Common ingredients you’ll find in Turkish Cooking

• Lamb, beef, chicken, and fish
• Bulgur and rice
• Pulses
• Filo pastry
• Pistachios, almonds, walnuts, and chestnuts
• Tahini
• Tomato paste
• Spices and fresh herbs
• Various vegetables with a special emphasis on eggplant
• Various fruits, especially citrus fruits, pomegranates, apricots, figs
• Rosewater
• Cheese and yogurt

A typical Turkish breakfast

In Turkey, breakfast is an important and rich meal to start the day. Gather some friends and host a delicious Turkish brunch with the help of Thermomix®! Common ingredients and dishes to prepare include:

• A selection of fresh bread including Simit, a type of Turkish bagel
• Börek, a savoury pastry made with layers of filo dough filled with cheese, ground beef, spinach, or potatoes
• Sheep, cow, or goat cheese
• Olives, tomatoes, and cucumbers
• Fried eggs with dried sausage or scrambled eggs with tomatoes, peppers, and onions
• A selection of fruit, jams, and spreads
• A pot of Turkish tea

6 must-try Turkish dishes

1. Kofta - or köfte are meatballs that are typically made with ground lamb or ground beef and are often part of meze meals (tapas style).
2. Dolma - refers to any vegetable stuffed with a rice-based mixture. The traditional recipe uses grape leaves stuffed with rice and ground meat.
3. Kebab - a meat dish, usually, lamb or beef, that can either be grilled on skewers or pan seared. The secret to this recipe lies in a good meat marinade, which differs between regions.
4. Fried anchovies – a versatile and popular fish that is very accessible when in season.
5. Gozleme - a thin flatbread that is filled with cheese, minced meat, spinach, or potato. It is very popular street food.
6. Turkish delight - or lokum is a sweet treat that looks like jelly sugar cubes. They are commonly flavoured with ingredients like lemon, rose water, or mint. Some varieties also include pistachios, dates, or cinnamon.