Great Foods To Eat In Istanbul Turkey
There are many places you can get great food – Paris, New York, Singapore, etc. One place from where you won’t leave hungry is Istanbul Turkey. Turkish food is a delight and, although there are plenty of reasons to come to Istanbul, food can certainly be put on the list as one of them. The street food of Istanbul is tasty and certainly worth a try, but if I had to choose just a few things to eat as an introduction to Turkish cuisine, here is what I would choose.
1. Doner Kebap– Doner is perhaps the easiest way to get started with Turkish cuisine. Essentially, Doner Kebap is meat, usually lamb or chicken, that is roasted on a vertical spit. The meat is shaved from the roast and served wrapped in pita bread with some tomato and onion. The meat can also be served on a plate with rice or even french fries. It is a simple dish that is very tasty.
2. Manti – Manti or Turkish ravioli is a dish of very small pieces of pasta that are stuffed with meat (lamb or beef) or cheese. The Ravioli is served in a thin tomato sauce that is mixed with yogurt, sumac, red chili flake and dried mint. This is a deliciously simple dish that is perfect when you are dining in the many restaurants in Istanbul where big pillows on the floor with low tables are used instead of regular tables – eating like the Sultans did! Many times, you can see the ladies in the front of the restaurants making the little ravioli dumplings fresh.
3. Kofte – Kofte is a variant of kebap where the meat is minced and spices added. The minced meat is then formed on skewers and grilled. This is sort of the hamburger of Istanbul Turkey. The roasted meat is served with rice and or wrapped in pita bread. Delicious! Go to the famous Sultanahmet Koftecisi right around the corner from Hagia Sofia – you won’t be disappointed! BTW – Get it with the Ayran – a cool, salted yogurt drink – YUM!
4.Gozelem – Another dish that makes Turkish food easy and approachable. Gozelem are thin pancakes, usually rolled out fresh by the little old lady in front of the restaurant, stuffed with Turkish cheese and spinach then placed on the griddle. These are delicious and worth a try. If you have kids with you on your visit, this is a kid’s dream come true. They will find it very easy to eat.
5. Locum – Locum, otherwise known as Turkish Delight, is the candy of candies. The Turks turned boiling starch into an art and the result is a chewy, sweet and incredibly flavorful treat that comes in a large variety of flavors. In a typical shop, you can get fruit, nut and even rose flavor! The rose flavor is an an acquired taste, but it is so delicious in locum. The shops have beautiful stacks of locum in the windows of all colors, each one is worth a try!
6.Baklava – The food of the Sultans! In Istanbul, baklava comes in many shapes and sizes. They all have 2 things in common: they are all made with phyllo dough and all of them are sweet and tasty. The traditional baklava is made with pistachio or walnut and sweetened with honey. The baklava made with the phyllo nest is equally delicious for the eyes and tongue. When phyllo nest is wrapped around pistachios it is nothing but crunchy, sweet goodness!
Do you want one more thing to try? Ok, try a Turkish coffee! The Turks may ask you if you are sure knowing that you might have a penchant for frufry, milky, flavored western coffee drinks which are the exact opposite of Turkish coffee. Tell them that you are brave! There will be no milk. Sometimes sugar is added for you during the coffee making process or you can add your own. Be prepared! This is no frapuccino! It is strong, robust, unfiltered and thick. Don’t drink the sludge at the bottom – it is ok to send that back. If you can’t stomach that, get the Turkish tea. It is black tea, served hot. Simple and delicious. The apple variety is good, too.
Do you want to know about more foods eaten in Istanbul? Check out this post!
Do you want to know more about the things to see and do in Istanbul> Read here, here and here
I hope you get a chance to eat your way through Istanbul! Enjoy!
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Ever been to Istanbul, Turkey? What is your favorite Turkish food? Have any tips to share? Let us know all about it in the comments or on Facebook.
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