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7 nights
What's the food like in Turkey?
If you’re wondering what’ll be on the menu, we’ve lined up Turkey’s most popular bites.
From mouthwatering mezes to hearty kebabs, Turkey's food scene is a feast for the senses. Whether you're wandering through bustling bazaars, dining in family-run restaurants or tucking into street food, you'll find tasty dishes showcasing the best of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern traditions in every bite. Hungry for more? Check out the top Turkish dishes, and if you’d like to get a head start at home, we’ve added a recipe for spicy falafel, too.
Once you've had a read, find your dream foodie getaway with Dine & Discover.
Once you've had a read, find your dream foodie getaway with Dine & Discover.
Meze
If you’re a fan of appetizers, you’ll love meze – that’s ‘snack’ to me and you. Much like Spanish tapas, it’s made up of many different courses, and is a huge part of eastern Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Arab dining culture. What’s on the menu? Well – lots. You’ve got everything from feta cheese, grilled aubergine salad and smoked sea bass fillet to stuffed vine leaves and marinated sweet red peppers. Usually, it’s brought out on a huge tray and served one by one, starting with the chilled dishes first.
Menemen
You won’t find a dish that’s more traditionally Turkish than menemen. It’s a fragrant, age-old recipe made from a mix of sautéed onions, whole tomatoes, chopped peppers, garlic, and oregano – topped with piping-hot fried eggs. It’s usually enjoyed at breakfast and comes served with freshly baked bread, so it’s a great way to fuel up before you head out to explore.
Kofte
Calling all fans of Italian meatballs! You’ll definitely want to sink your teeth into the Turkish version – kofte. Traditionally it’s made from a combination of lamb and beef, rolled together with shredded onions, rice and eggs. But if you fancy changing things up, go for potato, prawn or even cheese kofte – the choice is yours.
Doner kebab
We reckon you've probably tried a doner kebab before – everyone loves a post night-out snack, right? Well, this tasty takeaway is made from seasoned minced lamb, beef or pork, and normally cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Once ready, it’s sliced into thin layers and served inside a flatbread alongside sliced onions, tomatoes, pickled cucumber and lettuce.
Baklava
When it comes to rounding off your meal with a traditional dessert, look no further than a slice – or two – of baklava. This sweet treat is made from layers of filo pastry, filled with chopped pistachio nuts and lashings of syrup or honey. Our recommendation? Tuck into one with a strong cup of traditional Turkish coffee.
Get a taste of Turkey at home
Spicy falafel (serves 4-6)
Pitta breads
250g dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
1 small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
1 small bunch of coriander, roughly chopped
6 spring onions, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground pepper
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp fine salt
1 tsp rock salt
Zest of 1 lemon
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
100g sesame seeds
225ml peanut oil, to fry
Salad
1 lemon, squeezed
Red cabbage, shredded
Tomatoes, sliced
Cucumber, sliced
Hummus
Tahini
Olives
Lettuce leaves
Use a colander to drain the chickpeas, before adding them into a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients.
Blend until well combined, ensuring that the texture is coarse.
Pour the blended ingredients into a bowl. Next, using clean hands, form small balls approximately 4cm in diameter, and roll each one in sesame seeds.
Pour 225ml peanut oil into a frying pan and add the falafel, cooking them on a high heat for two minutes until crisp.
Then, place the fried falafel onto a greased baking tray and cook in the oven for 10 minutes, until they’re golden in colour.
Once cooked, place the falafel into individual pitta breads, along with the salad, hummus and tahini.
And enjoy.
Pitta breads
250g dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
1 small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
1 small bunch of coriander, roughly chopped
6 spring onions, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground pepper
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp fine salt
1 tsp rock salt
Zest of 1 lemon
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
100g sesame seeds
225ml peanut oil, to fry
Salad
1 lemon, squeezed
Red cabbage, shredded
Tomatoes, sliced
Cucumber, sliced
Hummus
Tahini
Olives
Lettuce leaves
Use a colander to drain the chickpeas, before adding them into a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients.
Blend until well combined, ensuring that the texture is coarse.
Pour the blended ingredients into a bowl. Next, using clean hands, form small balls approximately 4cm in diameter, and roll each one in sesame seeds.
Pour 225ml peanut oil into a frying pan and add the falafel, cooking them on a high heat for two minutes until crisp.
Then, place the fried falafel onto a greased baking tray and cook in the oven for 10 minutes, until they’re golden in colour.
Once cooked, place the falafel into individual pitta breads, along with the salad, hummus and tahini.
And enjoy.
Ready to tuck in?
Browse our Turkey holidays.
Or, for more info to help plan your Turkish getaway, check out the best things to do in Turkey, Turkey’s best beaches or the best hotels in Antalya.
Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.
Author: Olivia Hunt and Conor Braniff
Last updated: 01.04.2025
Browse our Turkey holidays.
Or, for more info to help plan your Turkish getaway, check out the best things to do in Turkey, Turkey’s best beaches or the best hotels in Antalya.
Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.
Author: Olivia Hunt and Conor Braniff
Last updated: 01.04.2025