If you are a foodie like me, you should definitely visit Turkey one day. This country is a combination of natural beauty, culture, and exquisite dishes. I have a sweet tooth, so I simply couldn’t miss trying the Turkish desserts.
I would like to share with you four of my favorite Turkish treats, along with places where you can find them.
1.Baklava
It goes without saying that one of the must-try desserts is baklava, a traditional dessert which originated in Turkey. Baklava can be prepared in many ways, but one word describes them all—happiness! The most common type is made of dozens of stacked filo dough layers, nuts, and sugar syrup. It can be soft or crunchy, depending on how much syrup you put, with pistachio nuts or walnuts. It can also be made in different shapes: round, square, diamond, and more! Some of my favorite versions of baklava are: the pistachio rolls Fıstık Sarma, the nest-shaped Bülbül Yuvası bites, the dry Kuru Baklava, and the common pistachio baklava.
While enjoying the lively spirit of Istanbul, I saw people selling baklava everywhere. One place that grabbed my attention was the dessert restaurant Faruk Güllüoğlu where I found so many kinds of baklava that I didn’t know which one to try first. My advice is to take a box with all types of baklava that are offered, selecting just a few pieces of each type. This way you can make the perfect mix of sweetness to share with your close ones.
2. Kunefe
Kunefe is one of my all-time favorite desserts. Finding authentic-tasting kunefe in Bulgaria is not an easy task, so I just had to try it in Turkey. What I love the most about this sweet dish is the crispy taste of finely shredded filo dough, filled with warm, melted cheese. It usually comes sprinkled with crushed pistachios on top and a ball of ice cream. Kunefe is prepared in a specially designed shallow metal dish over a gas burner.
One of the places where I enjoyed kunefe was again the Faruk Güllüoğlu restaurant in Istanbul. You should definitely give it a try!
3. Dondurma
To complete your sweet gourmet tour in Istanbul, I’ll add one more bliss to the list: the Turkish ice cream dondurma. The way locals sell is quite interesting. They give a small performance and play with each customer: they’ll pretend to drop the ice cream, giving you an empty cone, and more!
Dondurma has very peculiar consistency. It’s sticky, stretchy, and pleasantly sweet. My favorite flavor was pistachio, but there were also hazelnut, fruit, and simple cream flavors.
The streets around Taksim Square and Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul are some of the best places to find and enjoy the Turkish ice cream.
4. Katmer
It was during my trip to Cappadocia and the city of Göreme that I discovered katmer. It resembles baklava a bit, as it’s also made of filo dough and pistachio nuts, but it’s still quite different. Katmer is served hot, without sugar syrup, and has a specific circular shape.
Try this local delicacy at the Büyük Adana kebap restaurant in Göreme. There you can opt for their specialty, Gol Katmer, a katmer in the form of a rose.
Have you tried any of these Turkish desserts? What’s a popular dessert in your country? Tell us in the comments below.
