Best Turkish

The Intercontinental Derby is the name given to any football match between Turkish clubs Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray. The rivalry's name stems from the geographic division of Istanbul, with Fenerbahçe based on the Asian side and Galatasaray on the European side of the Bosphorus strait. Both clubs are...

Ezel is a Turkish crime thriller television series adapted from Alexandre Dumas’ *The Count of Monte Cristo*. Initially airing on Show TV (2009) and later ATV, the show features Istanbul as its setting alongside filming locations in North Cyprus, Croatia, and England. Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, Cansu Dere,...

Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman ki is a Turkish television drama originating in the 1960s. The series portrays the complex lives of the Akarsu family within Istanbul’s social landscape. It gained international recognition for its long-running family saga and exploration of themes like infidelity, tradition, an...

Nuri Bilge Ceylan is a prominent contemporary filmmaker known primarily for his Turkish art-cinema works. His films, such as “Winter Sleep,” are characterized by deliberate pacing and exploration of complex psychological themes within rural settings. He’s recognized for creating intensely character-...

Döner Kebab is a dish consisting of seasoned meat—typically lamb, beef, or chicken—stacked onto a vertical rotating spit and roasted slowly. As the outer layer cooks, it is shaved off in thin slices and traditionally served inside a flatbread, often accompanied by fresh vegetables and various sauces...

Yunus Emre was a 13th-14th century Turkish poet deeply rooted in Sufi tradition. His work, written in the Anatolian Turkish language, remains notable for its accessible devotional themes and profound exploration of faith. He is particularly relevant to those interested in Turkish folk culture, relig...

Located in the Eminönü quarter of Istanbul, the Spice Bazaar is a prominent covered Ottoman market that was completed in 1664. Historically funded through the endowment of the adjacent New Mosque complex, it served as a major commercial center for the trade of spices, herbs, and medicinal goods. Tod...

Nazım Hikmet was a significant modernist poet born in Turkey. His work, characterized by innovative free verse, explored themes of social justice and political resistance. He is particularly notable for his outspoken leftist views and experiences of imprisonment and exile which profoundly shaped his...

Adana Kebab is a Turkish hand-minced spiced lamb kebab named after the city of Adana in southern Turkey, distinguished by its use of tail fat and red pepper and traditionally shaped on wide flat skewers.

A.M.C. Sengör (also known as Celâl Şengör) is a Turkish geologist recognized for his extensive research on the tectonic evolution of the Tethys Ocean and the Alpine-Himalayan mountain belt. As a professor at Istanbul Technical University, Sengör has published influential works on orogeny, plate tect...

Börek is a family of filled pastries found in Turkish, Balkan, Middle Eastern, and neighboring cuisines, with historical roots in Ottoman culinary traditions. It is commonly made with thin sheets of yufka or phyllo layered, rolled, or folded around fillings such as cheese, spinach, minced meat, or p...

Turkish cuisine is a rich culinary tradition developed over centuries through interactions between Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. It’s known for complex flavors achieved with extensive use of herbs, spices, and grilled meats like kebab. Popular dishes include meze platters off...

Istanbul is a historic metropolis situated where East meets West. Its strategic location has shaped millennia of cultural exchange, reflected in stunning Ottoman architecture alongside vibrant modern life. The city offers unparalleled culinary experiences centered around traditional Turkish cuisine...

Mercimek çorbası is a classic Turkish lentil soup centered around red lentils. It’s renowned for its velvety smooth consistency achieved through pureeing and represents a fundamental part of daily meals in Turkey. This simple yet flavorful soup is commonly enjoyed by families and individuals seeking...

Maraş biber is a red pepper seasoning associated with Kahramanmaraş in southern Turkey and made from Capsicum annuum fruits. It is typically sold as coarse, slightly oily flakes rather than a dry, fine powder. Its flavor combines moderate heat with fruity, earthy, and mildly sweet notes, making it s...

Keşkek is a traditional ceremonial dish from Turkey and Azerbaijan made by slow-cooking meat and whole wheat until they break down into a thick porridge. It is historically prepared for weddings, religious holidays, and other celebrations, often cooked overnight in large cauldrons. In 2011, the prep...

Urfa biber is a distinctive Turkish chili pepper cultivated in the Şanlıurfa province of southeastern Turkey. The peppers undergo a specialized two-stage drying process where they are sun-dried during the day and wrapped tightly at night, a method known as "sweating." This process imbues the dark, p...

Zeytinyağlı Barbunya is a Turkish dish made from borlotti beans (also known as cranberry beans) cooked in olive oil. The beans are simmered with ingredients such as tomatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic. It belongs to the 'zeytinyağlı' category of Turkish cuisine, which consists of dishes cooked in...

Yargı is a Turkish psychological thriller series created by Ay Yapım and starring Kaan Urgancıoğlu and Pınar Deniz. The show aired from September 2021 to May 2024, receiving recognition as the Best Telenovela at the 51st International Emmy Awards in 2023. It explores complex relationships amidst con...

Pide is a traditional Turkish flatbread baked in a wood-fired or stone oven, featuring a distinctive oval or boat-like shape with upturned edges. The dough is typically topped with ingredients such as seasoned ground meat, cheese, sucuk, and sometimes eggs, which are cracked directly onto the bread...

The TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi is a comprehensive Turkish academic encyclopedia focusing on Islamic studies, published by the Research Center for Islamic Studies under the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation. Originally issued in 44 printed volumes between 1988 and 2013, the reference work covers topics includi...

Kara Sevda is a Turkish television drama series produced in the 2010s by Star TV. The show centers on the passionate and often tumultuous love triangle between Aylin, Demir, and Serra. Its complex narratives of betrayal, revenge, and redemption gained significant popularity within the Turkish soap o...

Yeşil Mercimek Çorbası is a traditional Turkish soup made primarily from whole green lentils, onions, and vegetables such as carrots and potatoes. It is typically cooked until the legumes are soft, resulting in a hearty texture rather than a completely smooth purée. The soup is distinguished by a fi...

İçerde is a Turkish crime drama television series based on *The Departed*. It follows a police detective investigating a serial killer while simultaneously concealing his own criminal past. The show’s intense action sequences and complex character portrayals by Çağatay Ulusoy and Aras Bulut İynemli...

Asure, often called Noah's Pudding, is a traditional Turkish dessert made from a mixture of grains, fruits, dried fruits, and nuts without the use of animal products. The dish is closely associated with the Islamic month of Muharram, specifically prepared on the Day of Ashura to commemorate various...

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a pivotal figure in modern history. He led the Turkish nationalist movement that established the Republic of Turkey in 1923 following decades of Ottoman rule. His reforms dramatically modernized the nation, transforming legal systems, education, and culture. Primarily for h...

Barbunya Pilaki is a traditional Turkish dish made from borlotti beans simmered in olive oil with onions, carrots, tomatoes, and sometimes potatoes or celery. The pilaki style of cooking, shared across Turkish and Greek cuisines, involves braising ingredients in olive oil and tomato. Dishes prepared...

Gönül Dağı is a Turkish television series centered around the daily lives of the Kaya family residing in Gönül Mountain. The show offers a comedic and dramatic exploration of familial relationships within a rural setting. Starring Berk Atan and Gülsim Ali, it’s notable for its portrayal of Turkish c...

Fatmagül'ün Suçu Ne? is a Turkish television drama series adapted from Vedat Türkali’s 1986 film. The story centers on a woman who experiences sexual assault and subsequently enters into an arranged marriage with one of her attackers. Ece Yörenç and Melek Gençoğlu penned the screenplay, while Toygar...