The word “meze” is derived from the Persian word “maza” and means “taste”. Meze in Türkiye is a way of life at the table, she spends long hours in the company of relatives. Meze are not there to fill you up, but to change the taste in your mouth while enjoying your rakı. Indeed, many could argue that conversation is by far the best means of accompanying your rakı!
Rakı, the anise-flavored drink of the Turks, is sometimes referred to as “lion’s milk”.
Nowadays, meze can be enjoyed with any type of drink. The younger generation in particular often enjoys meze while drinking wine. In fact, Turkish wines are also a great accompaniment to the Meze Sofrası (Meze Table).
A meze can be anything that is served in small plates: herbs with yogurt (cold or warm), turşu (cucumber), ezin cheese and melon, olive oil-based vegetable dishes, zeytinyağlı sarma (stuffed vine leaves or cabbage leaves cooked olive oil), haydari (Yogurt with herbs, spices and garlic), lakerda (pickled bonito), rocket salad, tomato and onion salad, charred eggplant salad, marinated fish, squid salad, karides söğüş (boiled shrimp, served cold with olives oil), sautéed wild herbs , served with garlic, pilaki (tomato sauce and white beans braised with olive oil), fava (crushed fava beans, served with onions and olive oil), olives, şakşuka (fried eggplant with tomato sauce), celery salad, artichokes in olive oil …
We should say that the meze table should be balanced in acid, fat and salt. Toasted bread, flatbread or corn bread can be served with the mezes.
10 TOP MEZES PICKS
You will find many delicious and nutritious meals on your journey through Türkiye. Mezes are some of the most common dishes found in Meyhanes (traditional Turkish taverns), restaurants and cafes. Mezes are usually a mix of small hot and cold dishes to be shared by those at your table. Here are 10 top tips for the next time you’re looking at a menu.
Cold meze
- Fava – mashed broad beans
Turkish cuisine is about taking simple ingredients and making the most of them. In this meze, broad beans are boiled, mashed and then shaped into squares. Served with freshly diced onions, lemon, dill and a dash of olive oil, this dish is a classic, hearty meze.
- Mercimek Köftesi – lentil meatballs
Lentil cakes are traditionally made from lentils, mashed and formed into patties with a red tomato sauce, freshly chopped parsley and spring onions, which provide a fresh crunch with every bite. Mercimek köftesi are not only vegetarian but also vegan and are widely available across the country.
- Deniz Börülcesi – Samphire
Samphire (Crithmum) is a sea vegetable. Because of Türkiye’s lush coastline, samphire is available most of the year. This is an excellent dish any time of the year, but is especially popular in summer when the heat is most pressing on the coast. The samphire is lightly cooked in garlic and then preserved in lemon juice and olive oil to let the natural flavors come through.
- Ezme – Spicy Tomato Salad
Tomatoes and turkiye go hand in hand, and nowhere is that more evident than in humble times. It is made by dicing tomatoes, peppers, chillies, onions, garlic and herbs and drizzling them with lemon juice, pomegranate molasses and olive oil. This dish is often offered as a gift while you wait for your food to be cooked, but the humble ezme shouldn’t be overlooked – it’s a hit when it comes to taste!
- Çerkes Tavuk – Circassian Chicken
This is a hearty meze. This dish is made from shredded chicken and diced walnuts. It’s creamy, meaty, and has just the right amount of crunch. Circassian chicken is traditionally dressed with fresh herbs and is an interesting structural change from most other mezes.
Hot meze
- Paçanga Börek – beef and cheese pastries
Of the many types of Börek in Türkiye, Paçanga is the star. It’s thin pastry wrapped around delicious cheese and pastırma (flavored, dry beef) and lightly fried. The outside is crispy and flaky, while the inside is a successful blend of flavorful beef and creamy, melted cheese.
