Magical Morsels of Turkey: Your Comprehensive Food Guide

Turkish cuisine evolved over 500 years of Ottoman Empire, transforming itself into one of the finest cuisines of the world, covering three continents and influenced by an array of foreign cultures. Even today, the fertile lands throughout the country make available the freshest produce, ample fish and livestock to be served up at the tables of the Constantinople restaurants. The generous use of superior quality oils, spices and nuts add to the well-honed perfection of the fare. Here are some of the great gastronomic experiences in Turkey, that you must try!

Mezze

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At the onset of any Turkish meal, a collection of petite dishes called Mezze are served to stimulate the appetite. Common types of Mezze include a refreshing yogurt dip, stuffed vegetables, small dishes of eggplant in tomato sauce, potatoes in olive oil, deep fried cigar-shaped pastries filled with meat and pine nuts, bean dips like hummus paired with warm pita bread, array of salads, olives, cheese, sautéed liver...the list goes on. The restaurants here offer a different set of hot and cold Mezze platters to tease the taste buds before the mains.

Best at: ARMAGGAN Nuruosmaniye Store, Cat 5 Nuruosmaniye Cad. No: 41 Nuruosmaniye.

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Dolma

Another member of the Mezze family is Dolma but it deserves a place of pride of its own and hence this tantalising dish deserves to be described in intricate detail. Dolma is stuffed vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes wrapped in vine leaves, it provides a comforting briny Mediterranean kick. The stuffing of this famous dish range from herbed rice and pine nuts, to minced meats and rice. The best place to enjoy this leafy delicacy is at the Dolma Mahtab restaurant. 

Kuzu or Pilic Tandir 

Kuzu Tandir is a rural and rustic delicacy made from braised lamb or chicken, with a simple sauce served in a well-sealed earthen pot and is reminiscent of a picnic on the countryside. This slow-cooking technique seals all the juices and flavours, and the final result is a highly aromatic light dish. The whole act of breaking off the lid of the Tandir using a small sword proves to be a fascinating experience. The best restaurant for Kuzu Tandir is called the Sirkeci Restaurant;  they let the customer break off the lid with a knife.

Location: Sirkeci Restaurant, Nobethane Caddesi Serdar Sok No: 24, Istanbul +90 212 526 26 64

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Iskender Kebap

This mouthwatering dish is one that shouldn’t be missed. Iskender Kebap, as the name extolls, is named after Alexander the Great. Made up of thinly-sliced marinated and roasted meat drenched in butter and topped with a tomato sauce, it is indeed the king of all kebaps. Served with pita bread, tomato sauce and ladles of hot butter, it is indeed a meal fit for a king that one keeps returning for more. The best restaurant for good quality Iskender Kebap is Uludag Kebapcisi. 

Kokoretsi

Also known as Kokorec, this dish is not for the faint-hearted and is nothing like anything anyone would have ever tried before. Kokorec is the intestine of lamb, wrapped around organ meats, seasoned with lemon, olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper and grilled rotisserie-style to perfection. The innards are chopped and cooked on a girdle with tomatoes and green peppers; this dish is paired perfectly with a side dish of pickles and pita. Kral Kokorek, which is run by Hasan Usta, right by the Spice Market is a great place to try this mouth-watering dish.

Location: Kral Kokorek which is run by Hasan Usta, at 54 Buyuk Postane Street

Manti

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This delectable meat-filled ravioli dish served with garlic yogurt and a tomato sauce with an unusually sweet name, “Manti,” is a prize winner. This delicately crafted pasta graced the Ottoman kitchens and was probably replicated from the Chinese dumplings. Different restaurants serve it with different sauces. The most popular sauce is the hot butter sauce whereas those with a milder palate can request for a tomato sauce or yogurt instead. The best Manti can be found at Ahmet Adnan Saygun, which is a family run restaurant with over 30 years of manti making experience and leaves their customers licking their fingers with delight.

