Turkish

Çiğ Köfte (Turkish Bulgur Balls)

Çiğ Köfte (Turkish Bulgur Balls)

Çiğ Köfte, a Turkish dish from southeastern Türkiye, combines bulgur, walnuts, and spices. Once made with raw meat, it’s now a popular vegan street food.

Kuru Fasulye (White Bean Stew)

Kuru Fasulye (White Bean Stew)

Turkey’s national dish isn’t Kebab, Lahmacun, or Menemen but Kuru Fasulye—a fiery white bean stew slow-cooked in a rich tomato, pepper, and chili broth.

Kısır (Turkish Bulgur Salad)

Kısır (Turkish Bulgur Salad)

Here’s an easy yet wholesome dish that requires no cooking, comes together in under 30 minutes and is packed with flavour. Kisir, the Turkish Bulgur Salad, is in essence similar to a Tabbouleh. However, rather than a herb salad with a little bulgur, the bulk of Kisir consists of soaked fine bulgur which is then flavoured with a spicy red pepper paste alongside many other aromatic ingredients.

Mercimek Köftesi (Turkish Lentil Balls)

Mercimek Köftesi (Turkish Lentil Balls)

Mercimek Köftesi are naturally vegan lentil balls from Turkey that are made with a mix of red lentils and bulgur. They are different from the more common Çiğ Köfte, which are traditionally made with bulgur and raw meat or sometimes even only with bulgur. Besides the addition of lentils, Mercimek Köftesi also differ slightly in spices and method.