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

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

The national cuisine of Turkey is distinguished by simple recipes, a variety and high quality ingredients that are used in the preparation. All these characteristics provide an excellent taste experience. The centuries-old domination of the Ottoman Empire on Turkish lands has left gastronomic traditions in the modern country. They trace the culinary features of the Balkan, Central Asia and the Middle East.

A little about the national dishes of Turkey

In the dishes of this country in a large number of such components as: pepper, tomatoes, fried lamb, yogurt sauces and eggplant.

Dishes of this state will delight lovers of a good meal. Since the portions here are rather big. If we talk about cold and hot snacks, then they are usually small. These products are perfectly combined on the same table with salads. Such dishes are 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 Ottoman courtyard. In these regions rice is preferred, and seafood is often used. Although spices are added to the dishes in small quantities.

In the Black Sea region, which was influenced by Slavic and Balkan cuisines, fish are widely used. Also, a lot of corn dishes are prepared here.

Kebabs are famous for the cuisine of the south-eastern region of the country. A variety of flour desserts and meze snacks are also served here.

In the western part of the country there are many olive groves. Therefore, olive oil is abundantly used for refueling.

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

The main dish in central Anatolia is “keshkek” with barley and chicken, stew.

It is interesting that the difference in the name of the same dishes can talk about the regions of origin and, as a result, about 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 kebab is thicker.

Kahvalti - Turkish Breakfast

“Kahvalti” from Turkish translates as “before coffee.” Breakfast in this country is usually varied and plentiful. As a rule, the morning menu consists of products such as:

• cucumbers
• various types of cheeses;
• butter;
• Tomatoes
• sour milk "kaymak";
• olives;
• feta cheese
• honey;
• jam.

In addition, there are bacon, bagels or cookies and rolls on the table.

The traditional breakfast item is the memen. The dish includes olive oil, eggs, green peppers and onions. Turkish tea is served here for breakfast.

Turkish lunch

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

Turkish citizens often cook Dener Kebab. What is this dish? This is a big sandwich. It consists of finely chopped beef (or lamb) roasted on a spit, which is wrapped in a tortilla.

Sometimes meat and vegetables are served as a side dish. Also in this country there is Turkish pizza, which is called "lahmajun". This dish is prepared only by men. They make pizza from thinly rolled dough. Baked on a stove with minced meat, onions and tomatoes. Turkish pizza differs from the usual for us.

It is washed down with "Ayran". This is a drink that is obtained by mixing water, salt (pinch) and yogurt.

Classic dinner in Turkey

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

What foods are used as snacks? Of course, dolma. These are plov stuffed vine leaves. Another appetizer that happens at dinner is sarma. This dish is a cabbage leaf, which is stuffed with pilaf.

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

• “Haidari” is a yogurt with sugar, mint and feta cheese;
• “Karidesh gyuvech” - shrimps baked with spices, tomatoes and garlic;
• “Firinda Mantar” - baked champignons with cheese (two kinds) in sauce.

Cold snacks are usually prepared from a mixture of vegetables.

The main course is meat. It can be like kebab, kebab, and ribs, chops. For example, beğendi tas kebabı is a popular dish. These are pieces of meat (either chicken or lamb), 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 stewed in a pot finely chopped pieces of beef in 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 the Karban-Bayram period and at wedding ceremonies. But pilaf with meat is an integral part of the daily menu of the Turks.

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

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

Kebabs

Kebabs are the common name for meat dishes prepared on a spit. What are the famous national dishes of Turkey? For example, doner kebab. During cooking, the meat is fried on a spit. Then they cut it into thin pieces. They are stacked in a biscuit cut in half. After add the sauce and vegetable side dish.

Also popular meat dishes are:

1. Berek - bagels with minced meat, herbs and cheese.
2. Adana kebab - spit-fried minced meat (peppered).
3. Iskender kebab - lamb marinated in tomato sauce, with ghee, sliced ​​tortillas.

Chorba soups

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

Popular turkish soups:

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

Sweets and pastries

Spicy sweets of Turkey are known all over the world. Baklava and rhubarb (syrup cake) are popular treats.

Also known are sweets such as “pekmez” (thickened grape syrup), “lokma” (fried sweet balls with syrup ”), and“ tatlis tavern ”(boiled pumpkin and syrup).

Doner kebab

We begin to consider recipes of national dishes of Turkey with a dish called doner kebab.

For cooking you will need:

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

Cooking Turkish national food: a step-by-step recipe

1. Slice the meat into small pieces.
2. After salt them and pepper.
3. Then pour yogurt, olive oil. Leave it to marinate for two or three hours.
4. At this time, chop the onion, sprinkle it with vinegar.
5. After finely chop the cucumber. Then mix it with onions.
6. Then fry the meat until cooked.
7. Then mix chopped greens with kefir. Then salt the components.
8. Then cut the pita in half. Put chicken in each half. After add onions, cucumbers. Then pour everything with kefir sauce.

Kefte

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

For cooking you will need:

• clove of garlic;
• one egg;
• salt;
• one onion;
• sesame;
• a pound of minced meat;
• spice;
• half a glass of walnuts.

Step-by-step recipe for cooking at home

1. Fry the nuts in a pan. After one half, grind them in a combine into flour. Chop the remaining nuts coarsely.
2. Stuff the minced meat, add the peanut flour, add the chopped onion, garlic, spices. Leave in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
3. Form balls from minced meat, roll in sesame seeds. Put in a greased mold. Put in the oven for 40 minutes.

Geserrier

Geserrier is a type of Turkish delight. The treat is made from carrot juice. Nuts are also added to dessert.

To prepare, you need:

• a glass of hazelnut, coconut;
• 500 grams of carrots (grated finely);
• zest of one lemon;
• one and a half glasses of sugar (brown);
• 0.5 cups of starch (corn);
• a tablespoon of water.

Cooking process

1. Grate the carrots. Add a tablespoon of water.
2. Simmer over low heat under a lid until soft carrots.
3. After add sugar. Stew until the vegetable secretes the juice and the sugar melts.
4. Put the starch. Stir in the process.
5. Then add the zest, nuts. Shuffle. Remove from heat.
6. Moisten a baking sheet with water.
7. Spread a mass of three cm. Smooth. Send overnight in the refrigerator.
8. After cut into pieces. Then roll in coconut.

Baklava

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

To prepare you will need:

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

To prepare the syrup you will need:

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

Step by step recipe for making Turkish dessert

1. Chop the almonds finely, mix with cinnamon, sugar.
2. Melt the butter.
3. Roll out the dough.
4. Slice it in shape.
5. Grease the first sheet with oil, put the second on it. Oil it too. To the next layers already add sugar, nuts.
6. Lubricate the product with oil on top. Put in the oven to bake for twenty minutes.
7. Then mix all the ingredients for the syrup. Bring to a thickening over low heat.
8. Pour the product with the resulting syrup. Leave it overnight. After cut.

Turkish coffee

For cooking you will need:

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

Making aromatic Turkish coffee

1. Pour coffee, salt and sugar into a cezve. Mix, 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. After set aside. Repeat this procedure a few more times. After serving coffee.

Conclusion

Now you know what are Turkish dishes. Reviews about Turkish cuisine are different for people. Some liked the new dishes. Others took the national dishes of Turkey as something strange. Although in any case, every person in the entire list of dishes will surely find a suitable dish.