Hotels in Turkey

 

Turkish culinary specialties

• Turkish Dining. Turkish cuisine is world renowned for its similarities to Persian, Arabic, Middle Eastern, and Indian cooking. Like other Mediterranean gastronomy, it has in common the use of vegetables and olive oil as the primary ingredients in most of its dishes.
• Traditional Dolmas. A staple of Turkish recipes are vegetables side dishes to meat entrées. Aubergines shine as the vegetable of choice, with more than 40 ways to prepare this veggie. Zucchini, for example, is generally served with a mix of rice, lamb, and raisins. These stuffed vegetables are known as dolmas, the Turkish word for stuffed.
• Authentic Döner Kebap. Among the most popular meats in Turkey is lamb, stemming from the country's pastoral heritage, of which comes this most commonly consumed street food. Döner kebap is Turkey's most recognisable international food. Of similar fame is lahmacun, or Turkish pizza, which has a bread crust plus ground meat and onion, and seasoned with lemon and parsley.
• Turkish Saffron. Turkish cooking would not be complete without spices. Among the most commonly used are cilantro, caraway seeds, and saffron, of which Turkey is one of the world's largest producers.
• Traditional Turkish Yoghurt. Dairy products also play a major role in Turkish cookery. Yoghurt is a fundamental element in the nation's cuisine and is frequently used in soups, with cucumber, as a condiment with meat, and as a base for creams. Some of the country's fresh cheeses are produced with yoghurt as well.
• Turkish Tea and Coffee. Turkish drinks play an important role in the country's dining scene and culture. The most famous drink on hot days is ayran, a yoghurt liquid blended with lemon juice and salt. Fruit juices are commonly consumed throughout the country as well. Raki is the most popular alcoholic beverage. This strong aniseed liquor is to be drunk after meals. But perhaps the Turkish people's favourites are coffee and tea. Although not cultivated in Turkey, coffee here is carefully prepared in a special manner known the world over.