10 variations of the famous Meze in Turkey

Turkish cuisine: discover 10 variations of the famous Meze

With origins that date back to the very powerful Ottoman empire, Meze is a selection of small dishes served as an extremely popular appetizer in countries with a Muslim majority.

It is usually accompanied by distilled drinks, including rakı, arak, ouzo, Aragh Sagi, rakia, mastika, and tsipouro. Likewise, it can be served with beer, wine, and other alcoholic drinks, in places where there are no restrictions for alcohol.

Meze in Turkey

Despite being popular in all the former Ottoman republics, it is in Turkey that the Meze has more prestige. In the Eurasian nation, the dish has several delicious variations, which delight tourists from all over the world. Among the main modifications are:

Fava

Fava is a delicious recipe based on stuffed with onion, dill, olive oil, and lemon juice. In some regions of Turkey, the dish is known as Bakla.

İçli Köfte

Considered a cultural heritage by UNESCO, this aperitif is part of the rich gastronomy of the province of Gaziantep, located in southeastern Turkey.

The İçli Köfte consists of a dumpling of wheat or semolina, stuffed with meat, seasoned with herbs, which can be served raw, cooked, or fried (similar to the famous Kibe).

Çerkes Tavuk

This dish is of crucial role in the Istanbul culinary scene.

Çerkes Tavuk is composed of shredded cooked chicken served in a rich paste made with crushed nuts and broth. Also, the dish has a special historical significance, as the recipe was adopted by the Ottoman imperial cuisine.

Mercimek Köftesi

This vegan appetizer is quick to make and has an amazing taste when accompanied by a little lettuce and lemon juice. Its recipe is very similar to the lentil meatball, very popular in vegan restaurants around Europe and Latin America.

Deniz Börülcesi

This dish is a kind of beans served with olive oil and a little garlic.

Paçanga Böreği

Turkey is a treasure when it comes to different types of börek and paçanga is one of them. Usually, this dish consists of meat, tomatoes, peppers, and cheese.

Ezme

This dish consists of tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, and lemon juice. A perfect aperitif to be accompanied with bread or toast.

Karides Güveç

This dish is composed by cooked fish, white meat, red meat, or seafood. For those who already travelled around South America, Karides Güveç’s recipe is very similar to the famous Brazilian moqueca.

Balık Kokoreç

A variation on the famous classic kokoreç, a very popular street food made from lamb intestines. However, in this variation of the dish, the recipe is filled with fish.

Humus

Hummus is quite popular in many countries in the Middle East. However, its recipe is different in Turkey. In the country, the dish has ingredients such as chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. Also, it usually ends with the addition of a cured meat, known as pastírma.

How could Guide in Turkey help me get to know the famous Meze during my trip around the country?

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Inci Pastanesi on Bahariye in Kadıköy. Making people happy and a bit more pudgy since 1958.

Did you like the post about Meze? Then, we can help you.

During your trip in any of our packages, we can take you to check out one of the many establishments in the cities of Istanbul and Ankara and in the small villages that compose the Cappadocia region that serve the Meze and the variations of the dish. Likewise, if there is a specific point you want to know, we can take you privately and exclusively.

Also, we provide packages with complete itineraries, accommodation scheduling, transfers, interpreters, private guides who are able to speak English, and much more.

For reservations, questions, and more information, please contact:

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