The most delicious Turkish dishes | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
Destinations
Food & Drink
News
Stay
Video
More
Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Destinations
Food & Drink
News
Stay
Video

Follow CNN Travel

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • 2025 Elections
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
    • Climbing
    • Esports
    • Hockey
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN10
    • CNN Max
    • CNN TV Schedules
  • Listen
    • CNN 5 Things
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • One Thing
    • Tug of War
    • CNN Political Briefing
    • The Axe Files
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • All CNN Audio podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN
Destination Turkey
Ad Feedback

The most delicious Turkish dishes

Updated 4:38 AM EDT, Wed July 5, 2023
Link Copied!
<strong>Piyaz:</strong> The traditional version of  this Turkish salad or meze includes a soft-boiled egg that's chopped up and mixed through before the dish is served.
Piyaz: The traditional version of this Turkish salad or meze includes a soft-boiled egg that's chopped up and mixed through before the dish is served.
Shutterstock
<strong>Ezogelin corba: </strong>An invigorating soup made of red lentils, tomato paste, grated fresh tomatoes and onions.
Ezogelin corba: An invigorating soup made of red lentils, tomato paste, grated fresh tomatoes and onions.
Shutterstock
<strong>Saksuka:</strong> A traditional Turkish side dish, saksuka consists of eggplant, zucchinis, garlic, tomatoes and chili.
Saksuka: A traditional Turkish side dish, saksuka consists of eggplant, zucchinis, garlic, tomatoes and chili.
Shutterstock
<strong>Kısır:</strong> This simple salad dish contains fine bulgur wheat, tomatoes, garlic, parsley and mint.
Kısır: This simple salad dish contains fine bulgur wheat, tomatoes, garlic, parsley and mint.
Shutterstock
<strong>Mercimek kofte: </strong>Served in bite-sized portions, this popular appetizer's main ingredients are bulgur, red lentils and various spices.
Mercimek kofte: Served in bite-sized portions, this popular appetizer's main ingredients are bulgur, red lentils and various spices.
Shutterstock
<strong>Yaprak dolma:</strong> While there are various versions of this traditional dish, the Isparta offering is prepared by cooking seasoned rice, and placing the contents on a vine leaf, which is then rolled into small cylinders.
Yaprak dolma: While there are various versions of this traditional dish, the Isparta offering is prepared by cooking seasoned rice, and placing the contents on a vine leaf, which is then rolled into small cylinders.
Shutterstock
<strong>Inegol kofte: </strong>Originating from Inegol, Bursa, Inegol kofte is essentially grilled meatballs made using ground beef or lamb, breadcrumbs and onions.
Inegol kofte: Originating from Inegol, Bursa, Inegol kofte is essentially grilled meatballs made using ground beef or lamb, breadcrumbs and onions.
Shutterstock
<strong>Iskender kebab:</strong> This meat dish is comprised of doner kebab, prepared from grilled lamb, that's topped with hot tomato sauce, placed over pita bread and coated with melted butter and yogurt.
Iskender kebab: This meat dish is comprised of doner kebab, prepared from grilled lamb, that's topped with hot tomato sauce, placed over pita bread and coated with melted butter and yogurt.
Shutterstock
<strong>Cag kebab: </strong>This dish contains cubes of lamb that are left to marinate for half a day. The meat is then roasted on a cag (a horizontal rotating spit) and on a skewer, before being cooked horizontally over a wood fire.
Cag kebab: This dish contains cubes of lamb that are left to marinate for half a day. The meat is then roasted on a cag (a horizontal rotating spit) and on a skewer, before being cooked horizontally over a wood fire.
Shutterstock
<strong>Hamsili pilav:</strong> Served in winter time, hamsili pilav is an oven baked rice dish with a layer of fresh anchovies arranged on top.
Hamsili pilav: Served in winter time, hamsili pilav is an oven baked rice dish with a layer of fresh anchovies arranged on top.
Shutterstock
<strong>Perde pilav:</strong> Another rice-based dish, perde pilav consists of a buttery dough that's filled with rice, chicken, currants, almonds, pine nuts and butter, and seasoned.
Perde pilav: Another rice-based dish, perde pilav consists of a buttery dough that's filled with rice, chicken, currants, almonds, pine nuts and butter, and seasoned.
Shutterstock
<strong>Manti:</strong> The most popular version of these tasty Turkish dumplings are made in Kayseri and include a spoonful of mince sealed into a small parcel rather than cheese, which is added in other variations.
