Today, we would like to list the most popular Turkish recipes. From delicious soups to olive oil dishes, from vegan and vegetarian Turkish recipes to Turkish dessert recipes. Besides that, we will tell you all the tricks you need to know in order to prepare these Turkish traditional recipes, just as Turkish moms and grandmas prepared them.

Before we start with the dishes from our list for “Top 10 Most Popular Turkish Recipes“, I have to warn you: after trying these vegetarian and vegan Turkish recipes, you will say goodbye to your “tofu” forever. Let’s be honest: we both know that if you’re vegetarian or vegan, you won’t impress your non-vegetarian and non-vegan friends, guests and family with tofu. If you want to impress your family with vegetarian and vegan dishes, TRY THESE RECIPES!

The history of Turkish cuisine

The reason why Turkish cuisine is so delicious is related to the geographical location of the country and the fact that many cultures have lived together.

When the conditions in their native Central Asia became unfavorable, the Turks moved and settled in Anatolia, where they founded the Anatolian Seljuk State. The Turks, who came into contact with foods they had never seen or heard of before in Anatolian countries, through time developed a fairly sophisticated cuisine combining first simple, then more advanced cooking methods with these new foods.

Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, a religious philosopher who lived in this era, founded Sufism, which places a high value on gastronomy. The kitchen is where a potential dervish lodge participant go through each of the stages before becoming a Mevlevi.

Turkish cuisine nowadays is influenced by the food of the Ottoman Palace. Initially dining at very elegant, modest, and unassuming tables, the Sultans’ tables over time became more varied and enriched. When Fatih Sultan Mehmet conquered Istanbul in 1453, the cuisine started to take on a special significance. The Sultan, who possessed vast money, had the authority to assemble chefs and various ingredients from all around the realm. He therefore had a significant impact on the evolution of Ottoman Palace cuisine. This is especially clear when we examine the palace’s accounting records. Diverse seafood was purchased and prepared for the first time even during Fatih’s rule.

Let`s take a closer look at the most popular Turkish recipes

Top 10 most popular Turkish recipes

Turkish soup recipes

Let us start with the Turkish starters:

1. Red lentil soup

Wherever you are in the world, when you go to a Turkish restaurant, red lentil corbasi is one of the corbasi you will definitely find on the menu. This soup is not only suitable for vegans and vegetarians, but also for athletes, ketogenic dieters and people who want to lose weight.

If you want to prepare this traditional vegan Turkish dish, take a look at “Red Lentil Soup Recipe“.

If you want to know more about red lentils, other legumes and their benefits, here are some articles for you:

• Top 10 Vegan Protein Sources for Breakfast and Launch
• Top 10 Vegan Protein Sources for Building Muscle
• Top 10 Vegan Protein Sources for Vegans on a Budget

 

 

2. Ezogelin soup recipe

It’s time for another soup that we love at least as much as red lentil soup. Ezogelin soup! Ezogelin is a Turkish vegetarian soup. if you are a vegan, you can use olive oil instead of butter.

Although it is very similar to lentil soup in appearance and taste, its ingredients are different and more than red lentil soup.

It is also nutritious enough to fill you up with a bowl

Ingredients for ezogelin soup recipe

• 2 cups of red lentils
• 3 tbsp rice
• 2 tablespoons of bulgur
• 8 cups of hot water
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon of mint
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 tsp tomato paste

Instructions:

1. Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Put 2 tea cups of red lentils, which you have washed and drained, into the pot.
2. Transfer 3 tablespoons of rice, 2 tablespoons of bulgur and 1 teaspoon salt into the pot.
3. Cook for about 30 minutes or until the red lentils soften.
4. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a separate pan.
5. Add 1 diced onion on it and sauté.
6. Add 1 teaspoon tomato paste to the onions.
7. Add 1 teaspoon of mint andsauté for 2 more minutes.
8. Remove the mixture from the pot.
9. Transfer the mixture with the tomato paste into the large pot where you boiled the red lentils.
10. Then cook the soup for another 10 minutes while stirring frequently.
11. Serve hot with the addition of lemon juice and chilli flakes. Bon Appetit!

3. Turkish roasted eggplant soup

Roasted eggplant soup recipe is a Turkish, delicious and healthy recipe that is perfect for a cozy evening meal or a warm lunch on a chilly day. This soup is packed with flavor and nutrients, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a satisfying and healthy meal.

