If you love trying out different cuisines in the world, you must have a Turkish food expedition. Amazingly tasty foods with so many complex flavors will make you fall in love with Turkish food. Turkish cuisine is quite popular for both their street & restaurant foods.
It is indeed a majestic experience to visit a traditional Turkish restaurant. The traditional regal interiors & distinct atmosphere will certainly make you feel like a royal guest. Although, the food is where the true royalty lies In.
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6 Tasteful Turkish Food Dishes
Once you try the rich and delicious traditional Turkish foods, you will come again & again. Besides, the food items are so diverse that you will struggle to pick a dish from the menu.
Everything is impressive in its way. But some of them are loved by literally everyone who tried them. Following is a list of such four dishes that you must try out at a Turkish restaurant:
1. Doner Kebab – Turkish Food
It is quite impossible to discover a Doner Kebab joint yet resist this yummy street food. This finger-licking fast food is a national favorite in Turkey. Despite having some similarities with Greek Gyros, the Turkish Doner is way tastier and more loved by everyone.
This particular food is found almost everywhere in the world.
Also popular in its other name Shawarma, the Doner Kebab is made with chicken, lamb or beef. The slow roasting stacked layers of meat get infused by so much flavor that you will feel like a savory party in your mouth.
Doner kebab is served with pita bread or rice. But most of the people prefer it with pita bread. It is a dish that you should never deny. So don’t miss to try out this signature Turkish food whenever you find a Turkish Doner kebab shop.
2. Baklava – Turkish Food
Baklava is another intricate Turkish dish that has gained huge admiration all over the world. It is the focus of any Middle Eastern bakery as their best selling pastry. Extraordinarily luscious taste has helped this dish to become one of the most famous foods in the world.
Buttery layers of pastry sheets with a nut layer soaked in gorgeous sugar syrup is the key to a delicious piece of Baklava.
The melt in the mouth texture & pleasant bites of different type of nuts certainly makes it a true delight for every sweet tooth out there. You will surely love this one even if you are not that much into desserts.
The best part about baklava is, it is indeed easy to make. You can make this dessert easily at home with your own choice of nut mixtures. So, do give this dish a try and enjoy a sweet experience of this delightful Turkish food.
3. Turkish Pizza Pide
It seems quite surprising to see the name of an Italian dish as a Turkish food, doesn’t it? But the truth is, this Turkish pizza is completely different from an Italian pizza.
Despite having some similarities in the concept, the Turkish pizza (also known as Pide) has different looks, preparations & flavor profiles.
It is basically a flatbread with different varieties of toppings. Beef, chicken or even vegetables, you can make it with the topping of any choice. The boat shape gives an iconic look to this pizza, making it a lot different than an Italian one.
Although the use of cheese & tomato sauce may seem like a typical Italian pizza. But various herbs, vegetables, and meat preparation are where it makes a difference.
Crispy texture with ooey gooey cheese and a unique Turkish flavor contribute to a delightful experience that you will love.
This dish is indeed popular as both fast food and main course meal. It is also quite easy to make. So do give it a try & enjoy this exotic version of pizza.
4. Turkish Pastry Borek
Borek is also a Turkish favorite that you can find at any Turkish street food stall. Those who are not a fan of desserts & sweet dishes, Borek is indeed perfect for them. It is basically a Turkish version of meat puff but it is a lot different.
Buttery phyllo pastry roll with a flavorful meat, vegetable or cheese stuffing delivers a super delicious dish.
The buttery aroma is so good that it will instantly boost your appetite. Besides, the stuffing features some classic favorite meat fillings that everyone loves. Although the Turkish people traditionally use spinach & feta cheese for the stuffing. But either way, it is delicious.
The Börek is like the savory version of Baklava, in different shape & taste, but the same buttery goodness in pastry. The Börek is not that much available as street food, but it is widely popular as homemade Turkish food.
With the touch of love and affection, the Börek has reached to every Turkish table. So do try this one at home to get the true essence of the intimate Turkish family recipes.
5. Turkish Breakfast
The Turkish breakfast includes so many delicacies that the whole set deserves a standing ovation. Having a Turkish breakfast is like a once in a lifetime experience. This meal includes a range of yummy food items that will make you fall in love with Turkish cuisine.
Just imagine having a Turkish breakfast buffet at a hotel with your beloved one, nothing can be more perfect than that!
Usually, Turkish breakfast includes a range of savory & sweet dishes. For example, Turkish sausage, Cilbir (which is popularly known as Turkish eggs. Sunny side up eggs with just the right amount of heat with chili oil, gorgeous!),
Turkish bread and lastly, the famous Turkish coffee to complete the best breakfast of your life! Other than these dishes, other Turkish delicacies are also served in Turkish breakfast.
The best part of the Turkish breakfast is, they have the taste of heaven, yet they’re surprisingly light. You can literally eat these dishes every day instead of your boring breakfast cereals.
I mean, no offense! And they’re quite easy to make, so a table of Turkish breakfast is all you need to start off a great day.
6. Turkish Ice Cream
If you never heard of Turkish ice cream, you’ve probably never browsed on social media! I mean, come on! Who hasn’t seen Turkish ice cream pranks yet? This viral ice cream won everyone’s heart for not only street food humor but also its exceptional taste.
You are probably wondering about what’s special in this mere ice cream that makes it so popular?
Apart from the viral pranking techniques, the Turkish ice cream has just the right amount of happiness in one portion. It includes a range of uncommon ingredients that make it different from any other ice cream all over the world. The sticky, elastic texture with an exceptional flavor will make you agree with us.
So what’s the secret ingredient? Many of you have been jamming the internet looking for its recipe. But guess what?
The ingredients are pretty much the same as any ordinary ice cream, only two unusual ingredients called Salep & Mastic(made by grinding up orchid tubers) & Mastic (Natural resin collected from a special plant) are used to achieve that sticky & elastic texture.
But the technique is where the preparation gets different.
The outstanding texture and taste come from pounding the ice cream into a doughy, elastic texture, which gives an extraordinary taste when chilled.
Another best part of Turkish ice cream is, it doesn’t melt like any other ice creams, stays creamy for a long time. So that’s the secret of that viral Turkish ice cream.
Take your kids to the ice cream store and let the vendors prank the kids with the techniques. So, do not miss the opportunity to call up your inner devil and make a stir. If not, just go out with them to taste this amazing ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Turkish Food?
It’s quite tough to pick the best dish from such a rich cuisine. However, if I had to pick only one food, I’d choose Baklava. Because, Baklava is such a food that will always put a smile on your face no matter how you feel.
What Is The National Food Of Turkey?
There’s no official national food in Turkey. Even though, Baklava and kebabs are considered as the national food because of their popularity
How To Make Turkish Breakfast?
You can successfully pull off a table of Turkish breakfast with Turkish sausages, Turkish eggs, Turkish bread, and lastly, Turkish coffee. You can find the recipes online.
Is Turkish Food Spicy?
Turkish foods are not as spicy as Indian or Mexican food, but if you are heat intolerant, we’d suggest not to have Turkish food.
Is Turkish Food Halal?
Being a Muslim country, most of the Turkish dishes are halal. So worry not!
In Conclusion
So there goes our choice of four must-try Turkish dishes. Each of them is tasty in its own way. So, try these out to get a taste of the diverse experience of Turkish food.
