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Trying out new cuisines can introduce you to a whole world of new meals and flavors, not to mention new cooking skills you might not have even known you were missing out on!

If you are a fan of Turkish cuisine or are wanting to try something new, here are 35 easy and simple Turkish recipes that anyone can make.

Try out some appetizers, entrées, or desserts, and start building up your Turkish cuisine cooking skills!

1. Turkish Pide

Pide is a traditional Turkish dish. It is a boat-shaped flat bread that is filled with ground meat, and is a very popular street food in Turkey.

Most of the time, Pide is filled with ground beef or lamb mince and has a subtle kick of Turkish pepper or chili flakes. Vegetarian options include egg and cheese, or just cheese on its own.

Often referred to as Turkish pizza, Pide is a great meal to make at home for lunch or a light dinner, with all the spices and kick of heat that you could want!

Lahmacun is a popular Turkish fast food. It consists of flatbread, rolled super thin, and filled with spicy ground beef or lamb. It is similar to Pide, but the flatbread is rolled up with the filling inside, and eaten similar to a wrap.

Along with the beef or lamb filling, you can bulk it up with some chopped onion and tomato, parsley, and spices such as paprika, cumin, and black pepper.

Full of flavor and easy to eat when out and about, lahmacun is simple to make at home and is delicious too!

3. Cilbir (Turkish Eggs Recipe)

Turkish Eggs, traditionally known as Cilbir, is a satisfying breakfast dish that can actually be enjoyed for any meal during the day, and which only takes 15 minutes to make!

The dish is simple, with poached eggs cooked in spiced butter, topped over creamy garlic yogurt and some fresh dill.

This mash-up of unlikely ingredients might seem a bit far-fetched, but they work amazingly together, and once you make and try Cilbir, it will become a staple meal in your home!

4. Turkish Sumac Onions

Turkish sumac onions are the perfect topping for grilled meats, and work great in wraps and on flatbreads.

To make Turkish sumac onions, you slice up red onions and toss them with bright sumac, fresh lemon juice, and fresh parsley.

These ingredients all bring their own tangy and unique flavors to the dish but work together well to create a perfect topping for many dishes.

It is easy to make, and can be stored in the fridge for a few days, soaking in all the flavors and making the onions even tastier to top onto different meals!

5. Turkish Gozleme

Gozleme is delicious, and you can choose between many different fillings, such as spiced beef or lamb or spinach and feta – whatever your taste buds call for!

You can use up ingredients in your fridge that need to be eaten, and even create your own fillings from scratch.

Making the pastry for Gozleme is so easy, and you only need to work with 3 ingredients.

The olive oil flavored flatbread is amazing for all different fillings.

It’s pan-fried until crispy and golden, and then cut into slices and eaten like a little flatbread sandwich, with the filling stuffed between two golden flatbreads – what more could you want!

6. Turkish Bulgur Pilaf

Turkish bulgur pilaf is a great alternative to rice and can be served as a hearty side dish to many different meals.

It can be served as a side, or you can pack it for a tasty and convenient lunch to enjoy during the day, as it can be enjoyed cold as well.

To make Turkish bulgur pilaf or pilavi, you would need coarse bulgur, a good helping of olive oil, onion, garlic, fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, and green pepper.

To season this, you would use simple salt, pepper, and some Aleppo or Urfa pepper for a hint of spiciness.

Simple to make and using fresh ingredients, this is a great side dish to almost any main meal!

7. Turkish Delight

Turkish delight is a delicacy, the sweet, soft and slightly chewy treats are a favorite of many, but did you know that they are really easy to make at home? Homemade Turkish delight actually tastes better than store-bought!

The traditional flavor of Turkish delight, or lokum, is rosewater, but you can use just about any flavor you want, such as orange or raspberry.

To make the sweets, you will need granulated sugar, water, lemon juice, cornstarch, cream of tartar, salt, powdered sugar, and the flavor you want – that’s it! Serve it up with some crushed pistachios on the side.

8. Kisir – Turkish Bulgur Salad

Kisir is a Turkish bulgur salad that is packed with fresh flavors. It is great served as a meze dish or as a side salad, and has some distinctive tart-savory flavors.

The bulgur is mixed in with some tomato puree, olive oil, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, tomato, cucumber, spring onion, and chopped parsley.

The fresh flavors work so well with the bulgur, and it is a hearty yet refreshing as a side dish!