Do not forget to save these Turkish appetizers,dips and meze recipes in your recipe notebooks so you may try them all individually whenever you get the chance. They will instantly spruce up your table and satisfy everyone’s palates with their vegetables, yoghurt, and garlic.

4. Turkish haydari recipe

Haydari Recipe must be on your list for “Top 10 Most Pupular Turkish Recipes”. It is an indispensable Turkish recipe if you are interested in turkish cuisine. Unfortunately, haydari is not suitable for vegans as it is prepared with cheese.

5. Zucchini tarator with dill recipe

How to make Turkish zucchini tarator with dill?

Ingredients For Dill Pumpkin Tarator Recipe

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 2 large sized zucchini
• 1/2 bunch of dill
• 2 garlic cloves
• 6 tbsp strained yoghurt
• 1 tea spoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For Topping:

1 tablespoon of olive oil

Intructions:

1. Wash Zucchinis and grate them. Do not peelthe zucchinis
2. Heat olive oil and in a large pan and put the grated zucchinis in it. Sauté the Zucchinis for 5 minutes. The bitter smell of the zucchinis will dissapare.
3. Add salt before removing from the stove.
4. Finally, add black pepper and mix well.
5. Put the Zucchinis in a bowl and let cool.
6. Put yoghurt in a bowl, add the chopped dill and garlic.
7. Whisk and combine the ingredients well.
8. Then add the cooled Zucchinis and mix.
9. Drizzle olive oil over it and serve as you wish. Bon appetit.

6.Cream cheese dip with bell pepper

Ingredients

• 200 gr Creamy Sheep Cheese ( Don’t use Philadelphia for this recipe)
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 1/2 gree bell pepper
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper
• 1/3 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 garlic
• A bunch of dill
• 2-3 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions

• Cut cream cheese and bell peppers into small pieces.
• Place all ingredients in a medium salad bowl.

• Puree the mixture with a hand blender.

 

• Spoon the dip into a serving bowl, drizzle with oil and serve with your favourite bread.

That’s it. Enjoy your delicious cream cheese dip with bell pepers.

7. Cream cheese dip with avocado

Ingredients

• 200 gr Creamy Sheep Cheese Milk( Don’t use Philadelphia for this recipe)
• 1 avacado
• 1/3 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 garlic
• A bunch of dill
• 2-3 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions

• Cut cream cheese and avacado into small pieces.
• Place all ingredients in a medium salad bowl.

• Puree the mixture with a hand blender.

• Bon apetit.

 

 

 

 

8. Roasted eggplant and cheese dip

 

Ingredients

• 250 gr Creamy Sheep Cheese Milk( Don’t use Philadelphia for this recipe)
• 1 medium eggplant
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/3 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 garlic clove

Instructions

• Cut cream cheese, bell pepper and eggplant into small pieces.
• Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

• Add bell pepper and eggplant and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
• Place the eggplant on a paper towel before you place them in salad bowl to absorb excess oil.

• Place all ingredients in a medium salad Bowl.

• Puree the mixture with a hand blender

• Spoon the dip into a serving bowl, drizzle with oil and serve with your favourite bread.

9. Turkish baba ghanoush recipe

The aubergines and peppers are roasted and the flavour is multiplied with the accompanying tomatoes. When the delicious sauce with garlic and pomegranate molasses is included, it makes you want to eat more and more.

Ingredients for baba gannous recipe

• 3 large aubergines
• 3 pcs red chilli
• 4 green chillies
• 2 pcs tomato
• 2 garlic cloves
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt (can be increased or decreased)
• 1 tsp sour sour

Instructions

1. Roast the aubergines, tomatoes and peppers.
2. Put the roasted vegetables on a large plate, cover with cling film and leave to cool. In this way, the skin of the eggplants will be peeled more easily.
3. Carefully peel all the roasted vegetables and put them in a bowl.
4. Chop the aubergines finely with a knife and crush them. Cut the remaining vegetables into cubes of the size you want and mix them in the bowl.
5. Mix the crushed garlic, olive oil, salt and pomegranate molasses in a bowl and pour into the mixture.
6. Mix all the ingredients and make it ready to serve.
7. Serve with chopped parsley if desired. Bon Appetit!