- İçli Köfte – Stuffed, fried meatballs
İçli köfte is a handy snack for on the go or a more extensive meze option. Minced meat is sautéed with onions, walnuts, and sometimes currants, and then shaped into balls before being encased in a mixture of bulgur, potato, and spices. It is then fried until golden brown. İçli köftes are deeply satisfying, with a crispy outer shell and a juicy, aromatic meat filling.
- Pastırmalı Humus – Hot Hummus with Pastırma
For most, hummus is a meal that is served cold. In Türkiye, hummus with pastırma is a popular hot meze. The hummus is served in a pot that comes out of the oven hot with a thin layer of pastırma on top. The pastırma gives the garlicky hummus an extra meaty kick. Dive in with crusty bread – you won’t be disappointed!
- Karides Güveç – Shrimp Casserole
Karides güveç is a deeply satisfying and delicious dish. Fresh prawns are cooked in a simple sauce made from butter and garlic. The dish is presented on the table, which is still bubbling – will you wait to dip in or try it? The seafood, while the star of the show, faces stiff competition from the garlic butter sauce. More bread to dunk?
- Balık Kokoreç – spicy fish cut into cubes
Not to be confused with traditional kokoreç. Fish Kokoreç is finely diced fish that has been richly seasoned with spices, tomatoes, onions and peppers. This is a fresh, tasty dish that you will keep coming back for.
I did not know that Turkey is so beautiful.
We went in Nevsehir, Turkey, and we liked it very much.
Места, которые мы видели в предыдущей поездке, действительно стоит посетить, вы освежили наши воспоминания.
There are very nice and clean hotels in Turkey.
I think there are many beautiful places in Turkey.
Ciao, bella condivisione.
Verrò alla prima occasione.
Es gibt einige wirklich coole Orte.
Je suis venu avec ma famille, nous avons beaucoup aimé, nous reviendrons.
I did not know that Meze Culture in Turkey is so beautiful.
Il y a des hôtels très agréables et propres en Turquie.
Siamo stati a Izmir in Turchia e ci è piaciuto molto.
I just want to Turkey’s holiday resort.
Meze Culture in Turkey , Yes I agree, there are many beautiful places.
There are many beautiful landscapes in Turkey.
Hello, nice sharing.
Ciao, bella condivisione.
sicher und billiger in der Türkei Urlaub zu machen.
Alla Turchia piace molto il sogno di aprire una porta.
Um die Reisen zu planen, müssen wir schnell loslegen.
Es gibt sehr schöne und saubere Resorts in der Türkei.
à la fois sûr et moins cher pour des vacances en Turquie.
Приду при первой же возможности.
В Турции много красивых курортов.
Это предпочтительная страна для безопасного отдыха.
Ich frage mich, warum ich bis jetzt in die Türkei gekommen bin. Ich werde bei der ersten Gelegenheit kommen.
Erzurum in Turkey, I like the city very much.
Ci sono paesaggi da sogno in Turchia.
В Турции много красивых пейзажей.
Je pense qu’il y a de nombreux endroits à visiter dans ce pays.
Ich bin mit meiner Familie gekommen, es hat uns sehr gut gefallen, wir werden wiederkommen.
Я очень хочу поехать в Турцию.
C’est un pays préférable pour des vacances en toute sécurité.
I luoghi che abbiamo visto nel nostro viaggio precedente dovrebbero davvero essere visitati, hai rinfrescato i nostri ricordi.
Je pense que je devrais aller dans plus d’endroits.
Ci sono alcuni posti davvero interessanti.
I love to visit historical places.
We will definitely come this year with our friends.
Это предпочтительная страна для безопасного отдыха.
Siamo stati ad Antalya in Turchia e ci è piaciuto molto.
Grazie per aver fornito così tante informazioni sulla Turchia, condivido.
I just want to Turkey’s holiday resort.
Die Türkei mag die Träume, eine Tür zu öffnen.
Um die Reisen zu planen, müssen wir schnell loslegen.
Penso che ci siano molti posti da visitare in questo paese.
Es gibt viele schöne Resorts in der Türkei.
Я думаю, что в Турции много красивых мест.
Hallo, schönes Teilen.
