National dishes of Turkey: overview, features, history and interesting facts

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

What is interesting about Turkish national cuisine? What features does she have? You will find out the answers to these and other questions by reading our article.

Turkish national cuisine is characterized by simple recipes, variety and high quality ingredients used in cooking. All these characteristics provide an excellent taste experience. The centuries-old domination of the Ottoman Empire in the Turkish lands has left gastronomic traditions to the modern country. They trace the culinary characteristics of the Balkans, Central Asia and the Middle East.

A little about the national dishes of Turkey

In the dishes of this country, there are a large number of components such as peppers, tomatoes, roast lamb, yogurt sauces and eggplant.

Dishes of this state will delight lovers of good food. Because the portions are big. If we talk about cold and hot snacks, they are usually small. These products are perfectly combined on the same table with salads. Such dishes are already suitable for lovers of light food.

Regional national cuisine of Turkey. Features

Interestingly, Turkish cuisine varies slightly depending on the region.

For example,cooking technology in Izmir, Istanbul and Bursa inherited some elements of the cuisine of the Ottoman court. Rice is preferred in these regions, and seafood is often used. Although spices are added to dishes here in small quantities.

In the Black Sea region, which was influenced by Slavic and Balkan cuisines, fish is widely used. There are also a lot of dishes made from corn here.

Kebabs are famous for the cuisine of the southeastern region of the country. It also serves a variety of flour desserts and meze snacks.

There are many olive groves in the western part of the country. Therefore, olive oil is used abundantly for dressing.

The cuisine of the Aegean, Mediterranean and Marmara Seas is rich in fresh vegetables, fish and herbs.

Keshkek with barley and chicken stew is a signature dish in central Anatolia.

It is interesting that the difference in the names of the same dishes can indicate regions of origin and, as a result, different cooking techniques. For example, the main differences between "astana kebab" and "urfa kebab" are the thickness of the skewer on which the meat was cooked and the amount of red pepper. The last named dish is less spicy. But at the same time, a thicker kebab is obtained.

Kahv alti - Turkish breakfast

"Kahv alti" is Turkish for "before coffee". Breakfast in this country is usually varied and plentiful. As a rule, the morning menu consists of products such as:

• cucumbers;
• various varietiescheese;
• butter;
• tomatoes;
• fermented milk "kaymak";
• olives;
• cheese;
• honey;
• jam.

Besides, there are bacon, bagels or cookies and buns on the table.

Traditional breakfast food is menemen. The dish includes olive oil, eggs, green peppers and onions. Turkish tea is served here for breakfast.

Turkish lunch

The main course at the dinner table is meat (lamb or beef).

Turkish citizens often prepare Dener Kebab. What is this dish? This is a big sandwich. It consists of finely chopped spit-roasted beef (or lamb) wrapped in a flatbread.

Sometimes vegetables and rice are served with meat as a side dish. Also in this country there is a Turkish pizza, which is called "lahmacun". This dish is prepared only by men. They make pizza from thinly rolled dough. Baked on the oven with minced meat, onions and tomatoes. Turkish pizza is different from what we are used to.

Washed down with "airan". It is a drink made by mixing water, s alt (a pinch) and yogurt.

Classic Turkish Dinner

The evening meal begins with appetizers. Then dinner continues with the main meal. The meal ends with savoring aromatic coffee with spices.

What foods are used as snacks? Of course, dolma. These are grape leaves stuffed with pilaf. Another snack that happens at dinner is sarma. This dishis cabbage leaves stuffed with plov.

Usually, cold appetizers are prepared from various vegetables. The most popular are:

• "Haydari" is a yoghurt with sugar, mint and cheese;
• "karidesh guvech" - shrimp baked with spices, tomatoes and garlic;
• "firinda mantar" - baked champignons with cheese (two kinds) in sauce.

Cold appetizers are usually made with mixed vegetables.

The main course is meat. It can be both barbecue, kebab, and ribs, chops. For example, beğendi tas kebabı is a popular dish. These are pieces of meat (either chicken or lamb is taken), which are fried, served with a side dish of eggplant puree.

Another popular dish is şiş köfte kebabı. These are lamb meat balls. They are served on a skewer. Also known in Turkey is such a dish as testi kebabı. This dish is finely chopped pieces of beef stewed in a pot in a sauce.

Turkish coffee finishes the evening meal. It is served in small cups. Coffee is made from finely ground roasted beans.

Meat dishes

In some regions of the country, meat is consumed only during Karban Bayram and at wedding ceremonies. But pilaf with meat is an integral part of the daily menu of the Turks.

Previously, the citizens of this country tried not to eat veal. Now everything has changed. Turks eat it with pleasure. Also, the citizens of this country use lamb for cooking dishes. ATThe basis of many national dishes of Turkey is minced meat and vegetables. For example, kıymalı ıspanak (spanak with minced meat) and kıymalı fasulye (beans with minced meat) are popular dishes here.

Also, in the process of cooking, such varieties of fish as: sardines and anchovies are used. In addition, the local citizens eat eggs and chicken meat.

Kebabs

Kebabs are the common name for meat dishes that are cooked on a spit. What are the national dishes of Turkey? For example, doner kebab. During the cooking process, the meat is fried on a spit. Then it is cut into thin pieces. They are placed in a cake cut in half. Then add the sauce and vegetable garnish.

