Try to picture what it would be like to have brunch every day of the week instead of only on Sundays. To put it another way, it is exactly what takes place during a traditional Turkish breakfast. You get on a roller-coaster of some of the best feelings, and you can help but wonder, ‘Can this last forever?’
Dig into the foundations of Turkish cuisine by starting with the meal’s core components. Then, dive into the culture of the place while you enlighten yourself on the background of the dishes that are being served. The full story below!
A Traditional Turkish Breakfast to Satisfy Your Senses
Here’s a fun fact! The Turkish people have a strong passion for eating and believe that breakfast is the most essential meal of the day. Wait, did you think otherwise?! Because of this, a traditional Turkish breakfast, more commonly referred to as “kahvalti,” is a spectacle to witness in and of itself. That’s very remarkable, don’t you think?
First things first, you should be aware that even if there are some regional changes in the menu, all of the Turkish areas have five items in common: bread, eggs, cheese, spreads, and of course, black tea!
A traditional Turkish breakfast often consists of black and green olives, cured meats, dips and sauces, cucumbers, fresh tomatoes, jams, eggs, fresh cheeses, fresh tomatoes, pastries, freshly-baked bread, honey, and sweet butter. Other common components to satisfy your senses include green and black olives; cured meats; dips and sauces; cucumbers; fresh tomatoes; jams; eggs; and sweet butter and honey. Whoa! That was quite the roller coaster of a culinary experience, didn’t it?!
In addition to these mouthwatering delights, a traditional Turkish breakfast must also include copious amounts of freshly prepared black tea.
Let’s go deeper into the specifics of the many dishes that make up the traditional Turkish breakfast! Find some ideas to spark your creativity in the lines that follow.
It’s All About the Eggs
Eggs are an essential component of every traditional Turkish breakfast, hands down! A popular choice for breakfast in Turkey is something known as sucuklu yumurta, frequently referred to as eggs with sausage. On the other hand, if you are a vegetarian menemen, the option that you will most likely choose is scrambled eggs with vegetables and oregano (yum!).
Bread, Bread, Don’t Forget About Bread!
Bread is an essential component of every morning meal. The bite-sized pieces of bread are often devoured after being dipped in menemen, eggs, or olive oil before being swallowed. Alternatively, the slices can be spread with jam before being consumed (delicious!). A traditional Turkish breakfast is not complete without the inclusion of bread.
We All Believe in Cheese
Turkey is home to an impressive number of cheese kinds that are unique to the country. The most common variety is what the Turks call “beyaz peynir,” which literally translates to “white cheese.” It is smoothly created using the milk of cows. There are further types of cheese, such as kasar, lor, and Tulum, among others. Each one has a flavor and consistency that are uniquely their own.
Feta cheese is a white cheese with a crumbly, brined curd that can be prepared from delicious goat’s milk, sheep’s milk, or a combination of both. It is an essential component of any traditional Turkish breakfast, so make sure you don’t overlook this important fact.
Spreads Are to Die For!
A traditional Turkish breakfast will always include a variety of fruit preserves, jams, and spreads to go with the breakfast bread. At a classic Turkish breakfast, you’ll typically find spreads like cherry and apricot jam, for instance. Nutella is a popular addition to modern Turkish breakfasts as a result of the Turkish people’s fondness for hazelnut spreads like Nutella. How sweet!
Tea, the Tradition Itself in Turkey
Sorry to disappoint you, but the traditional Turkish breakfast does not contain any beverages, including coffee or alcoholic drinks of any kind. Instead of coffee, however, black tea is typically provided at breakfast in traditional Turkish restaurants.
Recipes for the Typical Turkish Morning Meal
Tapenade with a Spicy Turkish Flavor
This flavorful tapenade is not only simple to prepare but also carries a significant punch. The following is a list of the components, followed by the necessary instructions:
- 3/4 cup shelled walnuts/ walnut halves
- 2 medium cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups pitted black olives
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground sumac
- 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and fresh ground black pepper
First, chop the walnuts using a food processor, then transfer the chopped walnuts to a bowl that is approximately medium in size and put them aside. After that, put the olives, garlic, and spices into the food processor and give it a few pulses until the olives and garlic are chopped very finely.
After adding the oil and lemon juice, give the mixture a few pulses in the food processor to blend it, and then transfer it to the bowl where the walnuts are located. At last, stir in the parsley and continue to mix until everything is incorporated. Salt and freshly ground black pepper can be used to season food to taste.
Turkish Menemem
This tasty easy-to-make traditional Turkish dish requires the following ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- a small bunch of parsley, roughly chopped
- 1 to 2 red chili peppers, without seeds and diced
- 2 medium-sized onions, sliced
- 6 tablespoons creamy yogurt (plain)
- 1 red or green bell pepper, without seeds and sliced
- 4 eggs
- 1 14-ounce can of chopped tomatoes (around 400 grams)
- 1 to 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
To begin, bring the oil in a cast-iron skillet (you can also try a non-stick frying pan) up to temperature. Then, add the onions and peppers and turn them often as they cook until they start to become more pliable. The next step is to add the tomatoes and sugar, give everything a good stir, then continue cooking until most of the liquid has evaporated and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Now make four wells in the tomato and vegetable mixture and crack one egg into each one. Cover the pan and continue to cook the eggs on low heat until they have set. In the end, garlic should be beaten into the yogurt before it is seasoned with salt and pepper. Parsley should only be used sparingly, and the dish should be served hot with a scoop of yogurt flavored with garlic. Enjoy your breakfast and share your Turkish experience!