Manti: The most popular version of these tasty Turkish dumplings are made in Kayseri and include a spoonful of mince sealed into a small parcel rather than cheese, which is added in other variations.
Shutterstock
<strong>Testi kebab:</strong> Cooked in a sealed clay pot, Testi kebab is a delicious meat and vegetable dish that needs to be broken open before it's consumed.
Testi kebab: Cooked in a sealed clay pot, Testi kebab is a delicious meat and vegetable dish that needs to be broken open before it's consumed.
Shutterstock
<strong>Gozleme:</strong> This traditional Turkish pastry is often stuffed with salty white cheese, minced beef or spinach.
Gozleme: This traditional Turkish pastry is often stuffed with salty white cheese, minced beef or spinach.
Shutterstock
<strong>Pide: </strong>A favorite among Turks, pide is a type of flatbread made from dough balls stretched out into an extended base and inserted with a range of fillings.
Pide: A favorite among Turks, pide is a type of flatbread made from dough balls stretched out into an extended base and inserted with a range of fillings.
Shutterstock
<strong>Su boregi:</strong> This hugely popular savory pastry is made by layering sheets of a dough called "yufka" and adding a filling of white cheese.
Su boregi: This hugely popular savory pastry is made by layering sheets of a dough called "yufka" and adding a filling of white cheese.
Shutterstock
<strong>Simit: </strong>Also known as "koulouri," this circular bread, usually covered with sesame seeds, is one of the most popular street foods in Istanbul, Turkey.
Simit: Also known as "koulouri," this circular bread, usually covered with sesame seeds, is one of the most popular street foods in Istanbul, Turkey.
Ren_ Timmermans/VW Pics/UIG/Getty Images
<strong>Lahmacun:</strong> A type of flatbread, commonly referred to as Turkish pizza, made from meat and a paste consisting of low-fat mince stirred together with tomato paste, garlic and spices.
Lahmacun: A type of flatbread, commonly referred to as Turkish pizza, made from meat and a paste consisting of low-fat mince stirred together with tomato paste, garlic and spices.
Shutterstock
<strong>Cig kofte: </strong>Also known as chee kofta, cig kofte is a raw meatball dish in which the meat is usually replaced with bulgur and/or ground walnuts.
Cig kofte: Also known as chee kofta, cig kofte is a raw meatball dish in which the meat is usually replaced with bulgur and/or ground walnuts.
Shutterstock
<strong>Baklava: </strong>One of Turkey's best known sweet treats, baklava is made of layers of filo filled with ground nuts that's bonded together with a honeyed syrup before being baked.
Baklava: One of Turkey's best known sweet treats, baklava is made of layers of filo filled with ground nuts that's bonded together with a honeyed syrup before being baked.
Kerem Kocalar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
<strong>Dondurma:</strong> Taking its name from the Turkish word for "freezing," dondurma is made from milk, sahlep, a flour made from the tubers of orchids, and mastic.
Dondurma: Taking its name from the Turkish word for "freezing," dondurma is made from milk, sahlep, a flour made from the tubers of orchids, and mastic.
Shutterstock
<strong>Lokum: </strong>This hugely famous Turkish delicacy, commonly known as Turkish Delight, dates back centuries, and is produced by boiling water, starch and sugar together to produce delicate jelly cubes.
Lokum: This hugely famous Turkish delicacy, commonly known as Turkish Delight, dates back centuries, and is produced by boiling water, starch and sugar together to produce delicate jelly cubes.
Shutterstock
<strong>Ekmek kadayıfı: </strong>This bread pudding originates from the city of Afyonkarahisar and is usually eaten with kaymak, a thick Turkish cream.
Ekmek kadayıfı: This bread pudding originates from the city of Afyonkarahisar and is usually eaten with kaymak, a thick Turkish cream.
Shutterstock

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • 2025 Elections
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
    • Climbing
    • Esports
    • Hockey
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN10
    • CNN Max
    • CNN TV Schedules
  • Listen
    • CNN 5 Things
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • One Thing
    • Tug of War
    • CNN Political Briefing
    • The Axe Files
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • All CNN Audio podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Watch Listen Live TV
Follow CNN Travel
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts

© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.