Meat and Turkey is usually considered a synonym. Although Turks are famous for their kebabs and doners but Turks also know how to cook vegetables. Their cuisine can be a paradise for the vegeterians too!
Here are the most common dishes for the vegans:
Breakfast |
Kahvalti: Turkish breakfast consists of several kinds of bread, cheeses, jams, vegetables, borek and eggs. And tea, lots of tea |
Simit and pastries: This is served in the traditional Turkish breakfast and comes in wide range of simple pastries or stuffed version. It is easily available in the streets and at low price. Most commonly it is filled with cheese, potato, spinach, olives or meat. |
Menemen: This is similar to the scrambled egg. It is made by adding onion, tomato, green pepper and then adding cheese before baking it. The melting cheese on this menemen is what makes it tastier. This is served usually at breakfast. |
Mains |
Zeytinyagli Dolma (Stuffed Grape Leaves): These are seasoned rice stuffed in grape leaves. Turks use olive oil and herbs for seasoning of rice. They can sometimes also contain meat. So it is better if you can ask the restaurant if it is Etsiz (Without meat). They are served both cold and warm. |
Gözleme: This is the Turkish version of crepe but trust us far more tastier. It is specially served with spinach, cheese or potato. The most liked one is potato gozleme. |
Side dishes |
Zeytinyağlı Enginar: the bottom of an artichoke filled with peas, potato, and carrots |
Acılı Ezme: a paste made mostly of tomato, red bell pepper, garlic and parsley |
Patlıcan Ezmesi: eggplant puree with olive oil, vinegar and garlic is the most basic variety. But there are more elaborate varieties like this recipe with tomato and parsley for example |
Your options doesn't end here! Many more dishes that you should give them a try during your stay here...