The cuisine of Turkey is renowned for its diversity and flavour, drawing influences from all parts of the former Ottoman Empire. Each region of Turkey has its own special dishes; in the west of the country the cuisine is predominated by seafood, vegetables and olive oil, whilst in the south and east the food is generally spicier and richer.
Many restaurants in Turkey serve breakfast. A typical Turkish breakfast usually consists of bread, served with butter, jam or honey, and beyaz peynir (a white cheese similar to Greek Feta), together with Turkish tea. Other breakfast dishes may include sliced beef sausage, boiled eggs, menemen (a type of spiced omelette), olives, and tomato & cucumber salad.
The main meal of the day could be taken at midday or in the evening. A main meal usually starts with soup or meze. Meze is a selection of small dishes served to share, and may include hummus, baba ghanoush (a type of aubergine dip), stuffed vine leaves or peppers, or fried calamari.
A Turkish main course usually consists of fish or meat. Fish and seafood are particularly popular in coastal resorts (such as Istanbul), and the fish is usually served simply grilled to enhance its natural flavour. The most popular meats are chicken and lamb, frequently served cubed and grilled on a skewer (kebab) or minced and served as small spicy burgers (kofte). A main meal in Turkey is always accompanied by bread and usually rice, together with a tomato, cucumber and onion salad with a lemon and olive oil dressing.
The dessert is usually a plate of fresh fruit such as melon or watermelon, but Turkey also offers a wide variety of sweet desserts. The most famous of these is baklava (a confection made from layers of filo pastry filled with honey and nuts). Loukoumi (otherwise known as Turkish delight) is a sweet jelly flavoured with rosewater, and is best accompanied by black tea or Turkish coffee.
There is also plenty of choice for those who prefer a quick snack to a full sit-down meal. Popular Turkish snacks include borek (a type of pasty, filled with vegetables or spicy meat and covered in filo pastry), lahmacun or pide (types of Turkish pizza, corn on the cob, stuffed mussels, and the world-famous doner kebab.
Many restaurants in Turkey serve breakfast. A typical Turkish breakfast usually consists of bread, served with butter, jam or honey, and beyaz peynir (a white cheese similar to Greek Feta), together with Turkish tea. Other breakfast dishes may include sliced beef sausage, boiled eggs, menemen (a type of spiced omelette), olives, and tomato & cucumber salad.
The main meal of the day could be taken at midday or in the evening. A main meal usually starts with soup or meze. Meze is a selection of small dishes served to share, and may include hummus, baba ghanoush (a type of aubergine dip), stuffed vine leaves or peppers, or fried calamari.
A Turkish main course usually consists of fish or meat. Fish and seafood are particularly popular in coastal resorts (such as Istanbul), and the fish is usually served simply grilled to enhance its natural flavour. The most popular meats are chicken and lamb, frequently served cubed and grilled on a skewer (kebab) or minced and served as small spicy burgers (kofte). A main meal in Turkey is always accompanied by bread and usually rice, together with a tomato, cucumber and onion salad with a lemon and olive oil dressing.
The dessert is usually a plate of fresh fruit such as melon or watermelon, but Turkey also offers a wide variety of sweet desserts. The most famous of these is baklava (a confection made from layers of filo pastry filled with honey and nuts). Loukoumi (otherwise known as Turkish delight) is a sweet jelly flavoured with rosewater, and is best accompanied by black tea or Turkish coffee.
There is also plenty of choice for those who prefer a quick snack to a full sit-down meal. Popular Turkish snacks include borek (a type of pasty, filled with vegetables or spicy meat and covered in filo pastry), lahmacun or pide (types of Turkish pizza, corn on the cob, stuffed mussels, and the world-famous doner kebab.
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