If you’re looking for inspiration on what to serve the guests as a light lunch or appetiser this season, consider preparing some Turkish meze. Most traditional tables feature a few meze dishes to excite the taste buds before the main course arrives. This vibrant and exciting range of hot and cold appetisers make fabulous sides for fish and grilled meat. Meze also goes well with Türkiye’s favourite alcoholic beverage, Raki. Here’s a look at a few of the best Turkish meze dishes to serve this summer.
About Turkish Meze
Meze has played an important role in Türkiye’s food culture for many years. Meze is the Turkish equivalent of tapas, and the dishes are intended to be shared and typically served from a centre array or platter. Each dish is packed with flavour and excellent served with crudités or local Turkish bread. Like tapas, a single Turkish meze may not be sufficient for a main course, but a few small portions attractively displayed on a plate makes for a fabulous light lunch or is ideal as the main event for the health and diet conscious. Many local restaurants showcase a delicious range of meze in their display cases, so do sample a few if you can. In the meantime, here’s a look at some of the best Turkish meze dishes.
Acili Ezme (Spicy Tomato Dip)
For those that like spicy food, acili ezme is the ideal meze. It’s made from a mix of finely diced tomato, peppers, onion, chili, and parsley; all drizzled with a refreshing lemon and pomegranate molasses dressing. The word ‘ezme’ means mashed, but acili ezme normally has a slightly coarse texture and is typically served alongside the cooling yoghurt-garlic meze, haydari.
Fava (Bean Meze)
Low in fat and high in fibre and protein, fava beans are combined with onions, olive oil, lemon juice and dill to create a delicious meze. The consistency is either velvety smooth or humus-like, according to the chef. The result goes well with seafood and fish or is the ideal addition to a central meze spread.
Haydari (Garlic Yoghurt Dip)
A light, mayo-style dip most enjoy is haydari. It’s a meze that is often likened to Indian raita, and it’s made from a refreshing blend of yoghurt and garlic. Some add dried mint, others fresh herbs like dill, oregano, or basil. Haydari is a staple on the meze table and at Turkish nights, and it’s also frequently served with acili ezme meze and bread as an appetiser to provide a cooling contrast.
Mercimek Köftesi (Vegan Lentil Meatballs)
Made from a mix of fine bulgur wheat, onions, tomato paste, fresh herbs, and spices, mecimek köfte is a tasty vegan meze to serve onboard. The ingredients are kneaded into a rough paste and shaped into finger-sized pieces in the palm of the hand. The result is so delicious that you now find specialist shops and street vendors selling it throughout Türkiye. It is generally served from a central platter where diners wrap a few köfte drizzled in pomegranate syrup and freshly squeezed lemon in a piece of flatbread with a little crisp lettuce, flat-leaf parsley, and rocket. This dish also works well for beach picnics and BBQ parties.
Baba Ghanoush (Aubergine Meze)
Baba Ghanoush is one of Türkiye’s most well-loved meze dishes and is perfect for serving with grilled meats or as part of a meze plate. The basic ingredient is simple – the soft and smoky insides of char-grilled aubergines. What differs is the way the dish is prepared, as there are many variations throughout Türkiye and the Middle East. Some chefs mix the aubergine with yoghurt and garlic and serve it as is, others mix it with olive oil, lemon juice, fresh herbs, peppers, and tomatoes to form more of a salad. There is even a wonderfully rich variation from Hatay that uses tahini.
Icli Kofte
Commonly served as a warm meze or appetiser, içli köfte is the Turkish equivalent of Middle Eastern kibbe, in other words, a wrapped or filled meatball. The Turkish recipe stems from the country’s southeast, where ground meatballs are covered with a mix of spiced bulgur and potato to form a casing that becomes crisp and golden when fried.
Havuç Tarator (Carrot Yoghurt Dip)
A surprisingly simple meze loved by all ages in Türkiye is havuç tarator. This is another yoghurt and garlic-based dish that is similar to haydari. The meze goes well with any spicy dishes or is sure to be a favourite on a meze table, Some variations include walnuts, others a few fresh herbs. In a few restaurants, you may even find carrot dip served with or over ice.
Deniz Borulcesi (Samphire Meze)
One of the most sophisticated and unusual meze dishes in Türkiye is samphire, (deniz börülcesi). Aegean samphire, also called sea beans, are succulents that are best prepared when in season to avoid a twiggy taste. To create this dish, these stick-like stems are quickly boiled or blanched, drained, and the hard internal twigs removed. This leaves you with tender, attractive green stems that taste phenomenal when dressed simply with olive oil, fresh lemon, and a little garlic.
Yaprak Sarma (Stuffed Vine Leaves)
The word ‘dolma’ in Turkish means ‘stuffed’, and this term is used frequently when referring to any stuffed vegetable dish in Türkiye. One of the local favourites is stuffed vine leaves (yaprak sarma). Most chefs have their own recipes, with many regional variations. One of the tastiest versions is vegan, with the delicate leaves filled with a mix of short-grain rice seasoned with cinnamon, mint, and all-spice. Drizzled in olive oil and a little lemon, these finger-sized nibbles are incredibly addictive and ideal for serving as a snack on deck or as part of your meze selection.
Saksuka (Sauteed Aubergines and Vegetables)
Şakşuka is one of the most well-known and well-loved of all Turkish meze dishes. It’s a flavoursome mix of sauteed vegetables, including diced courgettes and peppers, with aubergines taking centre stage. The veg is then combined with a heavenly garlic, onion, and tomato sauce and served at room temperature or hot as a side to grilled meat dishes.
DO YOU NEED ANY YACHTING PROVISIONS?
We hope you enjoyed our brief look at Turkish meze – there are, of course, many others that are equally worth serving onboard. If you are planning to host a Turkish night, looking for a tailored cruising itinerary or require top quality superyacht provisions while cruising in Türkiye, please CONTACT US.
