10 Authentic Turkish Dishes That Are on My Bucket List

I love trying authentic recipes from different countries and creating lists of dishes to enjoy in the future, and traditional Turkish foods are no exception.

With their hearty pastries and tasty, fresh ingredients, Turkish dishes are an amazing place to start.

Also, I lived in Istanbul back in 2017 for about two months. It’s a beautiful place with good people and some amazing flavors. But after making this list on popular Turkish food, I realized that there were a lot of gaps to fill. And if you’re curious about traveling to that part of the world, or you want to get good at Turkish cuisine then I would put some of these Turkish foods on your list to try too!

1. Ali Nazik Kebab

If it’s your meal planning day, then this kind of needs to be on your list. This Turkish dish is packed with a lot of flavor! You have:

• Lamb
• A smoked eggplant puree
• Garlicky yogurt
• And spiced butter

I mean how do you even say no to this? Also, if you’re a bit nervous about eggplant, don’t be. It tastes incredible and it’s one of my favorite ingredients in levantine cuisine.

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2. Kisir

This is the kind of Turkish food you make when you’re not afraid of flavor. In fact, this is the kind of recipe you have when you’re addicted to adding a ton of different spices and herbs to your meals.

This bulgur dish is packed with so many tasty spices and fresh ingredients which makes it the perfect side for so many dinners!

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3. Lahmacun

I feel like this Turkish food recipe is the kind of meal you make when you want a bit of comfort food. And I get it, it kind of looks like a pizza, but no, it’s not the Turkish people trying to copy the Italians.

It’s a common but tasty dish that’s made of yummy flat bread topped with a spiced beef and lamb mixture. So essentially meat on top of bread; it’s kind of hard to go wrong!

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4. Turkish Baklava

Baklava is kind of one of the best desserts in the world. ❤️ 

You take buttery flaky dough, soak it in a sugar syrup with other flavors and it’s kind of just amazing. Honestly, the sweet sticky texture is top tier, and the almonds on this recipe look like they’d add some nice crunch.

Also, there are a lot of different versions of baklava from other countries (like Greece), so I think it might be fun to try them all and see how many differences there are!

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5. Beef Kofta

Turkey has a lot of different ground meat recipes, and this beef kofta looks like a yummy meatball dish to try.

They look so juicy and they’re packed with garlic, herbs, and other Turkish spices, so I think it’s definitely worth making if you wanna try something new.

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6. Çılbır

I feel like çılbır is the kind of comforting breakfast you’d sit down to on a cold fall or winter morning.

Here’s what you’re getting:

• Runny poached eggs
• Garlicky yogurt
• Chili butter drizzled on top

 Basically, if you’re not allergic to flavor, then this is for you.

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7. Kadaif

Kadaif is a Turkish dessert you eat when you’re not afraid of getting a massive sugar high. Seriously, it sounds ridiculously good!

You have flaky phyllo dough and a tasty walnut mixture that’s baked and then soaked in a sugar syrup for that perfect moist sweetness.

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8. Ramazan Pidesi

If you’re craving a delicious sourdough bread, then this Turkish version is perfect for you. It’s fairly easy, requires no kneading, and it pairs great with different cheeses, olives, and basically anything else you’re personally craving. Probably the perfect Turkish recipe to make for when you’re having people over for a dinner party and you need a good starter.

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9. Creamy Turkish Red Lentil Soup

This garlicky, creamy red lentil soup is a common soup you can get in Turkey. So whether you plan on getting it there or trying it in your kitchen, I think it’s a worth having if you’re craving comfort food.

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10. Turkish Simit

I remember getting some simit on a quiet Sunday morning in Istanbul from a street vendor. I really enjoying the flavors of the sesame seeds and soft dough as we walked down the hill towards the water.

And if you’d like a bit of that Turkish street food experience yourself, then I think you might wanna give it a try.

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