What is the national dish of Turkey?
Turkey has no single official national dish. Kebabs are the best-known choice abroad, while many Turks name kuru fasulye, white beans stewed in tomato sauce, served with rice.
Kebabs come in many styles across Turkey. Döner kebab is meat cooked on a vertical rotating spit, while şiş kebab uses chunks of meat grilled on skewers. Adana kebab, a spicy minced meat kebab, and İskender kebab, served over bread with tomato sauce and yogurt, are named after the places where they became famous.
At home, many Turkish families eat kuru fasulye, a stew of dried white beans cooked with onions, tomato paste and sometimes meat. It is usually served with pilaf, a buttery rice dish, and pickles. Because it is cheap, filling and eaten across the country, it is often jokingly called the true national dish.
A rich food culture
Turkish cuisine also includes meze, small dishes shared at the start of a meal, as well as stuffed vegetables called dolma, flaky pastries such as börek and sweets like baklava and Turkish delight. Turkish coffee culture and tradition was recognized by UNESCO in 2013.
Did You Know?
Turkish breakfast, called kahvaltı, is famous for its many small plates of cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, honey, jam and fresh bread with tea.