Turkish Breakfast Ideas: Are you going to Turkey for a trip? If yes, then the new traditional breakfasts are the must-try foods. In Turkey, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it gives a wonderful experience more than a meal gives. A simple Turkish breakfast is rich with a variety of delicious foods. Firstly, you will enjoy the dish with your eyes and feel in heaven. Here we are giving the most popular Turkish Breakfast ideas that everyone has to eat at least once in their life.
Turkish people call breakfast kahvalti. It is more like brunch and is enjoyed with a lot of friends and family sitting around a big table full of delicious Turkish breakfast recipes served on small plates. The famous Turkish breakfast foods include various kinds of olives, cheeses, Turkish Kaymak, sweet and savory dips, salads, bread recipes, meat, and Turkish tea.
- All You Need To Know About Traditional Turkish Breakfast Kahvalti
- Types of Breakfasts in Turkey
- Simple Turkish Breakfast Ideas
- Turkish Breakfast Eggs Recipes
- Bread and Savory Pastries Recipes for Turkish Breakfast
- Unique Turkey Breakfast Ideas with Cheese
- Turkish Breakfast Salads
- Turkish Breakfast Ideas – Spreads and Dips
- Health Benefits of Turkish Foods
- FAQs on Turkish Breakfast Food
All You Need To Know About Traditional Turkish Breakfast Kahvalti
Turkish breakfast isn’t just a meal, it is an experience. The unique concept of having many small plates with various tastes and products and different types of olives is called the kahvalti which means breakfast in Turkey. The main motto of kahvalti is to share food with the family, friends, neighbours, or whoever is hungry at the table. The traditional way is to have breakfast for long periods.
The Turkish breakfast begins with a cup of Turkish tea and at the end, it is served to aid digestion. Generally, a Turkish breakfast contains cured meats, eggs, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, dips and sauces, fresh cheeses, bread, honey, fruit preserve jams, sweet butter, and pastries. One has to eat all these in small quantities along with coffee.
Types of Breakfasts in Turkey
We have 3 different types of Turkish breakfasts. They are Kahvalti tabagi, Acik bufe kahvalti, and Serpme kahvalti. Go through the specification of all these breakfasts and try them when you visit Turkey.
- Kahvalti tabagi: It is a small breakfast where all the items come from the same plate. Usually, the serving plate has one sunny side up, a boiled egg, 2 slices of cheese and ham, olives, one kind of jam, and vegetables. It is popular in many hotels.
- Acik bufe kahvalti: It is a kind of open buffet breakfast with multiple dishes where one person can choose as many as they want. Few restaurants in famous cities offer this kind of breakfast menu.
- Serpme kahvalti: It is nothing but a mixed breakfast where you get a chance to eat several varieties in little quantity. Every dish comes from a small plate. There is no need of ordering the food, you will ask a question about how you want your egg. It is a huge breakfast that local people love to share with their family and friends. When there is a chance then it is best to choose this type of breakfast.
Simple Turkish Breakfast Ideas
These easy Turkish breakfast ideas will guide you on what to eat in Turkey in the mornings. When you want to try all the items on the menu, then it is best to shift your breakfast to brunch. Every meal is important in Turkey. Some of the Kahvalti recipes to try in different categories are here. We recommend you include bread and savory pastries, eggs, spreads and dips, salads, cheese items, and other traditional Turkish foods.
- Borek
- Simit (Turkish Bagel)
- Pogaca
- Pide (Turkish Flatbread Pizza)
- Kaymak
- Katmer
- Acma
- Cilbir
- Turkish Coffee
- Chocolate Tahini Pastries
- Piyaz (Turkish White Bean Salad)
- Haydari (Turkish Yogurt Dip)
- Spinach and Eggs
- Menemen
Turkish Breakfast Eggs Recipes
The Turkey people love to eat egg recipes in the mornings. They cook eggs in all possible ways and mix them with different ingredients. Some of the egg dishes are similar to dishes in other countries but others are unique in their own way. The following is the list of Turkish breakfast ideas traditional egg dishes that are mostly available in Turkey.
