Istanbul is one of the most beautiful and unique cities in the world. There are many different things and places to see, and the people are unequivocally welcoming and warm. These are some of the major reasons that the Turkish city has become one of the prime tourist destinations around the world – visiting this destination is truly unlike any other trip you could possibly take. Istanbul is recognized for its architectural beauty, but many don’t know about the delicious food in the city. Here are the popular foods in Istanbul.
What many people fail to consider when determining whether Turkey will be their next stop is the fact that the food in Istanbul is decadent. It’s traditional while remaining modern, and once again, unlike the cuisine of any other nation in the world. If the culinary arts and food industry of a country is one of the reasons you take into account when you travel, then Istanbul is surely not to be missed.
In this article, we’ve taken a closer look at Turkish cuisine to find out exactly what you are likely to expect, foodwise, when you make your journey to Istanbul. Thereafter, we’ve delved into a list of some of the best and most iconic dishes that you should keep an eye out for when you get to Istanbul.
Let’s get started!
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What is Traditional Turkish Cuisine?
Turkish cuisine is difficult to truly narrow down and explain in simple terms, mainly because there are many different types of standard food in Istanbul that fall into the category. From cereals, grains, pasta, meat dishes, fish, soups, and curries, the list never seems to end. This only means one thing though – when you arrive in Istanbul you will be spoilt for choice, and the city will undoubtedly have something that everyone will enjoy.
Generally, Turkish dishes tend to incorporate some common ingredients. Many people consider the traditional ingredients of Turkish cuisine to be quintessentially Mediterranean and therefore to be extremely healthy. Some of the common ingredients in the food you’ll come across in Istanbul include:
- Olive oil
- Sunflower oil
- Butter
- Yoghurt
- Bulgur
- Grape molasses
Overall, the menu in Istanbul is rich and unique. The food that you’ll be eating is unlike anything you’ll have eaten anywhere else, especially if you reside in the more Western nations of the world, like the United Kingdom or the United States of America.
So, without further ado, let’s discover the different and iconic dishes that you’ll be eating in Istanbul.
Traditional Food in Istanbul
We’ll start off with the standard food in Istanbul that you simply have to try in order to fully experience the culinary culture of the city. These dishes are those that have been perfected by the Turkish and are the types of homely meals that you would eat at a family lunch on a Sunday.
Mucver (Zucchini Fritter)
Starting off with an absolute staple of the traditional Turkish menu is Mucver. This dish has been most likened to what people know as a vegetable fritter or pancake. Except, the main difference that makes this dish quintessentially Turkish is the fact that it is made with one of the most popular summer vegetables in the country: Zucchini.
The batter of the fritter or pancake is made with shredded Zucchini along with flour, oil, eggs and salt.
The beauty of this dish is that it is exceptionally versatile, and many other vegetables of your or the chef’s choosing can be added to the fritter, as long as shredded Zucchini is the primary ingredient. Other vegetables that are commonly added to this dish include potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic.
Borek (Savoury Pie)
Pastry, especially savoury pastries like the traditional British pie, are also extremely popular in Istanbul. Because of this, you are more than likely to come across a dish known as Borek. Borek is a national dish in Turkey, and it is traditionally made with a flaky pastry, filled with either a combination of spinach and cheese or meat like pulled beef or pork.
Borek, in its presentation, can be most closely related to lasagne because each layer of the dish alternates between the delicious savoury pastry and the filling option mentioned above. The pastry puffs and filling are rolled together and either baked in an oven or roasted on a hot pan.
A fun fact about Borek is that Turkish people in cities like Istanbul prefer to eat it as a breakfast meal, while in the more rural areas of the country, Borek is eaten as a night-time delicacy.
Pide (Flatbread or Turkish Pizza)
When most people think about Turkish cuisine and traditional Turkish foods, their minds will almost instantly go to flatbreads and pizzas. They are certainly not wrong, as many dishes in cities like Istanbul prefer to incorporate some kind of starch in the form of oven-baked bread. Flatbread just so happens to be the most popular.
However, when you go to eat popular food in Istanbul, like Pide, you might be surprised at the way the meal is prepared. Traditionally, Turkish people like to prepare their flatbreads using a thick dough and filling it with all kinds of interesting ingredients. Some of the most common Pide filling choices include fresh vegetables, cooked spinach, and savoury meat combinations like mince and beef or pork.
Street Foods in Turkey
Now that we’ve covered three traditional, common foods in Turkey, it’s time we take to the streets. The dishes discussed above are either regarded as national treasures that should be prepared by professional chefs in restaurants or be prepared at home by the family chef. Street foods take a much more laissez-faire approach and are prepared in a much faster manner, while still retaining the quintessential Turkish ingredients and flavours.
