Turkish Appetizers
The importance of appetizers in Turkish cuisine is quickly noticed whether you dine out or eat in a local home. Meals, especially on the weekend, are a time of gathering with loved ones for social interaction while delighting your taste buds and filling your belly. Since a meal is a social affair not meant to be rushed, it isn’t served or partaken of quickly. A plethora of appetizers enforces this tradition. Often there is such a wide variety of hot and cold appetizers served that you may not have any room left for the main meal.
After gathering for a meal, drinks are served along with a myriad of delectable appetizers. If you are dining in a restaurant and simply order a main meal you may be surprised when your waiter returns quickly with several little starter dishes. These are often “on the house” and meant solely for your enjoyment and satisfaction. Each meze is served on a small dish in the center of the table and meant to be shared and sampled by everyone slowly while enjoying conversation.
While the list of appetizers served is limitless I will suggest some here along with recipe links when appropriate so you can try them out for yourself. Feel free to invite over a group and enjoy a full meal just of meze, Turkish appetizers. I guarantee you no one will complain or go home hungry.
- Black and Green Olives
- Pickled Peppers or Pickled Vegetables
- Mixed White Cheeses like Feta
- Fresh, hot Pide bread
- Hummus (Chickpea Dip)
- Babagannuş (Roasted Eggplant & Tomato Appetizer)
- Kaşarlı Patates Köftesi (Cheesy Potato Croquette)
- Mor Lahana Salatası (Purple Cabbage Salad)
- Yoğurtlu Patlıcan Mezesi (Roasted Eggplant & Yogurt Appetizer)
- Sigara Böreği (Fried Feta Cheese Filled Pastry)
- Közlenmiş Patlıcan Mezesi (Tangy Roasted Eggplant Appetizer)
- Haydari (Minty Yogurt & Feta Dip)
- Lentil Couscous Salad
- Havuç Salatası (Garlicy Carrot Dip)
- Semizotu Salatası (Garlicy Purslane Dip)
- Zeytinyağlı Taze Fasulye (Fresh Green Beans & Tomato Dish)
- Mardin Kabak Salatası (Garlicy Squash & Yogurt Salad with Dill)
- Piyaz (Zesty White Bean Salad)
- Cacık (Cucumber Yogurt Sauce)
- Kısır (Turkish Bulgur Salad)
- Patlıcan Dolma (Eggplant Skins stuffed with Rice, Meat & Spices)
Becky Wiebe
I absolutely love turkish hospitality. Either in an intimate home or restaurant, you’re treated so well with such things like meze. Great article Jale. I’m looking forward to sharing these recipes in my home with fellow foodies 😁