Craving for some tasty Turkish treats but don’t have a clue where to start? Here are 10 special Turkish recipes that should be perfect for your hungry palette.
1. Kebaps
Ever wondered what those big slabs of roasted meat you see in most Turkish restaurants were? The ones where they take big chunks off and serve it in all its tasty and juicy form? Those are called Kebaps. Pronounced askebap[Sheesh keh-bahp,] this is traditionally made using Turkish free-range lamb skewered under a true charcoal grill. It can also be made from beef or chicken.
2. Hummus
Present in many traditional Turkish restaurants, Hummus is dip or spread made from chickpeas. Normally given as an appetizer, it is often served with pita bread. Frequently, the taste of the hummus can differ from one restaurant to another depending on how it is prepared.
3. Yaprak Sarma
What makes the Yaprak Sarma an interesting dish is the use of matrogi, a fermented sweet product made from hard-boiled eggs. Normally served on a sieve made of julienne leaves, it is used as a appetizer. The taste of the matrogi is often compared to a cucumber, therefore, it is often classed as a vegetable. However, it is considered an appetizer as opposed to a veggie as it contains meat.
4. Ev Yemekleri ((Home Cooking)
Now, this one is rather unusual. Usually, Turkish restaurants in the UK will serve the Ev Yemekleri. And I am not talking about the cheese!
This traditional Christmas dish is made by flavoring the noodles with saffron and then coating them in cumin and walnut. It is similar to the spinach salad and should be sampled by the vegetarians in your crowd.
5. Lahmacun
For fast-food and pizza lovers, the Lahmacun is a must-taste meal. It is spicy, it is thin and it is good. It is made with white rice and flavoured with lemon and coriander. Over the years, it has become a staple delicacy in Turkey.
6. Döner
A Döner is one of the many dishes that have become synonymous with Turkey. Like the Kebap, it also consists of meat, rice and flavoured with red chilli. The difference is that Döner is served on a bed of fresh lettuce. It is a mix of grilled meats and rice. One of the most popular dishes, Döner Mangal makes it famous in particular.
7. Manti
For the vegetarians, Manti is a staple dish. It is commonly prepared with chickpeas stuffed with garlic, lemon, onion and occasionally, yoghurt. Another big thing about Manti is that it can be baked, fried or even cooked in the oven.
8. Pilav
If you’re heading to Turkey, you’ll need to make sure you get Pilav. For those who haven’t heard of it, it’s a Turkish casserole with chickpeas, eggplant, peppers, potatoes, sausage and cauliflower. You’ll also find that there’s sometimes almond paste or Wholegrain mustard added to the dish, which is how Turkish people make the Pilav a even healthier dish.
9. Antayenik
The Antayenik is a dish of carrots, meat, liver, onions, sometimes tomato and of course, mint. Turkey fry masala replaces the need for liver in this dish. This can be a meal all on its own, especially when you learn about the secrets of the Turkey fryer.
10. Köfte
For those who fancy fish, the Köfte is a traditional dish. Preparing this fish involves marinating it with soured cream, garlic, dill, and then baking it in the oven. There’s also a bit of history about this dish: in order to please the king, the emperor, and other grandees, the chef had to serve the dish at a high price. The dish was only fit for royalty and the like.
There are so many books about Turkish food and amazing recipes that you can learn and master these dishes. Not only that, but Turkish food is also relatively cheap when compared to some other cuisines. You’ll see that Turkish food is becoming more and more popular in the UK and we hope that Medium will be able to provide more and more exciting recipes from Turkish food for us.
