Turkish Cuisine

food history · Mediterranean · Ottoman Empire · Middle East

Kebabs and mezes. The southeastern region of Turkey is famous for its amazing variety of kebabs (grilled meat on skewers) and mezes (small appetizer dishes). These flavorful foods are so popular that they've spread to restaurants all around the world.

Eggplant everywhere. Turkish cooks use eggplant in many creative ways, especially in vegetable stews called türlü. Stuffed eggplant dishes and other eggplant recipes are beloved throughout the country.

Fresh fish traditions. Along the Black Sea coast, people eat lots of fresh fish, especially a small fish called hamsi (Black Sea anchovy). Fish dishes are a huge part of what makes Black Sea cooking special.

Sweet, flaky desserts. Turkish desserts like baklava, kadayıf, and künefe are made with layers of thin pastry, nuts, and honey or syrup. These treats are so popular that people enjoy them in Turkish communities all around the world.

Ottoman court influence. Turkish cooking comes from the Ottoman Empire's royal kitchens, which mixed recipes and cooking styles from Central Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East into something totally new and delicious.