9. Simit – Turkish Bread

Simit is a delicious Turkish bread that is topped with molasses and toasted sesame seeds. You only need a few simple ingredients to make this bread at home.

The bread has a ring shape and is often served at breakfast time. However, it is also popularly sold as street food too.

Enjoy the bread freshly baked served with some feta cheese, tomatoes, and cucumber, or try dipping it into homemade tahini as a light snack!

10. Turkish Stuffed Apricots

These Turkish stuffed apricots are made with dried Turkish apricots, which are soaked and then candied with a lemon-scented syrup, and then stuffed with a rich cream, finished off with crunchy pistachios on top.

This creates an incredibly delicious treat that can be enjoyed in one bite! They can be served after dinner as a light dessert, as an appetizer, or even with afternoon tea.

Easy to make and so sweet and tasty, these are a must-try!

11. Shakshuka

Shakshuka is a popular Turkish dish that is enjoyed around the world. It is great to use up vegetables you have sitting in your fridge, and it works as an appetizer or as a main course – either for lunch or a light dinner.

The main ingredient used is eggplant, which is fried up with potatoes, chili peppers, onion, garlic, tomato paste, and various spices such as cumin or ground paprika.

It is simple to make and full of flavor and completes a meal beautifully. Some recipes of shakshuka include eggs cracked onto the top, and everything baked together. This is a great breakfast dish or a light dinner option.

12. Turkish Chicken Shish Kebabs

These grilled Turkish spiced chicken kebab skewers are made along with red peppers which are charred on the grill.

They’re usually served up with some great sides, such as garlic tahini yogurt, fresh salad, creamy hummus, grilled halloumi cheese, and fried aubergines – you can choose your favorites.

They are so easy to make, and grilling them is an absolute breeze as well. They make for an ideal light dinner, and you get to enjoy so many different flavors on your plate with little effort!

The combination of the Turkish spiced chicken and the chargrilled red peppers skewered and grilled together is amazing, and with all the side dishes, it will be a hit in your household!

13. Turkish Red Lentil Soup

Turkish red lentil soup is so easy to make, and the end result is smooth, spicy, and nutritious. The soup is best served hot with a squeeze of fresh lemon, and with a small drizzle of paprika-infused oil.

The soup is hearty enough to be served as a main meal, with fresh bread on the side for dipping. It also makes for a great meze or appetizer, packing a punch of flavor and warm spices.

Made with lentils, fresh vegetables, and spices, it is a healthy meal that the whole family will love. The soup can also be frozen and kept as a super easy dinner for during the week.

14. Turkish Flat Bread

Knowing how to make a simple flatbread is a great skill to have in the kitchen, and this Turkish flatbread, or Bazlama, is easy to make, and only uses one bowl, and no mixer, to make!

The base for the flatbread is Greek yogurt and flour, with dried yeast, salt, sugar, and olive oil being used as well. Once made, the flatbread is great served with tabouli, hummus, or used as a wrap or base for a flatbread pizza!

This one simple recipe opens up loads of possibilities in the kitchen and is one recipe you should master easily.

15. Slow-Roasted Turkish Chicken

If you are looking for a hearty, filling Turkish meal to serve for dinner, this is a great option. Chicken pieces are slow roasted with vegetables and tomato paste, with some Turkish spices, to create a one-dish meal.

You can either cut up a whole chicken to use or use a mix of thighs and drumsticks, along with red peppers, green peppers, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and cloves.

Your chicken and veg will be cooked in one dish, and once finished slowly roasting, will be tender and juicy!

16. Turkish Zucchini Pie

This savory Turkish zucchini pie will soon become a favorite of your family, and you will find yourself including it in your weekly dinners soon enough!

Made with fresh zucchini, ricotta, shredded gruyere, and crumbled feta, this is creamy, tasty, and so easy to make. It is a great vegetarian option while still being so filling too – you are sure to have leftovers as well!

If you feel like a change, you could also change out the zucchini for some yellow squash – it is a great way to use up any veggies in your fridge that need to be eaten!

17. Turkish Chicken Breasts

Chicken breasts on their own can be so boring, but this Turkish Chicken Breast recipe helps take them to the next level!

The chicken breasts are filleted, so two large chicken breasts will be enough to feed a family of four.

The chicken breasts are flavored with garlic, paprika, cumin, and some turmeric, cinnamon, mint, salt, and pepper. These spices help to keep the chicken breasts moist and juicy.

Serve them with some pilaf or salad for an easy and healthy weeknight dinner.

