Afiyet olsun! May it be good for you!
Turkey straddles Asia and Europe and Turkish food is a mix of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Central Asian cuisines. Also situated along the old spice routes, for millennia it has been a multicultural hub and literal melting pot of cuisines and spices.
It is famous for plates of meat and kebabs, dolmas, platters of mezze, eggplants, flatbreads and dips, salty cheeses, olives, boreks.
While meat is popular, the variety and taste of the vegetable side dishes would satisfy even the most committed carnivore.
Turkish days are started with strong tea and meals are finished with even stronger coffee.
It is a big country and each region has its own specialities, based on the different landscapes and environments but we will try to condense down some staples of the Turkish kitchen to have you cooking like a Turk in no time.