{"id":98880748,"date":"2023-09-11T08:33:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-11T12:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/travel-trends\/turkish-delights-five-tasty-treats-to-try-in-turkey\/"},"modified":"2024-10-01T11:29:53","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T15:29:53","slug":"turkish-delights-five-tasty-treats-to-try-in-turkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/turkish-delights-five-tasty-treats-to-try-in-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkish Delights: Tasty Treats to Try When You’re in Turkey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Turkey<\/a> is a fascinating country that is saturated with history and culture. There is just so much to see and take in that one can\u2019t help but get hungry along the way. Luckily, Turkish cuisine has much to offer. Here are some of our favorite items:<\/p>\n

D\u00f6ner<\/h2>\n
\"close

D\u00f6ner kebab<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

D\u00f6ner kebabs are a popular meat dish to eat while you\u2019re on the go in Turkey. Various meats (lamb, goat, chicken, beef) are roasted on a vertical spit before being shaved into individual portions. The meat is often served in a pita with yogurt sauce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce. How\u2019s that for healthy, fresh fast food?<\/p>\n

Menemen<\/h2>\n
\"Menemen\"

Menemen<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

For a savory treat, menemen is a popular Turkish breakfast dish made from eggs cooked with tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and spices. Often enjoyed with bread, menemen is a comforting and hearty way to start the day and a favorite among locals.<\/p>\n

B\u00f6rek<\/h2>\n
\"B\u00f6rek\"

B\u00f6rek<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

B\u00f6rek is a versatile and popular Turkish pastry made from thin layers of dough filled with a variety of ingredients, such as cheese, minced meat, or spinach. The dough is folded and baked to a golden crisp, making b\u00f6rek a savory snack that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.<\/p>\n

Pide<\/h2>\n
\"Pide\"

Pide<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Often referred to as Turkish pizza, pide is a boat-shaped flatbread topped with a variety of ingredients, such as cheese, eggs, minced meat, and vegetables. It\u2019s a popular street food and a satisfying meal that showcases the diversity of Turkish flavors.<\/p>\n

Simit<\/h2>\n
\"Traditional

Simit<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Turkish breakfasts tend to feature a savory and sweet spread of cheese, butter, olives, cucumbers, boiled eggs, jams, and honey. You need something to accompany all of these accoutrements of course, which is where simit comes in. Simit is a circular bread, covered with sesame seeds. Simit is traditionally known as a breakfast food, but I could eat it all day long.<\/p>\n

Beyazpeynir<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

One of the most common Greek cheeses is beyazpeynir, a salty, white cheese (beyazpeynir means \u201cwhite cheese\u201d) that is used in salads and melted into hot dishes. It is similar to a Greek feta, although slightly milder in flavor.<\/p>\n

Ayran<\/h2>\n
\"Ayran

Ayran with mint and cucumber<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Ayran, the perfect antidote to a hot afternoon, is a cold, blended beverage made from yogurt, water and salt or fresh mint (depending on your preference). It is frothy, delicious, healthy and oh so refreshing. Ayran can be consumed by itself or as a compliment to a midday meal.<\/p>\n

Dondurma<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Dondurma<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Turkish ice cream, known as dondurma, is famous for its distinctive texture and resistance to melting, thanks to the addition of salep (ground orchid root) and mastic. It\u2019s often served with a theatrical flair by street vendors who delight in playfully handing over the ice cream cone to eager customers.<\/p>\n

Baklava<\/h2>\n
\"Baklava\"

Baklava<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

A visit to Turkey isn\u2019t complete without indulging in baklava, a rich and sweet pastry made from layers of filo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. Often flavored with cinnamon or cardamom, baklava is a quintessential Turkish dessert that pairs perfectly with a cup of strong Turkish coffee.<\/p>\n

K\u00fcnefe<\/h2>\n
\"K\u00fcnefe\"

K\u00fcnefe<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

K\u00fcnefe is a traditional Turkish dessert made from shredded phyllo dough (called kaday\u0131f), layered with soft cheese, baked until golden, and soaked in sweet syrup. It\u2019s typically garnished with crushed pistachios and served warm, creating a delightful contrast between the crispy outer layer and the gooey cheese center.<\/p>\n

You Might Also Enjoy: Fairy Chimneys, Cave Churches, and Balloon Rides — Explore Cappadocia, Turkey<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Lokum<\/h2>\n
\"Variety

Lokum, or Turkish Delight<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Known as \u201cTurkish Delight\u201d to most of the world, lokum are a favorite Turkish confection. Lokum are made from a bash of starch and sugar, which forms a gel to which flavors can be added. Popular flavors include rose, mint, orange, cinnamon, and vanilla. High-quality lokum include chopped dates and pistachios, which lends a nice textural contrast to the smooth gel base. Even though lokum are traditionally eaten at the end of a meal, I have a hard time not sneaking a few throughout the day.<\/p>\n

FAQs:\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n

Q: Where can I find the best baklava in Turkey? <\/strong>
\nA: Istanbul<\/a> is known for having some of the best baklava shops in Turkey. Places like Karak\u00f6y G\u00fcll\u00fco\u011flu and Haf\u0131z Mustafa are famous for their high-quality baklava, made using traditional recipes.<\/p>\n

Q: Are Turkish foods like d\u00f6ner and b\u00f6rek available for vegetarians? <\/strong>
\nA: Yes, vegetarian versions are available. B\u00f6rek can be filled with cheese, spinach, or potatoes. For d\u00f6ner, you can look for vegetarian wraps filled with falafel or grilled vegetables.<\/p>\n

Q: How is dondurma different from regular ice cream? <\/strong>
\nA: Dondurma has a chewy texture and doesn\u2019t melt easily due to the inclusion of salep and mastic. This makes it a unique experience compared to regular ice cream.<\/p>\n

Q: Can I find these Turkish dishes outside of Turkey? <\/strong>
\nA: Many Turkish dishes, such as d\u00f6ner, baklava, and b\u00f6rek, are popular worldwide and can be found in Turkish or Middle Eastern restaurants in major cities.<\/p>\n

Q: What is a typical Turkish breakfast like? <\/strong>
\nA: A typical Turkish breakfast features items like beyazpeynir (white cheese), simit, olives, boiled eggs, cucumbers, tomatoes, and honey. It\u2019s often accompanied by Turkish tea or ayran.<\/p>\n

Q: Is ayran suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals? <\/strong>
\nA: Ayran is a yogurt-based drink, so it contains lactose. Those who are lactose intolerant might need to avoid it or look for lactose-free versions.<\/p>\n

Q: How do you eat pide? <\/strong>
\nA: Pide is often sliced and eaten by hand, similar to pizza. It\u2019s a popular street food, and you can enjoy it with a variety of toppings, like cheese, meat, or vegetables.<\/p>\n

Did we leave off your favorite Turkish treat? Tell us about it in the comments below!\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Turkey is a fascinating country that is saturated with history and culture. There is just so much to see and take in that one can\u2019t help but get hungry along the way. Luckily, Turkish cuisine has much to offer. Here are some of our favorite items: D\u00f6ner D\u00f6ner kebabs are a popular meat dish to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":98914887,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,71],"tags":[1560,174],"class_list":["post-98880748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-general","tag-istanbul","tag-turkey"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98880748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98880748"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98880748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98920556,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98880748\/revisions\/98920556"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98914887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98880748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98880748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98880748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}