10. Turkish Şakşuka (Shakshuka) recipe – vegan

Potatoes, aubergines, green peppers, capia peppers and zucchini! Shakshuka is a well known Turkish meze recipe and it is prepared with 5 delicious vegetables. It is one of the most popular Turkish recipes.

Ingredients for shakshuka recipe

• 4 pcs potato
• 2 pieces aubergine
• 3 green chillies
• 1 piece of zucchini
• 1 capia chilli
• 2 cups of oil
• 4 tomatoes
• 6 tooth garlic
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tea spoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. After peeling the aubergines, cut them into cubes and put them in a bowl full of salted water and wait for the bitter taste to dissapare.
2. Cut the other vegetables into cubes.
3. Fry all the vegetables separately in a frying pan in the oil you have heated.
4. Chop the tomatoes for the sauce into small pieces. Start to sautee the tomatoes in the olive oil in a sauce pan/pan. After adding the grated garlic, salt and sugar, close the lid and cook until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
5. Pour the sauce you have prepared over the fried vegetables and serve either this way or after blending with the sauce. Bon Appetit!

11. Celery Root Tzatziki Recipe

Celery root is a vegetable with which you can prepare delicious and healthy dishes and antipasti during the winter months when you cannot find fresh tomatoes or peppers.

One of these antipasti is Celery Root Salad.

Ingredients for celery salad recipe

• 2 pieces of medium-sized celery
• 1 lemon juice
• 1 water glass of strained yoghurt
• 2 tablespoons of aionnaise
• 1,5 teaspoon salt
• 1 garlic
• 1 tea glass of pounded walnuts

Instructions

1. Grate the peeled celery with the thick side of the grater. Put it in a large bowl full of water to which you add lemon juice to prevent darkening.
2. In another bowl, mix the strained yoghurt, salt, grated garlic, mayonnaise well.
3. Then add the celery, which you remove from the water and drain, to the yoghurt mixture and mix.
4. Finally, add the crushed walnuts and mix.
5. After placing it on a serving plate, drizzle olive oil over it and garnish with 3-4 walnut halves. Bon Appetit!

Turkish breakfast recipes

 

12. Turkish menemen recipes – How to make menemen?

The next recipe that you have to have on your list for “Top 10 Most Pupular Turkish Recipes” is “Menemen”. Like red lentil soup, you will find this traditional recipe in all Turkish restaurants that serve Turkish breakfast.

 

Menemen can be prepared in a variety of ways and generally compares to other egg dishes such an omelet, scrambled eggs with veggies. The peppers, chili peppers, and diced tomatoes are added after the onions have been sautéed in melted butter or olive oil. Add one or two eggs to each serving after the tomatoes have softened.

The eggs should be fully cooked, but not allowed to dry out. They are whisked. Cheese, particularly the feta-like white cheese (beyaz peynir), and sausage, such the Sucuk Turkish garlic sausage, are frequent additions. As we introduce the  vegetarian version of menemen, do not add sucuk.

Ingredients for menemen

• 1 green pointed pepper(hot or mild, cut into rings)
• 1 small yellow onion (chopped)
• 3 tomatoes (peeled and chopped)
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of chili flakes
• 3 organic eggs
• 1 teaspoon of tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil or butter

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat olive oil or butter in a large pan, add the green pointed pepper, onions, and sauté for 5 minutes over medium heat until the onions are soft.
2. Add chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, mix and cook for 5-7 minutes or until tomatoes are soft over medium heat.
3. Add eggs, salt, chili flakes, mix and cook for 2 minutes.
4. Your Menemen is ready to enjoy. You can serve it with white bread and freshly chopped parsley.

 

 

13. Kuymak (Muhlama) recipe

Some call it muhlama, some call it kuymak. It is a traditional Turkish breakfast recipe that is prepared in the Black Sea towns. It is a wonderful flavor that never changes, despite the name changes. You will enjoy dipping bread in kuymak butter, the distinctive flavor of Black Sea cuisine, and watching the cheese expand as you pull it. Kuymak is a potential candidate for the 8th wonder of the world.

Ingredients For Kuymak Recipe

• 4 tablespoons of cornflour
• 2 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1 bowl of a mixture of string cheese and kashkaval cheese
• Salt (to the extent you want according to the salt content of the cheese)

How to Make Kuymak?