Sucuklu Yumutra is a must-try egg dish in Turkish breakfast. Many people love to eat this dish at any other time of the day. The main ingredients required to prepare this fluffy dish are eggs, spicy dried sausage made from minced beef, garlic, and other spices like red pepper, cumin and sumac. You need at least 15 minutes to make this recipe.
The best thing about the dish is you can prepare in huge quantity and share it with neighbours and friends. Cook the sucuk slices on a frying pan with oil. Take them aside, break the eggs on the pan and boil until the whites are set. Add the cooked sucuk slices to the eggs and serve.
Menemen is also called the Turkish Scrambled Eggs. It is one of the most popular breakfast items in Turkey. It is a traditional way of having veggies, eggs, green peppers, juicy tomatoes, and cheese. This savory dish is the best way to start your breakfast. You can simply make this recipe in 20 minutes. This pan breakfast item can also be served as brunch or dinner during summer.
This menemen is served when hot. If you want you can even add eggplant, chicken, mushrooms, or dry sausage. The added cheese gives a juicy texture to the recipe. So, it can be a good choice when you are in a hurry.
Turkish omlet or Kaygana is a delicious omlet that is made with flour, eggs, milk, herbs, and seasoning. This omelette is the same as omelettes in other countries, but few ingredients can make its taste special. This egg breakfast is quick to make and you can serve many people. It can be served with different fillings like courgettes, cheese, anchovies, or honey. Turkish omlet is packed with protein that gives you energy and keeps you feeling full for longer.
Cilbir is another popular Turkish breakfast recipe that is made with eggs. It is also fluffy and quick dish that saves you on busy mornings. It si made with poached eggs served on a bed of garlicky herb yogurt and then drizzle with a generous amount of chili-infused butter. You can serve this food with simit.
Spinach and Eggs or Ispanakli Yumutra is a famous vegetarian breakfast. It is a delicious, healthy, high protein, and filling one-pot dish that you can serve as a Turkish breakfast spread. People can prepare this dish in their own methods by adding more vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, or mushrooms.
Bread and Savory Pastries Recipes for Turkish Breakfast
A traditional Turkish breakfast is not complete without having a bread dish to dip in spreads. Impress your family, friends, and guests with these simple breakfast recipes.
Bazlama is a popular and simple Turkish breakfast food that you can use with savory toppings. It is a famous dish during the Ramadan season. It is one of the most delicious flatbreads one can make. You can serve this with cheese and cold cuts for a more filling meal. Turkish Flatbread Bazlama has a chewy texture outside and a soft, fluffy inside.
It is the oldest dish in Turkish cuisine. It is a Turkish-style cake made with dough and various fillings and cooked on a special pan. The popular fillings are feta cheese, spinach, greens, and ground meat with onions and herbs. The stuffing options are plenty based on your interests. These tasty pastries are served as a snack or breakfast for the last few decades.
Pide is a crispy and delicious Turkish bread item that is topped with spicy sucuk and melty kasar cheese. Sucuk Pide is a popular breakfast and snack item in Turkey. You can make this pide easily at home and impress guests at the party.
Zeytin Ezmesi is a delicious black olive paste that goes well with bread pieces, savory breakfast dishes, eggs, and others. Olives and cheese are the best combinations for breakfast in Turkish cuisine.
Unique Turkey Breakfast Ideas with Cheese
Cheese is a commonly used ingredient in Turkish cuisine. Turkish cheeses are the most important element of the breakfast table. No Turkish breakfast is complete without at least 3 different kinds of cheeses and the famous cheese available are white cheese, kasar cheese, ezine cheese and Tulum peyniri. One can make various simple breakfast recipes using cheese. Here we are giving some of the cheese Turkish Breakfast Ideas.
Baklava Cheesecake is a delicious dessert that is made with indulgently sweet and nutty Baklava layers topped with creamy cheesecake. Even though you need time to prepare this yummy cheesecake, it is the perfect option for special occasions and festivals.
