Twenty one tantalizing Turkish foods you will want immediately.

1. Baklava.
Layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped walnuts or pistachios, cinnamon and sugar covered in honey syrup, and baklava oozes deliciousness in every bite. It is the ultimate sweet food for any sugar lover. 

 

2. Patlıcan kebabı.
Grilled ground beef, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and eggplant. Since all the ingredients are grilled on the same skewer, the flavors mingle to create a mouth wateringly delicious smoky combination.

 

3. Mercimek köftesi.
Vegetarian meatballs made from lentils, green onions and tomato paste. Perfect for vegetarians, they are also light and make amazing appetizers or side courses. 

4. Hünkar beğendi.
Lamb stew served on top of a creamy eggplant puree. The acidic tomatoey flavor of the lamb stew combined with the creamy eggplant creates something truly out of this world.  

5. İçli köfte.
Ground meat, spices, bulgur, and onions stuffed inside balls of dough that are then fried. These balls are like the chicken tenders of the meat universe - lightly fried, tender, and the perfect amount of greasy. 

6. Cacık.
A yogurt based soup with cucumbers, mint, and hot pepper. The mix of yogurt, mint, and spice makes cacık smooth and extremely fresh tasting. It’s a perfect side-course to the general heaviness of Turkish main dishes. 

7. Kadayıf.
Shredded phyllo pastry covered with syrup and a hint of lemon juice.  A light Turkish dessert, kadayıf blends the sour of lemon with the sweet of syrup perfectly. 

8. Döner.
Slow cooked meat or chicken stuffed inside bread, along with your choice of vegetables. You may never find meat as tender and juicy as this. The combination of hot peppers, onions, and veggies take it all to another level. 

9. Sarma.
This is the Turkish version of stuffed grape leaves. Sarma are a meal all in one, combining bulgur grains, ground meat, and spices into one bite sized serving of awesomeness.

10.Çiğ köfte.
Raw beef that is kneaded with lemon, tomato paste, bulgur and garlic until tender and shaped into a ball. When done right, çiğ köfte is reminiscent of the type of freshness sushi brings, light, delectable, but still filling.

11. Iskender kebab.
Layers of tender shaved meat served over roasted bits of pita and beneath tomato sauce with a side of yogurt. The combination of yogurt, tomato and meat is unreal. Plus, this was apparently Alexander the Great’s favorite food, so it has that going for it too.

12. Hamsi tava.
Fried anchovies. When served with arugula and lemon, anchovies lose their distinct fishy taste and instead taste more similar to fresh fish and chips.

13. Aslan sütü.
Rakı, a Turkish spirit, mixed with water and ice. It’ll get you drunk! Rakı is upwards of 50% alcohol, pairs perfectly with fish and melon, and tastes like aniseed.  

14. Mercimek Çorbası.
Red lentil soup with onions, carrots, and paprika. This is the ultimate hardy soup, with the paprika and lemon adding a little kick to an otherwise creamy and filling bowl of happiness.  

15. Kaşarlı pide.
 Fresh baked pita bread with melted cheese. Super fluffy, yet crunchy, bread combined with olive oil and cheese equals heaven. 

16. Lahmacun.
Pita like bread covered in a tomato, pepper, and lamb sauce along with fresh vegetables and lemons.
Lahmacun is often referred to as Turkish pizza, and it can substitute as an awesome non-dairy, and slightly spicy, version of the classic pizza.

17. Mantl.
Miniature lamb or beef dumplings, served in a spicy yogurt sauce. Just imagine ravioli with a flavorful Anatolian kick.

18. Adana kebab.
A grilled skewer of sublime ground lamb goodness. The meat is tender and slightly spicy, with an additional savory kick from the use of lamb instead of beef.

19. Künefe.
Shredded phyllo dough encasing a sweet cheese, topped with pistachios and honey. The blending of savory cheese and sweet pastry is just perfect.  

20. Türk kahvesi.
Turkish coffee. It’s strong, dark, and as sweet as you’d like. Think espresso, but with extra coffee grounds. 

21. Çay.
Turkish tea. Turkish tea is brewed to the perfect reddish color from only the finest tea leaves. It is generally drunk with plenty of sugar.