Location: Ahmet Adnan Saygun Cd. Metehan Sk. Türkel Apt. No: 1/1 2.Ulus / Etiler / İSTANBUL

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Grilled Fish 

Grilled Fish sounds exceptionally mundane, but sometimes the simplest foods are the best tasting. The crispy char grilled skin that envelops the soft white flesh of the fish cooked to perfection with a good portion of freshly cut salad and a wedge of lime is extremely soul satisfying. The best place for good quality, fresh and a locally sourced fare is at the unpretentious seafood restaurant called Set Balik.

Location: Set Balik: Haydar Aliyev cd. No:18, Tarabya 34467 İstanbul

Kumpir: Potatoes

Kumpir or Turkish baked potato is an exciting and delicious recipe for potato lovers. This one pound potato sealed with butter and cream, crowned with a dizzying array of toppings is a delectable street food. This can be enjoyed by the Istiklal Avenue at a small stall called Patatos. A perfect evening activity is snacking on a warm Kumpir whilst watching the bazaar sale and the boats sail by on the Bosphorus.

Location: Istiklal Cd, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul.

Simit Bread 

This crispy round sesame bagel can be found lurking beside the cream cheese at a hotel breakfast buffet and also sold by street vendors in the mornings. A circular white bread, typically encrusted with sesame seeds, poppy, flax or sunflower seeds, originated in the kitchens of the Ottoman Empire. The temptation to walk over to Simit Sarayi to start the day is usually more significant than the bountiful buffet provided by the hotel. 

Location: Simit Sarayi, Istiklal Cad | Taksim Sq, Istanbul.

Desserts - Baklava, Turkish Delight, Lokma and Pistachio Dondurma

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Baklava is Turkey’s sweetest treasure. The rich, sweet taste of golden filo pastry held together by honey and baked with pistachio dust sprinkled created sweet alchemy. This delightful surprise was first produced in the majestic imperial kitchens of Topkapi Palace and has a strong Roman influence. Initially the Greeks and Turks both claimed Baklava as their own - after all, it is a dessert worth fighting for! The best restaurant to have good quality Baklava, at a reasonable price is at the family restaurant, Sutis. 

Turkish Delight brings back fond memories of Edmund and Jadis the White Witch from the Chronicles of Narnia. It comes in all shapes, sizes, and colours, and can be tried to one’s heart's content at Sutis in Istiklal Avenue. These small cubes of jelly infused with rose water, fruit juice and adorned with nuts are the perfect snack after a long day of shopping.

Lokma is a Turkish street food which represents the combination of a Jalebi (deep fried fermented batter soaked in sugar syrup) and a Gulab Jamun (spongy balls of dairy again soaked in sugar syrup). The average helping is around five golf ball sized spheres covered in copious amounts of sugar syrup; however, it is extremely rare to find elsewhere in the world, and a sweet-toothed traveller should eat a significant amount when it is available.

Turkish Pistachio ice cream is not just an incredible treat but a performance par excellence. Be sure to be equipped with a camera to record the creative service of the ice cream by a traditional ice cream maker, as it is a sight to be seen. Moda, an ice-cream chain, sells the most famous ice-cream from Kahramanmaras throughout the country. The sellers are easy to recognise as they are usually dressed in red and gold costumes with large pointy hats. The local favourite is the pistachio flavour, be sure to get your scoop whiles the stock last. 

Drinks - Turkish Coffee and Ayran

The thick, bitter and unfiltered magical concoction known as Turkish Coffee is famous among many coffee enthusiasts. Served with a piece of chocolate or Turkish Delight to combat the intense aftertaste, it beats any combination of beverages found at Starbucks. The ground beans at the bottom of the cup can be used in forms of Tasseography fortune telling. 

Another beverage which deserves a place of pride is Ayran, a cold yogurt drink blended with salt, and is famous in many Middle Eastern countries. It is akin to a salted Lassi and can be found in any restaurant or gas station providing a refreshing and healthy alternative to aerated drinks.