What to Eat in Istanbul - Mouth-Watering Turkish Delicacies!

If what to eat and what not to eat is the question, then ‘EAT EVERYTHING’ is the answer. Name one man on earth who doesn’t love Turkish food. Rich and savory, not spicy particularly – the delicacies among the Turkish foods have been littering the menus of restaurants all over the world. From the whole big world of Turkish delicacies, we bring to you some of the best items of everyone’s choice. BEWARE – This can give you an instant Foodgasm.

1. Mantı – Turkish Raviolis

Imagine meat-stuffed miniature raviolis! That’s what Mantı is– boiled or fried beef/lamb dumplings accompanied by a various range of spices.

Must Try: With yogurt or butter

2. Köfte – Turkish Kofta

The Turkish version of meatballs, köfte are balls or patties made of lightly cooked ground beef or lamb. Often sold in wraps.

Must Try: Stewed, in sandwiches, over salads or plain with yogurt

3. Lahmacun – Turkish Tacos

Flat and crispy, Lahmacun is like a pizza served with a topping of minced meat,salad and lemon juice on a bread and can be wrapped, folded in half, or pulled apart to eat.

Must Try: With tomatoes, lettuce, parsley; try adding some lemon on it

4. Menemen

Less seen on a restaurant menu, Menemen can be a quick breakfast item of scrambled eggs cooked in sautéed vegetables.

Must Try: With fresh bread, spoon it up with some homegrown olives

5. Şiş Kebap

Did you know that your seek kebab originated in Turkey? Add lamb to the list of chicken or fish being served on a wooden or metal rod and you are relishing Şiş Kebap.

Must Try: With yogurt

6. Döner

Try kebab sandwich prepared with slow cooked chicken, lamb, or beef meat served with vegetables, spices, and garlic yogurt.

7. İskender Kebab

Iskender kebab is long strips of lamb cooked in tomato sauce and served over rice and pita bread with yogurt.

8. Corba

A simple soup dish – choices are lentil or tomato. Go adventurous with your culinary preferences and try it with sheep brain or tongue soup.

9. Çiğ köfte

Çiğ köfte are spicy balls made with bulgur, onion, pepper and tomato pastes, spices and herbs – all kneaded together and cooked. It’s sold from takeaway places in a lettuce leaf.

10. Pilav (Pilaf)

Delicious, buttery toasted! Plain rice cooked in water with butter/vegetable oil and noodle is Pilav. It is also cooked with eggplants, chickpeas, meat or liver slices with thyme, pepper, cinnamon cumin and almonds.

11. Yaprak Sarma

Vine leaves wrapped around a filling of rice and onion flavored with mint, currant, pepper and cinnamon are steamed to prepare what is an exquisitely healthy Yaprak Sarma.

12. Dolma

Fresh vegetables or dried eggplants, peppers, tomatoes or zucchinis are stuffed with a mixture of rice and onion before cooking in water and butter. Are usually served at room temperature.

13. İmam Bayıldı

Stuffed with a tomato, onion and garlic mixture this aborigine entree is filled with rice, bulgur and other veggies, this Turkish delicacy is baked in oven and served with Pilaf.

14. Borek

Always flaky and delicious, this Turkish pastry is filled with minced meat or spinach and cheese. It can be rolled, served as puffs, or layered like lasagna.

15. Durum

Turkish version of a burrito, dürüm is slow cooked chicken, lamb, or beef served inside a wrap.

16. Kumpir

Another street food that is popular in the beach side resorts and cities. Made of jacket potato with a crisp outer skin and soft inside, it is available with a variety of toppings to choose among– cheese, sausage, pickles, and Russian salad.

17. Baklava- Turkish Petha

Possibly the most popular Turkish desserts, Baklava finds its fan in anyone with a sweet tooth. It is made of layers of filo pastries stuffed with nuts.

Must Try: With ground pistachios. Must be eaten fresh

18. Lokum

Also known as Turkish Delight, this nougaty dessert is a firm jelly-like cube flavoured with rosewater, lemon, or mastic, and dusted with powdered sugar, but there are many variations.

Must Try: With pomegranate and pistachio flavor

19. Halva

The Turkish halva is made from tahini (crushed sesame paste) and sugar, sometimes with other ingredients added.

Must Try: With pistachio

20. Mozzaik Pasta

Fancy a chocolate cake with broken biscuits– that’s what Mozzaik Pasta is. Available in almost any café, it is artfully delicious.

It was really tough to keep my mouth dry behind the teeth while writing this article. It gives me a crave to just go and eat some Turkish food right now. Being in Mumbai and eating Turkish food is not that exciting but atleast it gives a nostalgia. When you are in turkey, do open this link and refer before you order, trust me you will love every food in this list