Vegan food can be delicious and nutritious. But it is not as wide spread in Turkey as it is in the US, for example. So, knowing how to find and order vegan food can help you when you are in Turkey.
How to ask for vegan food in restaurants?
Some places in Turkey might not be visibly vegan, but they may have vegan items on the menu. Here is how to ask for vegan food in Turkey:
“Ben veganım” means “I am vegan,”
“Sadece bitki kaynaklı ürünler tüketiyorum,” means “I only eat products of plant origin.”
But, be advised that not everyone might understand "plant origin" in Turkey, so you have to add that you mean without cheese, eggs, butter, or milk "Peynir, yumurta, tereyağı veya süt olmadan."
What are some traditional vegan foods of Turkey?
Cig Kofte
This food translates to raw meatballs, which makes sense since traditionally, the food was made with raw meat. But these days, the food is made from bulgur instead of beef! This food is spicy and satisfying. I recently made it at home as well and it's wonderful.
Baklava
Perhaps the most famous Turkish treat ever, an excellent baklava, can change your life. The combination of fragrant nuts, honey, and spices is absolutely amazing. More importantly, baklava is traditionally made without using any butter or eggs.
Kuru Fasulye
This incredible stew often features legumes, tomatoes, rice, or bulgur. Some sellers offer variations that might feature chicken or beef stock, so it’s better to double-check before diving in! However, many restaurants offer an all-vegan version as per tradition.
Stuffed Vine Leaves
This amazing dish is often found as an appetizer in Mediterranean-style restaurants worldwide. While other neighboring countries have versions of this dish featuring goat cheese or ricotta, the Turkish version has a different twist. It features a traditional filling of rice, currant, onions, and pine nuts.
Simit
Hmm, simit with pepper paste is one of my favorite breakfasts in Turkey. This dense, chewy sesame seed covered bread is delicious for sure.
While you are at it, you should try
Imam Bayildi
Lentil Kofte
Kisir
Acili Ezme
Kuru Fasulye
Vegan Corba
How to ask for vegan food in restaurants?
Some places in Turkey might not be visibly vegan, but they may have vegan items on the menu. Here is how to ask for vegan food in Turkey:
“Ben veganım” means “I am vegan,”
“Sadece bitki kaynaklı ürünler tüketiyorum,” means “I only eat products of plant origin.”
But, be advised that not everyone might understand "plant origin" in Turkey, so you have to add that you mean without cheese, eggs, butter, or milk "Peynir, yumurta, tereyağı veya süt olmadan."
What are some traditional vegan foods of Turkey?
Cig Kofte
This food translates to raw meatballs, which makes sense since traditionally, the food was made with raw meat. But these days, the food is made from bulgur instead of beef! This food is spicy and satisfying. I recently made it at home as well and it's wonderful.
Baklava
Perhaps the most famous Turkish treat ever, an excellent baklava, can change your life. The combination of fragrant nuts, honey, and spices is absolutely amazing. More importantly, baklava is traditionally made without using any butter or eggs.
Kuru Fasulye
This incredible stew often features legumes, tomatoes, rice, or bulgur. Some sellers offer variations that might feature chicken or beef stock, so it’s better to double-check before diving in! However, many restaurants offer an all-vegan version as per tradition.
Stuffed Vine Leaves
This amazing dish is often found as an appetizer in Mediterranean-style restaurants worldwide. While other neighboring countries have versions of this dish featuring goat cheese or ricotta, the Turkish version has a different twist. It features a traditional filling of rice, currant, onions, and pine nuts.
Simit
Hmm, simit with pepper paste is one of my favorite breakfasts in Turkey. This dense, chewy sesame seed covered bread is delicious for sure.
While you are at it, you should try
Imam Bayildi
Lentil Kofte
Kisir
Acili Ezme
Kuru Fasulye
Vegan Corba