1. Put 2 tablespoons of butter in a copper or teflon pan and melt it.
2. Add 4 tablespoons of corn flour and salt and roast our flour.
3. When it turns slightly coloured and gives its smell, add 2 cups of cold water slowly.
4. Let’s stir to avoid lumps.
5. Let’s cook for about 5 minutes until it absorbs its water and gives its oil on it.
6. At this stage, let’s add our cheese mixture and without stirring too much, when the cheese melts and the oil rises again,
7. let’s turn off the heat and serve it hot. Bon Appetit.

 

14. Turkish potato salad with eggs

Turkish potato salad with eggs, lemone and fresh herbs. This is an indispensable part of sunday breakfasts in Turkey.

You don`t have to use any sauces or mayo to achieve a good flavour. The combination of lemon juice, spring onion, parsley and chili will satisfy you.

Ingredients (2 servings)

• 6-7 small boiled potatos
• 4-5 organic boild eggs
• 2-3 finely chopped spring onions
• 20 gr finely chopped parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes/powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 3-4 tablespoon olive oil or sunflower oil
• Juice of a lemon

Preparation

1. Peel and cut potatoes and eggs into bite-size pieces.
2. Chop the parsley finely and cut the spring onions into fine strips

3. Put all the ingredients in a salad bowl, add salt, black pepper, chili flakes, lemon juice and oil.

4. Mix all the ingredients.

 

Your potato salad is ready to enjoy.

15. Turkish pogaca recipe – Cheese stuffed dumplings

You only need the following simple ingredients to create these famous and delicious Turkish pogacas that you can enjoy with your black tea:

Here is the Turkish Pogaca Recipe incl. pics and details.

Ingredients for Turkish Poagaca recipe:

• 500 gr organic flour. You can order your organic flour on Amazon.
• 150 gr yoghurt
• 100 ml sunflower oil
• 2 egg whites
• 100 gr kashkaval chesse/gouda cheese or feta cheese
• 20 gr of fresh and chopped parsley
• 2 packs (30 g) of baking powder
• 2 egg yolks

 

Instructions for Turkish Pogaca recipe:

 

Turkish Lunch and Dinner Recipes

 

16. Vegan stuffed grape leaves – Sarma (Dolma) recipe

If yo want to impress your family and friends, this recipe is the first recipe you have to serve.

This unbelievably delicious recipe is an indispensable member of our “Top 10 Most Pupular Turkish Recipes“. However, if you want to make stuffed grape leaves, you may not expect an easy recipe, if you are a beginner. If you are a beginner, you may need the help of your lovely mom or grandma.

Fpr the details incl. pics, take a look at “Vegan Stuffed Grape Leaves | Sarma Recipe (Dolma Recipe)”

Ingredients

• 350 gr grape leaves
• 200 gr rice
• 2 finely peeled and chopped tomatoes.
• 4 finely chopped small yellow onions
• Bunch of finely chopped parsley
• 150 ml olive oil. Please do not use another type of oil
• 1 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1 teaspoon chili black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried mint
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pine nuts
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

1. Before we start to make the mixture, we have to check, if the grape leaves are very salty. If so, place them in a big salad bowl, add boiling water and let them rest 10 minutes. You can use fresh grape leaves, too.
2. Wash the rice and combine all ingredients in a big salad bowl.
3. Give it a good mix.
4. Lay the leaves flat on a cutting board and add 1/2 spoon of the mixture in the center of the leaves.
5. Fold the sides over the filling and roll tightly.
6. Place the vegan stuffed grape leaves in a big cooking pan.
7. Add boiling water , arriving at the top layer and add 5-6 tablespoons olive oil.
8. Place a small plate on top, close the lid and cook for about 30-40 minutes over low-medium heat until the water has been absorbed.
9. After 30-40 minutes, check İf the vegan stuffed grape leaves are done. If the mixture and leaves are soft enough, turn the heat off, remove the plate and add the juice of a half lemon on them. Close the lid again and let them rest for 30-45 minutes.

17. Vegan Stuffed Eggplant (Imam Bayildi) Recipe

Vegan Stuffed Eggplant Recipe (Imam Bayildi) is a very famous Turkish recipe. “Imam Bayildi” means “the Imam fainted”.

