Turkey is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Orient. This unusual position, coupled with the movement of Turks from Central Asia to Europe throughout the ages, has created the character of its cuisine. Because of six centuries of Ottoman regional dominance and reciprocal impact between Turkey and its surrounding nations (Greece, Bulgaria, The Balkans, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Armenia…), we find many similar dishes in those cuisines such as dolma, börek, kebab, manti (Turkish ravioli), and so on. 

turkish-ottoman-cuisine

Meat Doner

Doner is an old Turkish meal that has now grown popular in many Western nations. An open flame gently grills a compressed lamb and beef mixture spinning on a vertical rotisserie. The cone of doner meat is roasted by the flame as it spins and then carefully cut down in extremely thin slices with a very long knife. The meat is then served with your choice of delicious tomatoes, onions, lettuce, yogurt, and potatoes on bread or lavas wrap (durum). 

Lahmacun

Lahmacun is a circular, extremely thin flatbread topped with minced meat and a combination of vegetables, herbs, and spices. The term “Turkish pizza” is a frequent misnomer. There is no cheese in lahmacun, and it has nothing to do with pizza other than the fact that it is also cooked in an oven. It comes with a handful of parsley and lemon, which you sprinkle on top of the heated lahmacun. Then you wrap it up and enjoy it. Katerina fell in love with Turkish lahmacun, which is also very inexpensive. 

Baklava

Baklava and kadayif, those sweet, nutty, flaky pastries, are the most well-known Turkish sweets outside of Turkey. The most renowned baklava comes from the towns of Gaziantep and Urfa in southern Turkey. They take great care in making it, from rolling the thinnest sheets of fresh filo dough to choosing and crushing the nuts. Until the 1990s, Baklava was only served as a celebration dessert in Turkey during the religious holidays of Ramadan and the Sacrifice feast. 

Where To Eat Baklava In Istanbul?

Güllüolu is a well-known Turkish baklava restaurant in Kadikoy, Istanbul. Over five generations, this store has attracted millions of Turkish and international baklava enthusiasts. Güllüoglu is renowned for being the first location in Istanbul to bake baklava in the Turkish firin (Turkish Oven). This store has just one location in Istanbul, and its brand is well-known for the Galata Tower and Nadir Güllü logos, which set it apart from many other establishments in the city. When visiting Güllüoglu, you may sample classic baklava flavors including pistachio and walnut baklava, as well as contemporary baklava flavors like chocolate baklava and carrot slices baklava. 

Turkish Coffee

Because the marc is present in the cup, this coffee differs from our traditional coffee. Take care not to drink it! When ordering a Turkish coffee, you must indicate the cooking method, as well as the quantity of sugar you want in it. After you’ve finished your coffee, you may read your future in the coffee’s markings. Return your cup to the saucer; just wait till the cup cools before returning it; the lingering traces are foretellings of your destiny! You can drink the best Turkish coffee in the many coffee shops in Taksim, where you also will find some amazing deserts!