Мы ездили в Измир в Турции, и нам очень понравилось.
Es gibt viele schöne Landschaften in der Türkei.
Nous sommes allés à Antalya en Turquie et nous avons beaucoup aimé.
Il y a beaucoup de beaux paysages en Turquie.
Nous l’avons tellement aimé que nous reviendrons.
Die Türkei mag die Träume, eine Tür zu öffnen.
Я спрашиваю, почему я приехал в Турцию до сих пор. Приду при первой же возможности.
Il y a des paysages de rêve en Turquie.
We loved it so much that we will come again.
Есть действительно классные места.
Sì sono d’accordo, ci sono tanti posti bellissimi.
Il y a un très beau complexe hôtelier propre en Turquie.
I love to visit historical places.
There are some really cool places Meze Culture in Turkey.
Viaggi molto carini.
Yes I agree, there are many beautiful places.
Alla Turchia piace molto il sogno di aprire una porta.
Я очень хочу поехать в Турцию.
I think there are many places to visit in this country.
Ich denke, ich sollte zu mehr Orten gehen.
Ich denke, ich sollte zu mehr Orten gehen.
Nous sommes allés à Nevsehir, en Turquie, et nous avons beaucoup aimé.
Thank you for giving so much information about Turkey, I share Meze Culture in Turkey.
I think there are many places to visit in this country.
Il y a des endroits vraiment sympas.
Да согласен, там много красивых мест.
J’adore visiter les lieux historiques.
Siamo stati a Izmir in Turchia e ci è piaciuto molto.
Мы ездили в Анталию в Турции, и нам очень понравилось.
Es gibt einige wirklich coole Orte.
I came to Çanakkale and liked it very much.
Привет, приятный обмен.
Nous sommes allés à Nevsehir, en Turquie, et nous avons beaucoup aimé.
Я думаю, что в Турции много красивых мест.
You can economically vacation in Turkey.
I really want to go to Turkey.
В Турции много красивых курортов.
I luoghi che abbiamo visto nel nostro viaggio precedente dovrebbero davvero essere visitati, hai rinfrescato i nostri ricordi.
Les endroits que nous avons vus lors de notre précédent voyage devraient vraiment être visités, vous avez rafraîchi nos souvenirs.
Ich werde bei der ersten Gelegenheit kommen.
sicher und billiger in der Türkei Urlaub zu machen.
Oui je suis d’accord, il y a beaucoup de beaux endroits.
We loved it so much that we will come again.
Penso che ci siano molti bei posti in Turchia.
sicher und billiger in der Türkei Urlaub zu machen.
Я разделяю благодарность за то, что вы предоставили столько информации о Турции.
La première fois, nous avons planifié un voyage en Turquie.
Je suis venu avec ma famille, nous avons beaucoup aimé, nous reviendrons.
sicher und billiger in der Türkei Urlaub zu machen.
Turkey really like the dreams of opening a door.
Nous sommes allés à Izmir en Turquie et nous avons beaucoup aimé.
Je me demande pourquoi je suis venu en Turquie jusqu’à présent. Je viendrai à la première occasion.
sicher und billiger in der Türkei Urlaub zu machen.
Sie können wirtschaftlich in der Türkei Urlaub machen.
It is a preferable country for a safe holiday.
Nous viendrons certainement cette année avec nos amis.
Il y a des hôtels très agréables et propres en Turquie.
Есть действительно классные места.
It is a preferable country for a safe holiday.
It is a preferable country for a safe holiday.
Puoi economicamente vacanza in Turchia.
Amo visitare i luoghi storici.
I did not know that Turkey is so beautiful.
Il y a des hôtels beaucoup plus agréables en Turquie.
Je pense qu’il y a beaucoup de beaux endroits en Turquie.
Je pense qu’il y a de nombreux endroits à visiter dans ce pays.
Nous viendrons certainement cette année avec nos amis.
Yes I agree, there are many beautiful places.
We went to Izmir in Turkey and we liked it very much.