What to Eat for Lunch in Turkish Culture?

Turkish cuisine is known for its kebabs, baklavas, and many more desserts. So, what is eaten in Turkish culture at lunchtime?

Before choosing a restaurant for lunch, let’s learn a little about it. When it comes to cuisine, Turkish cuisine is known all over the world. Turkish cuisine is famous for its many appetizing specialties, which are famous around the world, with a variety of carefully prepared appetizers for dinner after a delicious Turkish breakfast. However, beyond the kebab, appetizers, pancakes, and the famous breakfast tradition that Turkish cuisine is famous for, the classic dishes made all over Turkey and consumed at lunch and dinner have a completely different taste.

Water is an Important Component

Contrary to the rich meals of meat and appetizers, there is a completely different type of cuisine in Turkey, known as home cooking, where the best dishes are served and known as “home cooking”. Juicy food is literally referred to as “watery food”. In the summer, casseroles are prepared with seasonal legumes and vegetables, from white and green beans to okra and peas, with common ingredients such as onions and tomatoes as must-haves. There is also a tradition of using dill to prepare stews based on the seasonal ingredients of artichokes and broad beans. Another exception to the Turkish stew standard is dry beans. One of Turkey’s most popular comfort foods, this dish traditionally consists of only white beans. A tomato sauce is also included. The main dish of many cuisines is beans and rice. Dry beans and rice are among the most well-known dishes in Turkey. While most homes and restaurants serve this dish plain, sometimes pieces of meat or sausage can be placed on top of the beans.

Although meat is not a regular part of Turkish home cooking, there are of course exceptions, as you can see. However, the obligatory side of rice pilaf, which is never an exception, is that it is cooked to perfection with butter. This is indispensable when having lunch at Turkish tables. Instead of rice pilaf, tomato-based rice or bulgur pilaf can also be preferred. Yogurt is served alongside many Turkish dishes and, of course, an integral part of the mix is ​​Turkey’s classic freshly baked loaf of bread slices.

Casual Mealtime

While the Turks’ staple lunch is a homemade stew, there are exceptions to this rule when it comes to comfort foods such as ravioli, pita, and lahmacun. These lunches, one of which is stuffed ravioli and the others are baked in the oven and take more time to prepare, are usually eaten in a nice lunch restaurant. You can choose Queb Lounge Restaurant to have lunch with a magnificent view in Sultanahmet.

Click here to make a reservation at the Queb Lounge.

Cold Soup Season

Soups of two varieties, one with tomato, and especially lentil soup are indispensable for Turkish tables. However, various cold and nutritious soups are usually made to beat the heat of summer. Sometimes referred to as “ayran vaccine”, “highland soup” or simply “yogurt soup”, a yogurt-based, refreshing soup made with chickpeas and whole grain barley or rice and flavored with mint is made with yogurt.

Best Lunches

There are many lunch options that are regularly consumed in Turkish cuisine. It is possible to find restaurants that make and serve these dishes in a great way. If you are in the Sultanahmet area of ​​Istanbul and it’s time for lunch, you are in the right place for you.

Since every meal is prepared fresh every day, these meals can often be preferred as the main course in the evenings. Make a reservation at the Queb Lounge to try the lunch options and have an unforgettable experience.

Afternoon Tea Is A Sweet Way To Relax

Tea is a very important beverage in Turkish culture. It is drunk at breakfast, lunch, and evening before or after meals. Generally, a slice of cake or dessert is preferred alongside tea in homes and restaurants. Cakes or desserts to be served with tea have many options.