Updated Date : 15.03.2022
Top 10 Turkish Desserts and Sweets
It is the legacy of the Turkish Ottoman Empire and the fact that the empire spread over various regions; it holds the essence of all the areas. Therefore, the traditional foods of multiple realms amalgamating at one place became the identity of Turkey.
Here is a quick look into the top 10 delicious Turkish desserts and sweets to try. These will surely tantalize your taste buds on your trip to Turkey.
1.Turkish Baklava
This is the most famous traditional Turkish dessert that people around the world know and enjoy. The introduction of Baklava dates back to the Byzantine Empire. However, its recipe was developed and refined during the time of the Ottoman Empire. Today the new recipe developed during the Ottoman period is being used to make Turkish Baklava.
It is made by stuffing the layers of the dough with nuts such as pistachio, almonds, hazelnut. If you wish to have genuine taste, the best baklava in Turkey is found in Gaziantep, where this dish was born hundreds of years ago.
2.Tavuk Gogsu
This dish is translated as "Chicken Breast" in English, the main ingredient in this pudding. First, the chicken is boiled and shredded into fibers. Later it is again boiled with water, sugar, milk, rice or cornstarch. Once it is ready, cinnamon is used for flavoring.
3.Firin Sutlac
This is another Ottoman cuisine still eaten in Turkey. Ingredients for firin sutlac include sugar, rice, rice flour, water, and milk. It is made into oven-baked rice budding. The modern version of this pudding includes vanilla instead of rosewater for flavoring and aroma.
4.Kunefe
Kunefe is one of the many popular desserts in Turkey. It is made like a cake which is later cut into pieces. Regardless of its cake-like shape, you will not find it among pastries as it should be eaten hot.
Kunefe is made with cheese which is the local version of Mozzarella, butter, sugar syrup. The taste is so delicious that it is worth trying on your trip to the south of the Turkey famous for Turkish Kunefe.
5.Turkish Delights
Turkish delights are famous all over the world. They are found throughout the Mediterranean basin makes them a specialty of Istanbul. Turkish delights were first made in 1776 by a confectioner of the Ottoman Empire.
They are fluffy, soft, and pleasant to chew. The ingredient of Turkish delights includes cornstarch, fruit paste or nuts and sugar. It was used as an evening toffee by the high-society ladies in ancient times. They look lovely on the tea table and can complement other deserts on your kitty part table.
6.Kazandibi
The dish dates to the Ottoman Empire. The dish is popular because of the burnt bottom of the pan in which it is made. Kazandibi is made with starch, sugar, rice flour, butter, milk and vanilla flavors. The caramelized top of the Kazandibi contrasts nicely with the milky taste of its ingredients.
7.Turkish Tulumba
This is a fried street food desert in Turkey and people of all ages like this sweet. This is a kind of Turkish pastry. The flavor is enhanced by soaking it into lemon syrup. The sweet is made by adding the batter in a piping bag with a star nozzle.
8.Pismaniye
This desert personifies the traditional taste of Turkish desserts with origin in the city of Kocaeli; The ingredients include sugar, roasted flour, and butter. The final dish has a resemblance to cotton candy, though the texture is a little different. The dish is garnished with nuts like walnut, pistachios or cacao.
9.Ashure
This is another Turkish pudding which is famous among the tourists and the locals. However, this Turkish dessert also has a historical legacy attached to it. According to Islamic beliefs, Noah made a pudding upon his survival from the big flood. At that time, the prophet Noah used all the ingredients locally available. Today, there are various recipes for this Turkish pudding. It is made with grains, including chickpeas, wheat, haricot beans and sugar.
The dried fruits used in this desert are dried figs, apricots and nuts like hazelnut, commonly made during the first month of the Islamic calendar known as Muharram. People make Ashure on the 10th of the Muharram and distribute it among the neighbors.
10.Zerde
This is one of the famous Turkish desserts that you can commonly find people enjoying. It is customary for Turkish people to make Zerde at their weddings and the birth of a child to celebrate the occasion. It is made with essential ingredients such as corn starch, rice, water and saffron for the beautiful aroma and curcuma for the yellow color. Once it is cooked, the dish is garnished with the local nuts and fruits. Mainly people use pistachio, pine nuts and pomegranate.
11.Cezerye
This Turkish dessert is made with carrot, as is the dish's name when translated in Arabic. Cezerye is caramelized carrots with a taste of cinnamon. Its flavor is furthered enhanced by adding nuts like walnut, pistachios, and hazelnuts. For garnishing, the dish is sprayed with crushed coconuts. It is a dry sweet so can be carried on travel or a gift for the relatives.
The Final Word
Turkey is famous for its desserts and sweets. The sweet and savory taste of these treats is worth praise by whoever eats them. Tourists visiting Turkey enjoy the scenery and the amalgamation of contemporary architecture with the ancient one, but they enjoy these Turkish delights and sweets.