Turkish cuisine is the cuisine of the Turkish people who controlled the eastern Mediterranean Sea region and the Middle East during the reign of the Ottoman Empire from the 14th century to the end of the World War I. Turkic cuisine elements brought from Central Asia were mixed with the cuisines of the previously dominant cultures of Greece, Armenia , Georgia , Lebanon , Jordan and Syria . As a result, the countries of the eastern Mediterranean Sea region share more or less the same elements of cuisine. This wide circle of influence extends even to the Arabian peninsula , North Africa, present Russia and countries receiving Turkish immigrants like Germany and the United Kingdom.

Frequently used ingredients in Turkish dishes include eggplant, green pepper, onion, lentil, bean, tomato, garlic, and cucumber. Grape, apricot, cherry, melon, fig, lemon, pistachio, pine nut, almond, hazelnut, watermelon, and walnut are among the most abundantly used fruits and nuts. Preferred spices and herbs are parsley, cumin, black pepper, paprika, mint, and thyme.

Meats (especially shish kebabs) are usually marinated and grilled over an open fire. Although every kind of meat other than that of pork is consumed, lamb from milk-fed lambs is especially favored. A famous beef delicacy is pastirma. Iskender kebap is a relatively recently invented type of döner kebap which is usually consumed in the northwestern parts of Turkey. Döner kebap has established itself as an alternative fast food in Western Europe countries like the Netherlands, Germany and Britain.

Best flavored white cheese and yoghurt is also prepared from the sheep milk. Although rice, which is named as pilav (pilaf), is the essential part of many foods, bulgur (prepared from wheat) can also used for the same purpose. Especially in the western parts of Turkey, where olive trees are grown abundantly, olive oil is the major type of oil used for cooking. The bread is prepared from wheat, barley or corn. Pide (broad, round and flat kind of bread made of wheat) and tandır ekmeği (baked on the inner walls of a round oven) are some examples for authentic types of bread in Turkish cuisine.

Meze is the type of food served as the appetizer course with or without drinks or sometimes as the main course and consists olives, mature kashar cheese (similar to strong cheddar cheese in flavor) or white cheese, pickles, cacık (tzatziki), köfte (meatballs), pilaki (made of bean, garlic and olive oil), dolma (grape leaves, green pepper or eggplant stuffed with rice or meat), börek (very thin phyllo dough stuffed with cheese, meat or vegetables), hummus (prepared from sesame, chickpea, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice), seafood, and several other varieties.

One of the best-known desserts in Turkish cuisine is baklava. Rice and starch puddings (muhallebi , sütlaç ), helva (halvah), kadayıf (kataifi ), revani (made of semolina and starch) are among other varieties. Kaymak (clotted cream) is often served with sweet desserts to cut through the sweetness. Tea or thick Turkish coffee (with or without sugar) is usually served after dinner or more rarely together with desserts.

Notwithstanding that the majority of Turkish profess the Islamic faith, alcoholic beverages are as widely available as in Europe. However, most of the Turks restrain from alcohol during the holy month of Ramadan. There are a few local brands of lager and a variety of local wines. Rakı, an alcoholic beverage flavoured with anise, is the usual tipple with meze. The other favorite beverages include ayran, boza, and turnip juice.

See also: lokum (Turkish Delight)