Kumpir Buffet

Turkish-Style Baked Potato Bar

In Turkey, baked potato bars, also known as kumpir buffet, are very common. Kumpir buffets have a variety of different toppings than what is put on a baked potato in the US.

When you order a kumpir, they take a baked potato directly from the oven and cut it in half, without completely slitting through the bottom. Then they add a bit of butter (because Turks love to present things in a beautiful and eye-catching way, even the butter is sculpted into something beautiful as pictured below) and shredded cheese (this cheese is called kaşar but is similar to mozzarella cheese).

The talented person preparing the baked potato mixes the cheese, butter and potato together until it’s like whipped mashed potatoes inside the potato skin! Then the fun begins. Depending on price, you can choose 5 to 15 different toppings to put on. Although not all kumpir buffets always offer the exact same topping choices, many of them are similar and there is always a myriad of toppings found on every baked potato bar in Turkey.

Some toppings that can be found are sliced green and black olives, chopped pickles, pickled red cabbage, plain or barbecued corn, barbecued hot dogs, or canned potatoes, carrots & peas. There is also a wide variety of cold salads offered as toppings. Among these are Haydari (Minty Yogurt & Feta Dip), Babagannuş (Roasted Eggplant Appetizer), Semizötü Salatası (Yogurt Purslaine Dip), Kısır (Turkish Bulgur Salad), Amerikan Salatası (American  Salad), and Rus Salatası (Russian Salad).

Because Turks love mayonnaise and ketchup, they almost always offer to squirt some of each on top of their colorful baked potato! Sometimes eating it can be challenging because it has so many toppings on it – but that can be part of the fun! While a baked potato may not seem like a full meal, the potatoes in Turkey are quite large and, with the variety of toppings on top, it is very filling and generally everyone leaves feeling full and more than satisfied!

Because the toppings are so different in Turkey than those offered in America, it is common that guests that I take for kumpir are a bit unsure of whether or not they will like it. And while some guests are more adventurous than others with the toppings they put on their baked potato, I have not had any guest yet who has left feeling empty or less than satisfied. In fact, most are so full and continue talking about how yummy the baked potatoes are in Turkey even months later.

This is a fun party menu idea for a group of any size, too! Several times I have served a huge Kumpir buffet to a large group of people in the States. However, it’s also a fun meal for a small group or family gathering. It works especially well because the topping options are limitless and can be as gourmet or easy as you wish. Here’s a post about a Kumpir buffet I did in the States recently.

Butter sculptures (like the rooster on the cover photo)

Big, beautiful potatoes for sale at the market

Another delicious stuffed hot potato (this time with Babagannuş as one topping!)