Turkish Breakfast – Everything You Need To Know About

Turkish people love food and think breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A Turkish breakfast, called “kahvalti,” is amazing.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the key parts of a traditional Turkish breakfast. We’ll also talk about its cultural importance and share some recipes you can try at home.

Turkish Breakfast

A traditional breakfast has lots of small, yummy things. For example, you’ll usually find black and green olives, cucumbers, cured meats, dips and sauces, eggs, fresh cheeses, fresh tomatoes, fresh-baked bread, fruit jams, honey, pastries, and sweet butter.

And don’t forget the freshly brewed black tea! It’s a must-have.

Even though there are some differences between regions, all Turkish breakfasts have five things in common:

1. Bread — A Must-Have

Bread is a big part of any Turkish breakfast. The star of the show is “simit,” a type of Turkish bagel. Unlike the bagels you might know, simit isn’t boiled before it’s baked. This gives it a softer texture. It’s covered in sesame seeds and is delicious with jam, cheese, or cured meats.

You can tear simit into small pieces and get creative with your toppings. Olive oil, eggs, and a dish called menemen are other popular options to enjoy with your bread. A Turkish breakfast wouldn’t be the same without bread, so you’ll always find it on the table.

2. Spreads — Something for Everyone

No Turkish breakfast is complete without a variety of spreads. You’ll see a selection of fruit preserves and jams like apricot, cherry, and fig. There are also savory options like black olive spread, molasses, and tahini. These spreads add a burst of flavor to your bread or simit.

Hazelnut spreads are also popular, and many families even include Nutella at their breakfast table. Whether you like sweet or savory, there’s a spread for everyone.

3. Cheese — A Breakfast Staple

Cheese is a must at any Turkish breakfast. There’s always a variety to choose from. Some of the most popular cheeses are Feta, Kasseri, Lor, Tulum, and Beyaz Peynir.

Feta cheese is crumbly and made from goat or sheep’s milk. Beyaz Peynir, which means “white cheese,” is made from cow’s milk and is the most common cheese in Turkey. Each type of cheese has its own unique taste and texture, making the cheese platter a highlight of the meal.

Kasseri is a hard cheese made from sheep’s milk. Lor is Turkey’s version of cottage cheese, made from uncured goat’s milk. Tulum is another favorite, known for its crumbly texture and strong flavor. In the Black Sea region, you’ll also find mıhlama, a dish made of melted cheese and cornmeal.

4. Eggs — A Versatile Dish

Eggs are a key part of Turkish breakfast. One popular dish is sucuklu yumurta, which is eggs cooked with sausage. If you don’t eat meat, you might prefer menemen. Menemen is made with scrambled eggs, veggies, and oregano.

Eggs are filling, which is why they’re so important at breakfast. You can prepare them in many ways. Some people like them boiled or fried, while others prefer them in an omelet or mixed into menemen.

5. Tea — The Traditional Drink

In Turkey, breakfast is always paired with tea, not coffee or any other drink. Black tea is the traditional choice, served hot in small, tulip-shaped glasses. Turks love their tea and will often enjoy a few cups throughout breakfast. It’s a drink that brings people together and adds to the relaxed atmosphere of the meal.

6. Menemen — The Delicious Breakfast

Menemen is a very traditional breakfast, loved in Turkey. That is like having an omelet with green peppers, tomatoes and eggs that are usually cooked in a savory manner. Also, the first step is to perform sautéing of peppers within a pan. Then, you put the tomatoes in the mixture and allow to cook in the type of dish you are preparing. Last, you put the eggs and combine every ingredient until it is done. Coalter added some people prefer to have onions or a pinch of salt. Menemen is perfect for consumption with bread or the simit itself.

7. Simit — Crunch for Mouth

Simit is a type of bread which is coated with sesame seeds and syrup that is made from molasses. This gives it a crispy texture It adds a crispy texture in its preparation. It is a bread something like bagel but it has its own different flavor. However, you can get simit at any place in turkey even from the street vendors. Grazing simit along with tea or ayran, it is a popular yogurt based drink in Turkey. At times, instead of the normal bread, simit is taken as a breakfast delicacy.

Now that you know what’s in a Turkish breakfast, let’s try making some of these tasty treats at home!

So keep reading.