Chocolate Pastry Rolls are flaky, buttery, and awesome sweet treats that are made with a homemade pastry filled with dark chocolate chips, walnuts, and tahini. These pastries are perfect for breakfast and a great accompaniment to morning or afternoon tea or coffee.
Turkish Breakfast Salads
Salads are also a part of the Turkish Breakfast. These salads have a high quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables depending on the season. The most commonly served vegetables are fresh herbs, sliced cucumber, tomatoes, salads, or fried veggies. Few commonly served Turkish salads for breakfast are here.
This Turkish-style salad Baba Ganoush is a savory, creamy, smoky eggplant dip with citrus, garlic, and without tahini. This traditional recipe is a must-try item on the Turkish breakfast menu. To make this delicious and healthy baba ganoush, grill the eggplant, and peel off the skin once it is cooled. Combine the eggplant with all the ingredients and serve.
Coban Salatasi – Turkish Shepherd’s Salad
Coban Salatasi or Turkish Shepherd’s Salad or Choban Salad is a simple, and refreshing side dish that is prepared with juicy summer tomatoes, green peppers, and cucumbers. This easy-to-make recipe with completed within 10 minutes. You need to chop the ingredients, drizzle olive oil and lemon, season with salt and pepper, and finally mix them well.
Saksuka is an authentic Turkish dish having sauteed vegetables in a thick garlic tomato sauce. It can be served hot or cold in a breakfast buffet. It is made with onions, bell peppers, green beans, squash, leeks, carrots, and potatoes. It is one of the vegetarian favorite dishes with fried vegetables and tomato sauce.
Do Check
Turkish Breakfast Ideas – Spreads and Dips
The following are a few spreads & dips for you. You will find a few sweet and savory spreads on the breakfast table.
Hummus Dip is a spread made with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. This fresh and creamy dip can be prepared in 25 minutes. You can add different flavorings based on your interest. The possible flavoring is paprika, sun-dried tomatoes, red peppers, cayenne, or other various spices.
Tirokafteri is a flavorful whipped feta dip that is made with roasted red peppers, feta cheese, olive oil, and vinegar. It is a little bit of spicy, salty, and tangy dip. It is commonly served with pita bread during breakfast/brunch. You have to spend at least 15 minutes making this recipe.
Health Benefits of Turkish Foods
We already know that Turkish food is full of nutrients and protein as it is always made with fresh ingredients. The fresh ingredients include fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy products, and even meat. The different spices and flavourings used in Turkish dishes give deliciousness to food and also act as antioxidants and help to improve the immune system. The top health benefits of Turkish dishes are here:
- The foods are rich in protein
- Good source of vitamin B
- Good source of minerals
- May support heart health
- Low in fat
FAQs on Turkish Breakfast Food
1. What is the most popular breakfast food in Turkey?
The most popular breakfast food in Turkey is Turkish tea, Turkish coffee, menemen, pide, acma, gozleme, saksuka, and so on.
2. Why is Turkish breakfast healthy?
Turkish cuisine breakfast is healthy as it has dairy, meat, eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables. The flavors and spices that add to the dishes have antioxidant properties, reduce cholesterol in your body, eliminate toxins and boost immunity.
3. What is a traditional Turkish breakfast?
A traditional Turkish breakfast looks like a meal with plenty of dishes, and delicious flavors. It generally contains foods of olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, cheese, dips and sauce, baked bread, fruits and jams.
4. Is an egg always in Turkish Breakfast?
Yes, the egg is always present on Turkish breakfast tables. It can be available in different forms like boiled, fried, omlet, cilbir, or menemen.
Final Words
We are hoping that here provided Turkish Breakfast Ideas give you clarity on what to eat for breakfast/brunch when you visit Turkey next time. Enjoy the flavorful dishes that are made with fresh ingredients. If you love the Kahvalti in Turkey, then you can try those recipes in your home and arrange same at the dinning table.
If you have any doubts/ questions regarding the traditional Turkish Breakfast Recipes, then leave a comment below. Bookmark our site canfoodgobad.com to know more interesting breakfast dishes like Breakfast Tacos, Baked Egg Recipes, and so on.