18. Turkish Manti Dumplings

These tiny homemade dumplings are filled with spicy ground beef and cooked in boiling water, and then served with a fresh yogurt and butter sauce poured on top.

The dumplings are eaten much like pasta, with the yogurt and butter sauce poured over a bowlful of the dumplings.

While these might take some time to fold, they are really easy to make, and you can show off your new dumpling-making skills to friends and family!

19. Turkish Seasoning Blend

It is always good to know a good seasoning blend, and this Turkish seasoning blend is a beautiful mix of spices and herbs that will give a warm and rich flavor to many different dishes.

The spice blend can be used on steak, pork, shrimp, or chicken breasts, and is a great way to bring flavor and aroma to boring protein!

You could also mix the spice mixture with some olive oil and use it as a marinade for roasting vegetables.

Made with quite a few different spices and herbs, the blend features notes of garlic, turmeric, mint, onion, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon. You can jar any leftover spice mix to use for another dinner.

20. Turkish Shepherd’s Salad

This simple salad recipe is made with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, fresh parsley, pomegranate seeds, red wine vinegar, sumac, and lemon juice. It is simple, quick, and easy to make, and holds tart and fresh flavors.

The shepherd’s salad can be enjoyed on its own as a light lunch or served as a side to a main meal. It is much better than a boring green salad, and if left in the fridge for a while, the flavors infuse and develop beautifully!

21. Turkish Kofta Platter

This Turkish kofta platter is a great dinner to serve to guests, and while it is all served on one plate, it is packed with different flavors and textures that everyone is sure to love.

Start off by making lamb meatballs, with some amazing Turkish spices, and then a cannellini bean puree. These are prepared and served in a bowl, and topped with mint, pine nuts, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh mint and garlic.

You could even make some Turkish flatbread to dip into the cannellini puree or use as a wrap for the puree and meatballs.

22. Menemen – Turkish Scrambled Eggs

The same scrambled eggs can get boring and bland after some time. To liven your breakfasts up a bit, you could make Turkish Menemen, which is spicy, juicy, and aromatic scrambled eggs like you have never had before.

The scrambled eggs are cooked with tomatoes, green pepper, onions, eggs, and olive oil. This is all flavored with paprika, chili flakes, and salt and pepper. You could opt for sweet or spicy paprika, depending on the flavors you prefer.

It will soon become your go-to breakfast meal!

23. Turkish Eggplant Casserole

Imam Bayildi, or Turkish eggplant casserole, is a great weeknight vegetarian dinner. You can even make it ahead of time to make weeknight dinners even easier.

You really only need a few ingredients to make the dish, including the star ingredient eggplant, olive oil, onion, garlic, red chili flakes, diced tomatoes, and parsley.

Incredibly easy to make, the dish is packed with wholesome flavors and is really quite healthy too. It can make for a great main meal, or even a side dish served with the main protein.

24. Turkish Borek

Borek is a pastry filled with a ground beef spice mixture, which is baked in the oven. When cooked, the Borek has a crispy pastry outside, and a savory, juicy filling that is packed with flavor.

The filling is easy to make and requires a few ingredients, and if you buy your pastry ready rolled, the process is simple enough. These can be enjoyed as a lunch or dinner, and are also great to pack for a picnic!

25. Turkish Sweet Cheese

Turkish sweet cheese, also known as kunafeh, is a sweet pastry that is layered with unsalty soft cheese that is soaked in a sugar syrup.

The sweet cheese can be served hot or at room temperature and is a great dessert to serve after dinner.

This recipe will introduce you to kadayif, which is easy enough to work with if you follow some tips and handling advice.

Top the sweet cheese with some chopped pistachio and a dollop of clotted cream, and enjoy!

26. Turkish Spiced Potatoes

These Turkish spiced potatoes have an authentic taste and pair with so many different main meals.

They are spiced with some mild chili flakes, parsley, pepper, salt, parsley, and lemon juice, all of which come together to give a wonderful flavor and aroma.

Parboil the potatoes first, then spice them and place them in a skillet to fry. They will crisp up on the outside while still staying soft and moist on the inside, with a beautiful golden color.

Tomato paste is added just before they are finished frying, and the potatoes are drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil to create a slight sauciness.

27. Adana Kebab

Adana kebab is one of the most popular types of Turkish kebab and is made all over the world. The minced meat kebab is full of juicy flavor and is something you can make at home as well.