Also popular meat dishes are:

1. Berek - bagels with minced meat, herbs and cheese.
2. Adana kebab – skewered minced meat (peppered).
3. Iskender kebab - lamb marinated in tomato sauce, melted butter, flatbread slices.

Chorba soups

The national dishes of Turkey are soups. They are served for breakfast. There are these dishes lentil. They are called mercimek.

Popular Turkish Soups:

1. Tomato. It's called Domates.
2. Cabbage soup.
3. Tarhana - a soup made from flour, dried vegetables and yeast.
4. Chicken soup with almonds.
5. Tutma (lentil noodle soup).

Sweets and pastries

Turkish spicy sweets are known all over the world. Baklava and revani (syrup pie) are popular treats.

Alsosweets such as “pekmez” (thickened grape syrup), “lokma” (fried sweet balls with syrup) and “kabak tatlysy” (boiled pumpkin with syrup) are known.

Doner kebab

Let's start looking at the recipes of national Turkish dishes with a dish called doner kebab.

For cooking you will need:

• two tablespoons of yogurt;
• four legs;
• tablespoon olive oil;
• pepper;
• two onions;
• s alt;
• two teaspoons of vinegar;
• two cucumbers;
• half a glass of yogurt;
• pita;
• bunch of dill or cilantro.

Cooking the national dish of Turkey: a step by step recipe

1. Cut the meat into small pieces.
2. After s alt and pepper them.
3. Then fill with yogurt, olive oil. Leave it to marinate for two or three hours.
4. Meanwhile chop the onion, sprinkle it with vinegar.
5. After finely chop the cucumber. Then mix it with the onion.
6. Then fry the meat until tender.
7. Then mix chopped greens with kefir. Then s alt the ingredients.
8. Then cut the pita in half. Place a chicken in each half. Then add onions, cucumbers. Then pour over everything with kefir sauce.

Kefte

Now you know what Turkish cuisine is, we consider its recipes in the article. Now the technology for preparing such a dish as kefte will be described. These are Turkish meatballs. They can be both without sauce and with it.

For cooking you will need:

• garlic clove;
• one egg;
• s alt;
• one bulb;
• sesame;
• half a kilo of minced meat;
• spices;
• half a cup of walnuts.

Step-by-step recipe for cooking at home

1. Fry nuts in a frying pan. After one half of them grind in a food processor into flour. Coarsely chop the remaining nuts.
2. Mix minced meat, add nut flour, chopped onion, garlic, spices. Leave in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
3. Form balls from minced meat, roll in sesame seeds. Place in an oiled mold. Place in the oven for 40 minutes.

Jeserie

Jezerje is a type of delight. The delicacy is made from carrot juice. Nuts are also added to the dessert.

Required for cooking:

• a glass of hazelnuts, coconut flakes;
• 500 grams of carrots (finely grated);
• zest of one lemon;
• one and a half cup sugar (brown);
• 0, 5 cups starch (cornstarch);
• tablespoon of water.

Cooking process

1. Grate the carrots. Add a tablespoon of water.
2. Simmer over low heat covered until the carrots are soft.
3. After add sugar. Simmer until the vegetable releases juice and the sugar has melted.
4. Put starch. Stir as you go.
5. Then add zest, nuts. Stir. Remove from heat.
6. Wet the baking sheetwater.
7. Lay out a mass of three cm thick. Smooth out. Refrigerate overnight.
8. After cut into pieces. Then roll in coconut.

Baklava

Baklava is the sweetness of the East that smells of honey and nuts. It is believed that this delicacy is a dessert of the sultans.

For cooking you will need:

• three hundred grams of butter;
• two teaspoons of cinnamon;
• three tablespoons of sugar;
• two packs of puff pastry (yeast-free);
• four cups of almonds.

To prepare the syrup you will need:

• three glasses of water;
• cinnamon;
• four cups of sugar;
• ½ cup honey.

Turkish Dessert Step by Step Recipe

1. Chop almonds finely, mix with cinnamon, sugar.
2. Melt butter.
3. Roll out the dough.
4. Cut it into shape.
5. Grease the first sheet with oil, lay the second on it. Oil it too. Add sugar and nuts to the next layers.
6. Top with oil. Place in the oven to bake for twenty minutes.
7. Then mix all the ingredients for the syrup. Bring to a boil over low heat.
8. Pour the product with the resulting syrup. Leave it overnight. Then cut.

Turkish coffee

For cooking you will need:

• glass of water;
• sugar;
• two teaspoons of coffee (finely ground);
• a pinch of s alt.

Preparation of fragrant Turkish coffee

1. Pour coffee, s alt and sugar into the cezve. Stir, fill with water.
2. Put on low heat.
3. As soon as the foam rises, remove the cezve from the stove. Wait 2 minutes, put on fire. Wait for the foam to rise. Leave it after. Repeat this procedure a few more times. Then serve coffee.

Conclusion

Now you know what Turkish dishes are. People have different opinions about Turkish cuisine. Some liked the new dishes. Others perceived the national dishes of Turkey as something strange. Although in any case, each person in the entire list of dishes will definitely find a suitable meal.