Turkey is indeed famous with its meat, from lamb kebab to Kofte. But little did people know, Turkey also has a variety of vegetarian food choices. So people visiting Turkey need not to worry about being a vegan.
Here are Turkish most famous vegetarian food you can try when you’re visiting Istanbul.
1. Menemen
Menemen is a traditional Turkish dish made with eggs, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, and spices. It’s similar to shakshouka and commonly eaten for breakfast with bread.
2. Imam Bayildi
Imam Bayildi refers to a whole eggplant that’s been stuffed with onion, garlic, and tomato then simmered in olive oil. It’s served at room temperature and substantial enough to be eaten as an entree.
There’s an interesting story on how this Turkish dish got its name. Imam bayildi means “imam who fainted”.
3. Mushroom with cheese
I don’t know what this dish is called in Turkish but it’s English name describes exactly what it is – mushrooms served with cheese. You can find different variations of it – some made with kofte for example – but it’s basically a Turkish dish of mushrooms, vegetables, and cheese baked and served in a clay pot.
4. Cig Kofte
Cig kofte was one of the most interesting dishes we had in Turkey. It’s a Turkish raw meat dish made with either beef or lamb commonly served cold as a meze or in a durum.
In its traditional form, cig kofte is made with finely ground fatless raw beef kneaded into a thick mixture with bulgur and a host of ingredients like onions, tomatoes, fresh mint, parsley, and spices.
Unfortunately, the sale of authentic cig kofte — the kind made with actual raw meat — has been banned since 2009 as a health precaution. Most commercially available cig kofte is now made without meat.
Source: willflyforfood.net
