Istanbul, Turkey, is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. From its ancient Ottoman roots to its modern cosmopolitan vibe, the city has something to offer everyone.
And when it comes to food, Istanbul is truly a paradise.
With such a wide variety of dishes to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 10 must-try dishes in Istanbul:
1. Kebab
Kebab is one of the most iconic Turkish dishes, and for good reason.
It’s made with tender meat that’s been grilled or roasted to perfection, and it’s typically served with rice or bread and a side of salad or vegetables.
There are many different types of kebab, but some of the most popular include:
Doner kebab
This is the classic kebab that you see rotating on vertical spits at restaurants all over Turkey.
It’s made with thinly sliced meat that’s cooked until it’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Iskender kebab
This kebab is named after the city of Iskenderun, where it was invented.
It’s made with doner kebab that’s served on a bed of pide bread (Turkish pizza) with tomato sauce, yogurt, and butter.
Adana kebab
This kebab is made with ground lamb or beef that’s seasoned with spices and grilled on skewers.
It’s typically served with rice, pide bread, and a side of salad or vegetables.
2. Meze
Meze are small plates of food that are typically served before a meal or as a snack.
They come in a wide variety of flavors and textures, and they’re a great way to sample the diversity of Turkish cuisine.
Some of the most popular meze include:
Hummus
This chickpea dip is flavored with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic.
It’s typically served with pita bread or vegetables.
Baba ghanoush
This smoked eggplant dip is flavored with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic.
It’s also typically served with pita bread or vegetables.
Dolma
These stuffed grape leaves are filled with rice, ground meat, herbs, and spices.
They’re typically served warm or at room temperature.
Sigara boregi
These thin pastry rolls are filled with feta cheese, parsley, and other herbs.
They’re typically fried or baked until golden brown.
3. Baklava
Baklava is a classic Turkish dessert that’s made with layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey.
It’s typically served in small pieces and it’s a delicious way to end a meal.
4. Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight is another classic Turkish dessert that’s made with starch, sugar, and flavorings.
It comes in a wide variety of flavors, including rose, pistachio, and lemon.
Turkish Delight is typically cut into small cubes and it’s often coated in powdered sugar.
5. Simit
Simit is a ring-shaped bread that’s coated in sesame seeds.
It’s a popular street food in Istanbul and it’s often eaten for breakfast or as a snack.
Simit is typically served with cheese, olives, or jam.
6. Lahmacun
Lahmacun is a thin flatbread that’s topped with ground meat, tomatoes, onions, and spices.
It’s typically baked in a stone oven and it’s served with a side of lemon wedges and fresh parsley.
7. Pide
Pide is a Turkish pizza that’s made with a thin crust and a variety of toppings.
Some of the most popular pide toppings include ground meat, cheese, spinach, and potatoes.
Pide is typically served with a side salad or vegetables.
8. Menemen
Menemen is a Turkish egg dish that’s made with eggs, tomatoes, onions, and spices.
It’s typically served for breakfast or lunch, and it’s often eaten with bread.
9. Kuru fasulye
Kuru fasulye is a Turkish bean stew that’s made with white beans, onions, tomatoes, and spices.
It’s typically served with rice and it’s a popular dish for lunch or dinner.
10. Turkish coffee
Turkish coffee is a strong, dark coffee that’s typically served in small cups.
It’s often brewed in a cezve, which is a small copper pot.
Turkish coffee is typically served with a piece of Turkish Delight.
What are other dishes that you can try in Istanbul, Turkey?
Kestane (Roasted Chestnuts), Islak Hamburger (Wet Hamburger), Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza), Boza, Kumpir (Baked Potato), Kokoreç (Grilled Lamb Intestines), Börek (Filled Turkish Pastry), Baklava.
Those are among the additional dishes we exclusively suggest you try out in Istanbul, Turkey.
Let us know in the comments if you ever tried their delicious kitchen and how did you liked it?
Now let’s dive into the recipes of some of the 10 Must-Try Dishes in Istanbul, Turkey
Recipes
Kebab
Ingredients:
1 pound lamb or beef, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
Instructions:
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- In a large bowl, combine the lamb, onion, bell peppers, olive oil, salt, pepper, cumin, and coriander. Toss to coat evenly.
- Thread the lamb onto skewers.
- Grill the kebabs for 5-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
- Serve the kebabs with your favorite toppings, such as rice, grilled vegetables, and tzatziki sauce.
Baklava
Ingredients:
1 pound phyllo dough
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup honey
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a medium bowl, combine the walnuts, almonds, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Toss to coat evenly.
- Brush a 9×13 inch baking dish with melted butter.
- Place a sheet of phyllo dough in the bottom of the baking dish. Brush the phyllo dough with melted butter.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have used half of the phyllo dough.
- Sprinkle half of the nut mixture over the phyllo dough.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have used all of the phyllo dough and nut mixture.
- Brush the top layer of phyllo dough with melted butter.
- Cut the baklava into diamonds.
- Bake the baklava for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.
- While the baklava is baking, heat the honey in a small saucepan over low heat until melted.
- Once the baklava is baked, pour the melted honey over the top.
- Let the baklava cool completely before serving.
Turkish Delight
Ingredients:
1 pound cornstarch
1 pound sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon rose water
1/4 cup pistachios, chopped
Instructions:
In a large saucepan, combine the cornstarch, sugar, water, and lemon juice.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and turns translucent.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the rose water and pistachios.
Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
Let the Turkish Delight cool completely and solidify before cutting into pieces.
Turkish coffee
Ingredients:
1 cup water
2 tablespoons finely ground coffee
1/4 cup sugar (optional)
Instructions:
In a cezve, combine the water, coffee, and sugar (if using).
Place the cezve over medium heat and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1-2 minutes, or until the coffee has formed a foamy layer on top.
Remove the cezve from the heat and pour the coffee into two small cups.
Serve the Turkish coffee immediately.
How the dishes look?
Kebab: Kebab is typically served on a plate with rice, grilled vegetables, and tzatziki sauce.
The lamb or beef is cooked until it is tender and juicy, and the onion and bell peppers are softened and caramelized.
Baklava: Baklava is a rich and decadent dessert that is typically served in small pieces.
The layers of phyllo dough are flaky and buttery, and the nut mixture is sweet and nutty.
The baklava is often drizzled with honey or syrup before serving.
Turkish Delight: Turkish Delight is a soft and chewy dessert that is typically cut into small cubes.
It comes in a variety of flavors, including rose, pistachio, and lemon.
Turkish Delight is often dusted with powdered sugar before serving.
Turkish coffee: Turkish coffee is a strong and dark coffee that is typically served in small cups.
It is often served with a piece of Turkish Delight.
I hope you enjoy these delicious Turkish dishes!
