoes
Kumpir is a Turkish Style Baked Potato filled with a delicious pile of toppings such as cheese, olives, salads, and dill pickles. 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.
To learn more: Kumpir - Turkish Baked Potato
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. 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
Ramazan Pidesi
Delicious, fluffy, and slightly chewy Turkish Pide Bread - Ramazan Pidesi (or Ramadan Pide) is a no-knead flatbread traditionally eaten during holy Ramadan.
This authentic Turkish Bread is best when served warm, fresh out of the oven.
To learn more: Turkish Pide Bread - Ramazan Pidesi
Imam Bayildi - Vegetarian Stuffed Aubergines
Imam Bayildi (Turkish Stuffed Aubergine) is a classic Ottoman dish made with aubergines cooked in a generous amount of olive oil and then stuffed with a mixture of onions, tomatoes, and garlic.
To learn more: Imam Bayildi (Turkish Stuffed Eggplant)
Yaprak Sarma - Stuffed Grape Leaves
Yaprak Sarma (or Yaprak dolma - Yalanci Dolma) is an authentic vegetarian Turkish dish made from Grape Leaves Stuffed with aromatic rice, fresh Mediterranean herbs, and spices. It's a popular choice for special occasions and gatherings.
To learn more: Yaprak Sarma - Stuffed Grape Leaves
Juicy 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
Bulgur Pilavi
Bulgur Pilavi or Turkish Bulgur Rice Pilaf is a healthy side dish that pairs perfectly with grilled meat or chicken, kebabs, casserole dishes, and hearty stews.
This Turkish cuisine staple is very easy to make with only a few ingredients and is ready in just half an hour.
To learn more: Bulgur Pilavi (Turkish Bulgur Rice Pilaf)
Ezo Gelin Soup
Ezogelin Corbasi (Ezogelin Soup) is a spicy and buttery legume soup made with lentils, bulgur, rice, stock, and tomato paste.
This hearty and absolutely delicious soup is a Turkish cuisine favorite, especially during the cold winter days.
To learn more: Ezogelin Corbasi (Ezogelin Soup)
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