TURKISH CUISINE
 

Would someone come to Turkey just to eat out?
Yes, he would. Turkish food is famous throughout the world.
Here are the most important dishes and drinks

 

AuberginesMarket in Bodrum

About Turkish cuisine in general

Turkish cuisine is to a large extent the product of a rich historical background, resulting from centuries of crossbreeding between East and West and sustained by an infinite variety of fish, meat, vegetables and fruit. When the Turks were nomads their food was necessarily limited, but as they settled they adopted the dishes of the conquered, refining these continuously in the palaces of Istanbul.
Foreign guests are over and over surprised by the rich variety and painstaking preparation of vegetable here. The market of Bodrum makes it clear: fresh vegetables have the highest value in the Turkish kitchen. They can also be roasted, fried or served with yogurt. Vegetable courses can be eaten warm by themselves or filled with mince meat and rice (Dolma). They can also be prepared with olive oil as a cold dish. In addition also lamb is offered -, calf and beef and much chicken. Pork meat is forbidden to the believing Moslem, and fish has become very expensive over the last years.

The famous *lion milk*
The drinks

Ayran

Ayran is a beverage made out of Yoghurt, diluted with water, salted, and must be served cool . Very much appreciated by Turks - ideal when you are thirsty on hot days. A must for you to try..

Raki
Among alcoholic drinks Raki as a beverage ranks at the highest point of the popularity scale in Turkey. It is an "anisette" which clouds when water is added and normally you mix it with approximately 2 thirds of water at the table. And therefore in the common language it is also called "Aslan süt" , (lion milk). The great thing with Raki is that its flavour lends itself to all courses, to the hors-d'oeuvre, the sweets, fish or meat, Raki always fits. With "Sherefe" (cheers) you salute each other.

 

selling Simit

Tea and coffee

Wherever you go, tea or coffee will be offered to you, (Çay is the Turkish word for tea, pronounced 'tschai'), it is the most preferred drink of the Turks.
A short historical note: When the Ottoman empire collapsed, Turkey lost the coffee supplier Yemen and thus the actual national beverage - the coffee. Atatürk looked for a replacement and one was discovering at the humid coast of the black sea, favorable conditions for the cultivation of tea. Since this time Çay is the national beverage over all in Turkey.


 

                                   The typical Turkish coffee

is
traditionally prepared in a small copper pot called Cezve. Heat together at the same time coffee powder, water and sugar on a low flame. When the liquid boils, Turkish coffeethen serve the 'Kahve' in small
 mocca cups. There are three types to order : 'sade' (without sugar), 'orta' (the Turkish word for medium, in this case little sugar) and 'sekerli' (for sweet). By the way - perhaps you will find someone here or around Bodrum, who will read your future from the coffee grounds. This is a very popular here in Turkey

 

 

                                 The starters - or Mezeler
stuffed wine leafs
Hors-d'oeuvres to the full meal. Coming for the first time to Turkey, people are surprised by the variety of small courses, which are offered in the restaurants. Usually the waiter brings an assortment on a large tray of portion sized plates directly to the table for everyone to select, whatever appeals. More frequently however one goes to the selection bar inside of the restaurant.

Everything that is stuffed is called Dolmas - e.g., there are peppers and vine leaves filled with rice, currants and pine seeds, fried slices of  eggplants with garlic yogurt and Humus a a spicy paste made from chick peas.
Mezeler - die Vorspeisen
Afterwards the warm starters are served: e.g. Sigara Böreks, filled with white cheese and parsley; fried Zucchini and stuffed Zucchini flowers - too numerous to mention. And the nice thing is this, if you are full they are not bothered if you refuse to order a main course.

 

 

 

Much better you learn these names for delicious snacks before you come to Turkey !

Gözleme

Doner kebab

Dönerkebab could be the Turkish answer to Big Mac. From a big roasting *spit* very thin sliced meat is cut and filled into a special bread called Pide, mixed with onions and salad. (Very inexpensive)

Gözleme

This dish consist of a thin pancake similar to Crepes. On a curved sheet of metal this pancake is baked and then filled mostly with a mixture of white cheese and parsley.

Lahmacun

For sure you will see this somewhere. Something between Pizza and Tortilla, on a thin layer of pastry mince meat is spread - with fresh garden herbs - spiced with red pepper from mild to hot.
 

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