Meze in Turkish cuisine comes in many different shapes and colors! you can spend all your days in Turkey and don't get bored with meze that is served with your dish. Meze can contain vegetables, greens, pulses, pastes, yogurt and cheese. They can be spicy, savory, strong and mild! meze is served with a basket of fresh bread.
But which maze is the best of them? is there a meze to rule them all? well, that's for you to decide! But here is a list of top 5 traditional meze you can enjoy in Turkey:
1- Fava
Fava is made from broad beans. They are mixed with a combo of onions, dill, olive oil and lemon juice. fava can be mixed into a smooth paste, and can be served hot or cold.
2- İçli Köfte
A dough made from bulgur and filled with ground beef! eating this meze alone will make me full by itself, but if you don't have the appetite of an infant, they are enjoyable.
3- Hummus
Hummus does not need any introduction. However, they make it a bit different in Turkey. They top it with pastırma or pine nuts and heat it up in the oven.
4- Şakşuka
It is the most popular eggplant based meze in Turkey, and in middle east in general. it is also referred to as baba ghanoush. eggplant is roasted with peppers and tomatoes, topped with parsley, olive oil and tomato sauce!
5- Haydari
This spicy meze is made of yogurt, garlic, and spices such as dill and mint. while being spicy, it is very refreshing.
Turkish meze are very unique and they brighten up any dish.