Turkey is one of the best places to visit and one that you must visit in your life, regardless if you’re a history buff or a regular beachgoer. Home to such amazing and fascinating history and places, wonderful hospitality, and such a mix of welcoming cultures, you’ll love it the moment you step foot out of the airport into Turkey. And, speaking of cultures in Turkey, one of the best parts of its wonderful culture is its food culture and variety, especially the winter foods in Turkey, whether they’re traditional or modern.
A delectable mix of both modern and traditional food cultures, the winter food scene of Turkey is one of the best things to delve into on a tour in winter. Present in the big cities and the wonderful quaint little towns scattered around the Anatolian countryside, its variety and deliciousness are something to die for.
Whether you’re looking for Boza, the fermented mixture to drink in winter, the large potato sandwich known as Kumpir or dozens of other foods, Turkish foods and cuisine are some of the best foods present in the northeastern Mediterranean region. In this blog, we’ve made a list of the 7 most popular and best Winter Foods in Turkey you must try, to let you know beforehand what not to miss on your Turkey tour.
A List Of The 7 Popular Winter Foods In Turkey To Try
Whether you’re a spice fan or not or you’re a street food hound, you’re not gonna be disappointed with what you’ll encounter in the food culture of Turkey. In Turkey, you’ll find winter dishes and foods from hundreds of years ago or in the cases of the big cities, relatively modern and DIY ones, that can pack a punch in terms of flavor. So for those excited to know, without further ado here is the list of the winter foods in Turkey you must try on a tour:
1. Kumpir
Kumpir is one of the best street foods to try in Turkey. Available at all times of the year, it’s one of the big highlights of street food in big cities such as Istanbul and others, etc. It consists of a large roasted potato that is half cut and mixed with cheese and butter.
Toppings are also part of this and it’s entirely up to you what you want to choose from mushrooms, corn, salad, vegetables, and olives to warm you up during a cold evening in the streets of Turkey.
Check Out: Istanbul Tour (3 Days)
2. Hot Rice and Chickpeas Mix
Another popular winter food in Turkey you must try is the traditional chickpeas and rice combination dish. Rice is a common ingredient in many of Turkey’s dishes, along with chickpeas, and the combination is the perfect thing to try during winter. You can also find ones with shredded chicken and peppers, which enhance the flavor of the dish and make it one of the most popular dishes in Turkey.
Check Out: Istanbul Tour (4 Days)
3. Boza
Boza is one of the most popular drinks in Turkey and is drunk specifically in Winter. It is a fermented drink that is made by boiled millet, which is processed and mixed with sugar and water. After being mixed, cinnamon and toasted chickpeas are added to the beverage to make it beneficial for cold nights. It’s one of the best beverages to drink and is among the top winter foods in Turkey.
4. Islak Burgers
For those feeling a little cold while out exploring in the winter nights of turkey, try the Islak burger which is a steamed beef patty in the middle of a white bun. It’s a popular snack, especially in Istanbul, and is made from a patty that is steamed and cooked to perfection with buns that are dripping with garlic and tomato sauce to liven the flavor up.
It’s one of the best things to try on winter nights in Turkey and can be a quick meal to satisfy your hunger while out exploring.
Check Out: Istanbul Tour (5 Days)
5. Roasted Hot Chestnuts
Winter foods in Turkey have a lot of variety and one of the most common ones you must try is roasted chestnuts, a common street food on cold winter nights. You’ll find people selling these in carts and booths in a lot of places on your tour and a common thing to eat by Turkish citizens that can keep you warm and act as a snack to keep your energy up.
6. Cabbage Rolls
Stuffed cabbage rolls are another winter food in Turkey to try at lunchtime or dinner. The leaves of the cabbage are stuffed and rolled with rice, a variety of spices, and minced meat, which is cooked in tomato sauce. It’s one of the best foods to try and experience the food culture of Turkey.
Check Out: Istanbul & Bursa Package (4 Days)
7. Various Soups
Soups are the heart and soul of every Turk having been in their culture since before Antiquity and are especially beneficial to drink in winter. Soups are called Corba in Turkish and are usually served as an appetizer before meals and are meals themselves, depending on whether you want to eat and drink light.
You’ll find them among the most popular winter foods in Turkey to eat, with varieties of Corba being available such as Tripe Soup, Tarhana Soup, and Lentil Soup among the most popular foods to eat and drink in Turkey during winter.
Check Out: Istanbul and Izmir Tour (5 Days)
Top 7 Popular Winter Foods in Turkey: A Must Try On Your Turkey Winter Tour
The diversity and variety of the winter foods in Turkey and the food culture, in general, is something to be awed at. You can find so many flavors, tastes, and cultures among them, giving them the “Oomph” they need to be some of the best food you’ll eat in your life. While people primarily come to Turkey to see the astounding history and the wonderful cultures, delving into its food culture, in particular the Winter food culture can make your Turkey trip even more wonderful and memorable.
So are you ready to embark on a wonderful journey to the Gateway to Ancient Wonders otherwise known as Turkey, where you’ll experience wonderful cultures, and rich culinary delicacies, all with pre-booked accommodations, and guided tours? iLinkTurkey offers a diverse range of guided tour packages for destinations in Turkey. Head over to our packages and book one of our featured Turkey packages now.