One of the main ingredients that makes this kebab stand out from the rest is tail fat, but if you cannot find this, there are alternatives to use.

Once made, the Adana kebab is best served with Lavash bread, sliced tomatoes, and sliced onions.

28. Buttery Turkish Hummus

A good hummus recipe can be really hard to come by, but luckily this buttery Turkish hummus is a winner each time. It uses butter in place of tahini, which makes the hummus so creamy and wonderfully rich!

Only using four ingredients, the hummus is so easy and quick to make, using butter, lemon, garlic, and chickpeas.

These are pulsed together to your preferred texture, and that’s all that is needed! Dip some fresh flatbread into the hummus for a snack during the day.

29. Caramelized Milk Pudding

This caramelized milk pudding, traditionally known as kazandibi, is just amazing. It is an incredibly delicious desert that has a beautiful caramelized taste, but which is still milky and rich.

The ingredients are wonderfully simple as well, consisting only of milk, sugar, corn starch, rice flour, vanilla extract, and margarine. It is a dessert that anyone can make, and seriously is something that you need to try!

30. Turkish Stuffed Eggplant

These stuffed eggplants are a great midweek meal, and are quite simple to make. The eggplants are sliced in half lengthways, and the eggplant flesh is scooped out.

Onion, garlic, tomatoes, the eggplant flesh, salt, and pepper are fried up together in a skillet, and flavored with parsley and mint.

This mixture is spooned into the eggplant skins or boats, sprinkled with lemon juice, sugar, and olive oil, and baked until tender!

31. Spicy Ezme Salad

Spicy ezme salad is a Turkish dish that is served on the side of protein, or as a sauce on kebabs or for pitas.

It is in a sense a mashed salad, where the fresh ingredients are chopped and processed together by hand, to allow all the flavors to mesh together and develop a rich flavor.

Ezme is similar to shepherd’s salad, but it is more mashed and served more like a sauce or condiment than an actual side dish.

This dish is best made in summer, where the tomatoes are fresh and flavorful, and you know you are using the best quality ingredients.

The tangy fresh flavors are delicious, and it will soon become a popular condiment made in your home!

32. Muhammara – Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Muhammara is a roasted red pepper and walnut dip that is incredibly versatile with what it can be served with, and which pairs well with some flat bread.

The ingredient list is short, but all the ingredients work together to give the dish an intense flavor that makes this dip so unique.

The ingredients include roasted red peppers (which you can roast yourself or buy ready-roasted), olive oil, pomegranate molasses, smoked paprika, red chili powder, walnuts, and breadcrumbs.

Make the dip a day before so that the flavors can develop well. Serve it as a dip with pita bread, as a sauce for pasta, place it on roasted chicken or fish, or use it as a spread for sandwiches. There are so many ways to enjoy the flavors!

33. Turkish Stuffed Meatballs

Meatballs on their own are great, but stuffed meatballs are even better!

These Turkish stuffed meatballs are either served as a meze or appetizer or can be served with salads as a main meal.

The balls of dough are made from fine bulgur, potato, and spices, and fillings include ground beef or lamb, and nuts such as pine nuts, pistachios, or walnuts.

Traditional Turkish spices are also used to add great flavor to the meatballs. These are fried to perfection and then served while hot!

The hand-rolling of each meatball is easy enough, and is quite enjoyable and relaxing!

34. Turkish Yogurt Dip

Turkish yogurt dip is an irreplaceable meze dish that you simply need to have in your cooking repertoire! It can be made in 15 minutes and contains some simple and fresh-tasting ingredients that go with almost everything.

The ingredients include Greek yogurt, dill, butter, mint, salt, feta cheese, and garlic. These ingredients all work so well together to create a refreshing, tasty dip that is best served with meze dishes such as kebab or flatbread.

Garnish the dip with some red pepper flakes and olive oil to add in some extra flavor.

35. Turkish Eggplant And Ground Beef Casserole

The basic ingredients of the Turkish eggplant and ground beef casserole include eggplant, tomato, and ground beef (or lamb).

There may also be some béchamel sauce and cheese on top, the casserole is hearty and delicious and an ideal family dinner for during the week.

There are many different variations of the meal as well, so you can adjust it to suit what your family prefers and to be a little more to your tastes.

You could even leave out the béchamel sauce and instead layer the casserole with sliced tomatoes.

The versatility of the dish does not take away from the fact that it is nutritious and delicious, and definitely something you need to try to cook at home.