Turkish cuisine is one of the best and most varied in the world, and in Istanbul you can dine like a sultan—at least in terms of the menu. You will probably dine more convivially than his highness did, as the sultan always ate alone. The trick is knowing what to order. This is no problem in a lokanta, the simple places where working people eat, for you simply walk up to the counter and choose what you want from the pots on the steam table. In higher-class restaurants the procedure is as follows: you begin with cold hors d’oeuvres (soğuk meze), which you are invited to choose from a huge tray brought to your table. To supplement them you can order some hot hors d’oeuvres (ara sıcak) from the menu. You also order the main course that will follow, and later a sweet and/or coffee.

 

Cold hors d’oeuvres (soğuk meze)

beyaz peynir white goat cheese

beğin brain

biber dolması stuffed green peppers

cacık grated cucumbers with yogurt and garlic (tzatziki)

domates dolması stuffed tomatoes

imam bayıldı (literally, The Imam Fainted) stuffed aubergines

kaşar peynir hard cheese

lahana dolması stuffed cabbage

lakerda salted bonito tuna

midye pilakısı mussels cooked with olive oil and served cold

tarama carp roe

yaprak dolması stuffed green peppers

zeytin olives

 

Salads (salata)

çoban salata chopped peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and celery

domates salatası tomato salad

fasulye ezmesi dried bean salad

ispanakoku salatası spinach salad

marul Romaine (Cos) lettuce

pancar salatası beet salad

patates ezmesi mashed potato salad

patlıcan salatası aubergine salad

piyaz dried white bean salad

salatalık salatası cucumber salad

yeşil salata green salad

yoğurtlu kabak salatası zucchini with yogurt

 

Warm hors d’oeuvres (Ara sıcak)

Among the most popular hot meze dishes are the various types of börek, thin puff pastry with various fillings, such as the following:

etli börek with minced meat filling

ispanaklı börek with spinach

mantarlı börek with mushroom

pastırmılı börek with a filling of dried spiced beef

peynerli börek with cheese filling

tavuklu börek with chicken filling

 

Other popular hot meze dishes are:

 

arnavut ciğer chopped liver and onions

beğin tavası fried brain

et sauté thin slices of meat sautéed in tomato and pepper sauce

izgara köfte grilled meat balls

kabak kızartması fried zucchini

koç yumurtası fried sheep’s testicles

menemen eggs scrambled with green and red peppers and white cheese

midye tavası fried mussels

midye dolması fried mussels served in the shell and stuffed with rice

patates köfte potato croquettes

patates kızartması fried potatoes

patlıcan kızartması fried aubergines

 

Meat (etler), Poultry (tavuk) and Fish (balık)

Meat and fish may be prepared in several ways: grilled (izgara), fried (tava), roasted (kızartma), in casserole (güveç), grilled on a skewer (şiş). Among the most popular meat dishes are the various types of kebabs.

alabalık trout

bahçevan kebabı meat cooked with vegetables one would find in a typical kitchen garden

barbun red mullet

bıldırçın quail

Bursa kebab döner kebab served with yogurt and tomato sauce, sometimes called Iskender kebab

çerkez tavuk Circassian chicken, with walnut sauce

cığer liver

çinakop a species of small bluefish

çulluk woodcock

dana veal

dil sole

döner kebab pressed lamb cooked on a rotating spit over a charcoal fire and carved off in thin slices

güveç meat, poultry or seafood baked together with vegetables in a casserole

hindi dolması stuffed turkey

hünkar beğendi (‘The Sultan’s Favourite’) puréed aubergine served with chicken or meat

islim kebabı meat and aubergines cooked in a covered casserole

kadın budu (‘The Lady’s Thigh’) ground meat and rice formed into patties and then dipped into beaten eggs and fried

kağıt kebab meat, vegetables, and herbs in a wine sauce, and cooked in a wax-paper envelope

kalkan turbot

karnıyarık (‘Belly Split-Open’) ground meat cooked together with aubergines

kaz goose

keklik partridge

kılıç swordfish

kış türlüsü a meat and vegetable stew mantı meat-filled mini ravioli

kiyma minced meat

kuzu budu rostosu roast leg of lamb

kuzu lamb

levrek bass

lüfer bluefish

mercan bream

ördek duck

palamut bonito

pılıç young chicken

pılıç dolması stuffed roast chicken

pılıç kağıta chicken cooked in a wax

paper envelope

pirzola lamb chops

sığır beef

şiş kebab lamb skewered on a spit with tomatoes and onions and grilled over a charcoal fire

somon balığı salmon

sülün pheasant

tas kebab lamb stew with rice and vegetables

tavuk chicken (also poultry in

general)

tavukklu beğendi chicken in egg purée

tavuklu güveç chicken casserole

tekir small red mullet

üskümrü mackerel

yaban domuz wild boar

 

Soup (Çorba)

domateslı çorbası tomato soup

domateslı pirinç çorbası tomato and rice soup

düğün çorbası (‘Wedding Soup’) soup with meat, vegetables, eggs, and paprika

işkembe çorbası tripe soup

kırmızı mercimek çorbası red lentil soup

mercimek çorbası lentil soup

tavuk çorbası chicken soup

yayla çorbası beef soup with yogurt