It is a dish in Ottoman cuisine consisting of the whole eggplant stuffed with onion, garlic, and tomatoes, and simmered in olive oil. It is an olive oil-based dish and is found in most of the former Ottoman regions.

Here is the full recipe incl. pics and video.

 

Instructions

18. Vegan stuffed bell pepper (Dolma) recipe

One of the most important member of our list for our “Top 10 Most Popular Turkish recipes” is vegan stuffed bell pepper.

Here is the full recipe with pics and video.

Ingredients for vegan stuffed bell pepper recipe

Vegetables:

• 5 medium green bell peppers
• 1 big medium yellow onion (cut into small pieces)
• 1 cup parsley (freshly chopped)
• 1 medium tomato (peeled and finely chopped), 2 cloves of garlic
  

Herbs:

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of salt (1/8th of it for the sauce) 
• 1 tablespoon of dried mint leaves
• 1/2 tablespoons of sumac (sumac is optional, you may not find it in every supermarket)
• 1 cup rice
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste (1 for the filling, 1 for the sauce)
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Slice the tops of the bell peppers and cut out the stems from the tops.

1. Heat olive oil in a large pan, add onion and sauté for 5 minutes or until it is soft over medium-high heat.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, herbs and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Add rice and cook for another 1 minute, stirring frequently.
4. Add parsley, chopped tomatoes, and mix well. Your filling for the vegan stuffed bell pepper recipe is ready.
5. Fill the bell peppers with a spoon.
6. Place the stuffed bell peppers in a small pot and place a piece of tomato on the filling.
7. Prepare the sauce: Add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste with a pinch of salt in a hot cup of water and mix well.
8. Add the sauce to the pot with the bell peppers. Spread the sauce on the filling as well.
9. Place the pot on your stovetop and turn the burner to the highest setting. When the water starts to boil, turn the heat down to low heat, close the lid and cook for 25-30 minutes.
10. After 30 minutes check if the rice is done.
11. Your delicious vegan stuffed bell peppers are ready to enjoy.

 

 

19. Borek recipe – Spinach and cheese burek

Börek is one of the most important member of the list “Top 10 Most Popular Turkish Recipes”. It is said to have originated in Turkey, notably the Anatolian areas of the Ottoman Empire, around 160 BC. Even though that was 2,177 years ago, this ancient Turkish meal is being made today in countries all over the world.

Here is the full recipe.

Ingredients

• Phyllo dough: You need 500 g (5 layers) filo dough phyllo dough. You can find phyllo sheets in almost every supermarket or online.
• Feta Cheese: You can use feta/sheep’s milk cheese. 200 g.
• Spinach: We need 250 g fresh spinach. To get the best results, you have to use fresh spinach.
• Egg: You need 3 organic eggs for the sauce.
• Butter: 125 g melted organic butter.
• Yogurt: 1 cup of yogurt
• Sunflower oil: 100 ml sunflower oil for the sauce. You can use rapeseed oil, too.

• That’s it, this is all you need for an easy, delicious borek recipe.

Instructions

20. Turkish white bean stew recipe

Here is the full recipe!

Ingredients for Turkish white bean stew

• 500 grams white beans (cooked)
• 1 yellow onion (medium, finely chopped)
• 1 carrot (cut into small cubes)
• 1 potato (cut into small cubes)
• 1 tomato (peeled and finely chopped)
• 2 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 liters water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 bay leaf (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
• 1/2 cup sunflower oil (or olive oil)

Instructions

The Ottoman Empire began to lose strength by the end of the 19th century, and it was described as a “sick man” because of this. The Ottomans began to adapt their way of life and become more European in order to strengthen their ties with European nations and win their support. Their eating and drinking routines had also changed as a result of these adjustments.

The Ottoman dynasty relocated from Topkapi Palace to Dolmabahçe Palace, where it began to eat at tables, seats, forks, and knives while decorated in Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, and classical Ottoman styles. They offered ala banquets and featured items from Ottoman and French cuisine on their menus, especially when they had foreign guests.

Turkish food was first divided into two categories, Classical Turkish food and Folk Cuisine, in 1923, the year the Republic was proclaimed. Based on the food of the Ottoman Palace, classical Turkish cuisine has a highly rich culinary tradition. The roots of modern Turkish cuisine can be traced in this kitchen.

The list of the “Top 10 Most Popular Turkish Recipes” will be updated.