4 Easy Turkish Breakfast Recipes to Impress Your Guests

Here are some simple recipes you can try with your family. They’re easy to make and super delicious!

1. Simit Turkish Bagels

Here is a simple recipe for Simit Turkish Bagels as found in Munaty Cooking below. Likely, the following delicious treats can be prepared with a lot of ease, and little time is needed to prepare it.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 3 tablespoons water
• 3/4 cup sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and place a rack in the middle.
2. Activate yeast: Merely mix water, yeast, and sugar together or you warm the water then add both sugar and yeast into it. After the eggs have been beaten together, let it sit for 3 minutes until foamy.
3. Mix dry ingredients: Add the flour and salt and vegetable oil to a bowl for mixing.
4. Add wet ingredients: Add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and knead until you get a smooth dough for about 7 minutes.
5. Rise: Let the dough rise in the warm place until it doubles in size which should take about 1–1. 5 hours covered tight.
6. Prepare topping: Add molasses. water and sesame seeds to the mixture.
7. Shape dough: If you need to produce the balls, divide the dough into 2 equal parts; if you need 4 portions, divide as stated above. Take each part and start roll it into a rope. Twist the rope and roll it and interconnect the two ends so that it forms a ring like structure. Allow them to rest for half an hour.
8. Coat and bake: Coat each simit first with the molasses-sesame seed mixture. Bake for 15 minutes for the cookies to turn golden brown.

Tip: Serve your simit warm with a side of jam or cheese!

2. Spicy Turkish Tapenade

If you are looking for a quick and delicious recipe inspired by Turkish cuisine here is your solution! It has lots of spices added to it and is good for succeeding or as a teat before the main course.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup shelled walnuts or walnut halves
• 1 1/2 cups pitted black olives
• 2 medium garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon ground sumac
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Chop the walnuts: Use a food processor to chop the walnuts.
2. Combine the ingredients: Add the olives, garlic, spices, oil, and lemon juice to the food processor. Blend until combined.
3. Mix with walnuts: Transfer the mixture to a bowl and mix in the walnuts.
4. Add parsley and seasoning: Stir in the parsley, salt, and pepper.

Tip: Serve this tapenade with fresh bread or as a dip with veggies!

3. Turkish Melted Cheese and Cornmeal (Mıhlama)

Mıhlama is a cheesy, gooey dish that’s perfect for breakfast. Here’s how to make it.

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6 tablespoons cornmeal
• 1 cup water
• 10 ounces grated Feta cheese (or similar goat or sheep milk cheese)

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter: Heat the butter in a frying pan until it’s melted.
2. Add the cornmeal: Stir the cornmeal into the butter until it turns golden brown.
3. Add water and boil: Pour in the water and bring it to a boil.
4. Mix in the cheese: Stir in the grated cheese until it’s melted and smooth.
5. Cook on low heat: Continue cooking until the butter floats to the top.

Tip: Serve Mıhlama hot with fresh bread or as a dip for veggies!

4. Turkish Menemen

Menemen is a classic Turkish egg dish that’s full of flavor. Here’s how you can make it.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 medium onions, sliced
• 1 red or green bell pepper, sliced
• 1-2 red chili peppers, diced (without seeds)
• 1 14-ounce can of chopped tomatoes
• 1-2 teaspoons powdered sugar
• 4 eggs
• A small bunch of parsley, chopped
• 6 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

Instructions:

1. Sauté the vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a skillet and cook the onions, bell pepper, and chili peppers until they soften.
2. Add the tomatoes and sugar: Stir in the chopped tomatoes and powdered sugar. Cook until the liquid reduces. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Make pockets for the eggs: Create four spaces in the tomato mixture. Carefully crack an egg into each space.
4. Cook the eggs: Cover the pan and cook over low heat until the eggs are set.
5. Prepare the yogurt sauce: Mix the yogurt with crushed garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Serve with yogurt sauce: Serve the eggs with the yogurt sauce on the side and garnish with parsley.

Tip: Serve Menemen with crusty bread for a tasty meal!

Last Words

Turkish breakfast is not just a meal but rather a time which is very much enjoyed with friends and families. Whether it is your first time to try simit or if you’re cooking menemen in your own kitchen, you will absolutely enjoy Turkish breakfast and its variety. Then, Why not try it out?