Taste of Turkiye: Exploring the Street Foods in turkiye

Street Foods in Türkiye

"Turkish simit"

Simit is a circular-shaped bagel beautifully encrusted with sesame seeds and has a chewy soft inside. It is also known as Turkish Bagle. Simit is an ottoman food that dates back to the sixteen hundreds. It was believed to have been produced in Istanbul from 1525 and according to the Üsküdar court records, its size and price were standardized. Today, Simit is the most famous and commonly found street food in Turkiye. You can find a simit vendor on every street corner in Turkiye.

"Soğuk Sandviç or Cold Sandwich"

Soğuk sandviç is made with bread, white and red cheese, slices of tomato and cucumber, lettuce, and green pepper. It's a popular breakfast among office-going people and students who are in a hurry. It's a relatively new food and has been gaining popularity in Türkiye because of its convenience as a fast food that suits the modern lifestyle. If you feeling hungry and also in a hurry, you can grab one from the street vendor and be on your way.

"Döner Kebap"

Döner kebap is perhaps one of the most popular kebabs in present-day Türkiye.Doner Kebab is made with thinly sliced spit-roasted meat from beef, lamb, or chicken and filling them in traditional bread. It is probably one of the most famous Turkish food in the world. The picture of a chef cutting slices of meat from a rotating vertical roaster is iconic. Döner kebap is believed to have originated in the Bursa province of Türkiye. A worldwide popular variant of this ottoman Turkish kebab is called Shawarma which was introduced to different parts of the world including Mexico and Greece. Many restaurants serve döner kebab as a fast food in every market of the city of Türkiye.

"Ayran"

Ayran is the favorite street foods in Turkiye. It is a Yogurt based drink usually served cold. Mainly prepared by mixing salt and water with yogurt, this drink is popular not only in Turkey but also in Middle Asia, Eastern Europe, Northern Asia, and Southeastern Europe. Some variants of Iran may also include spices or herbs. The name Ayran was mentioned in the famous book Diwan Lughat At Türk written by Mahmud Al Kashgari in the eleven hundreds. The root of the name Ayran is thought to have come from the old Turkish word Adır which means to separate. It might be a reference to separating the fat from the milk. However, Diwan Lughat At Türk does not give any reference about how ayran is made.

Ayran is prepared by mixing water and salt with yogurt and stirring well. Especially in summer, ayran made with icy water and served along with spicy kebap is a nice and refreshing combination. In Iran and Afghan culture, traditionally Ayran is made with shaking milk for a prolonged period in something called Mashak, which is made of sheep or deer skin. In southern Asia, Ayran is a salty variant of the usual sweet lassie. Woolen springs are used to help stir the ayran for the long time it is being processed.

Tribal Turkish people have been preparing and drinking Ayran from far back in history. Turkish tribes roaming around central Asia are said to have been consuming ayran by the book Nevin Halıcı. The thousand years old Turkish book Diwan ul Lügat at Türk says this drink called Ayran was made of milk. Although different regions have different names for Ayran, surely, this drink had been widespread throughout the whole central Asian, south Asian, and Arabian regions. The drink is known as doogh in Afghanistan and is prepared by mixing salt and ice water with yogurt and using mint and lime. Ayran is called Ayrani in the Greek language. Sour sheep yogurt is used to make Ayran in Cyprus.

Ayran has been promoted as the national drink of Türkiye by the president. People in turkey love to drink ayran. Every spicy food is accompanied by Ayran. Kabab, pide, and shish are unimaginable without this drink. If you want to have a taste of the real Turkish Ayran, there is no alternative to trying it out in turkey with Turkish food.

In conclusion, street food in Turkiye is a vibrant and diverse part of the country's culinary culture. From classic favorites like simit and doner kebab to regional specialties like kokorec and midye dolma, there is something for every taste and budget. Turkish street food vendors take pride in their craft, using fresh ingredients and time-honored techniques to create delicious and satisfying meals.

But beyond just the food itself, street food in Turkiye is also an important social and cultural experience. It brings people together from all walks of life to share in a communal love of good food and company. So the next time you find yourself in Turkiye, be sure to venture out and explore the colorful world of Turkish street food - you won't be disappointed!

You can also experience amazing Turkish Street foods and Turkish mouth watering Kebab from here Sureyya Et Mangal an Authentic Turkish Cuisine.