Here are a few street food dishes that you must try in Istanbul:
Doner Kebab
Doner kebabs have made their way around the world and have become a late-night staple in the UK and a food that’s greatly enjoyed in Germany. However, this is an iconic Turkish tradition that originates from a spit-roast style of cooking. Doner kebab is made of meat that’s cooked on a vertical rotisserie, with slices cut off to serve in pita or flatbreads. As the meat cooks the edges get charred, adding to the flavour, and garlic and sauces are poured down from the top to enhance the flavour.
They make the perfect street food in Istanbul as they can be added to just about any meal or served on their own with a dipping sauce.
Kestane Kebab (Roasted Chestnuts)
When you’re roaming the colourful streets of Istanbul, you may want to stop somewhere for a quick snack or find something traditional to carry along with you on your journey. If that is the case, then look no further than Kestane Kebab, which is simply chestnuts that are roasted on a grill with their skins still on.
This snack is greatly enjoyed by everyone in the city, from inhabitants and citizens to tourists who are visiting. Nuts are also an important part of the Mediterranean diet that the Turks follow, which makes Kestane Kebab fall well within that definition.
Kestane Kebab certainly isn’t something that everyone will enjoy, but they have been eaten for 100s of years by the people of Istanbul, making it an age-old snack in the city.
Kofte Ekmek (Meatball Pita)
Just like with flatbreads, many people consider Pita bread, combined with yoghurt, to be one of the most popular foods in Turkey, without even visiting. This popularity of the Pita as a street food in Turkey speaks simply to its decadence, simplicity, and deliciousness.
Kofte Ekmek is but one variation of the popular Pita bread dishes in Turkey, and it was chosen here simply because it seems to be the one that resonates most with both tourists and locals of Istanbul. Kofte Ekmek originates from Western Turkey but spread across the country during the era of the Ottomans, meaning that the dish has survived the test of time.
Generally, a Kofte Ekmek will contain the following ingredients: Pita bread, coleslaw or fresh vegetable salad, yoghurt, and beef meatballs. As simple, and delicious, as can be!
Famous Turkish Desserts
Now that we’ve covered a few important main course meals that you should try in Istanbul, it’s time we answer the question of those with a sweet tooth…
Does Turkey have any good dessert dishes?
The answer is a resounding yes!
Baklava
Even if you’re not from Istanbul, there is a strong chance that you’ve heard of, and maybe even tried, the delicious Turkish dessert known as Baklava. This dish has been so loved by tourists and visitors of the country that it has transcended boundaries and become a staple dessert in Western countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
But what exactly is Baklava?
For those who haven’t tried it, Baklava might sound a little bit out of the ordinary when it comes to desserts. Typically, Baklava refers to a layered dessert of filo pastry, chopped-up pistachio nuts, and an accompanying sweet syrup or honey. It is simply a must-eat when visiting Istanbul.
Lokum (Turkish Delight)
Once again, a Turkish dessert made became world famous with Turkish Delight. Many people hear the name of this sweet dish and instantly think of a small sweet that you can buy in a general store. In Turkey, they do Turkish Delight slightly differently, more traditionally, and as a full-plated dessert to enjoy after your main course.
Lokum, as it is called in Istanbul, refers to a confectionary of gels and sugars that is used to create sweet brick-like food figures which are then cut up into smaller bits. One thing that makes it different in Turkey is the fact that Turkish chefs tend to incorporate sweet vegetable flavours like carrots and pumpkin.
Ayran (Drinkable Yoghurt)
Now we delve into the most traditional of Turkish desserts, one that is enjoyed by the oldest residents of the country, due to the fact that it has been around for such a long time, and that dessert is known as Ayran.
This dessert consists of a sour yoghurt that is drunk through a straw. Many people enjoy the fermented flavour of the drink as it is often mixed with sweeter syrups, sweets, and honey, to counteract the active flavours.
An Istanbul Eating Experience
Turkish cuisine is unique, decadent, and undoubtedly tasty! For foodies, the culinary experience of Istanbul might be enough to purchase a plane ticket, but if you are travelling to the great Turkish city for any other reason, be sure to delve into some of the incredible meals mentioned above!
Sources:
https://yummyistanbul.com/street-food-istanbul/
https://theistanbulinsider.com/top-10-things-to-eat-in-istanbul/
Penny is a sought-after wedding and party planner, known primarily for her exquisite culinary knowledge, sharp palette and inventive pairings of wine and drink.
She has traveled the world hunting for the best food and drink to share with her clients on their special day.