The most overrated dishes that all tourists try to try in Turkey, but the result is more likely to disappoint them, the travel blogger named on her YouTube channel.
According to her, residents often mistake something very tasty for a gastronomic masterpiece. The tourist gave the following examples:
Kokorich – or offal sandwich, which, according to the blogger, appears in every article about Turkish street food, but “the authors of these foodie guides simply haven’t tried it,” the blogger believes. According to her, this dish has “a lot of bread, not much filling, and a strange aftertaste.” So tourists have advised not so exotic kebabs.
Manty – “Turkish dumplings the size of a fingernail” from the blogger’s point of view are also not worth a place in the list of “TOP 10 dishes to try in Turkey”. “There is almost no meat in Turkish mantas. The most delicious thing about this dish is the tomato sauce with which the Turks pour these tiny “pelmeni”, she assures.
Golubka from tripe is popular primarily because of its appearance, as the dish looks like a male genital organ. “Of course, tourists were immediately interested in them!” – assures the blogger. But the taste of cabbage rolls is much less interesting, she adds.
Tarhana Chorbasi or the most famous Turkish soup. “Dried vegetables and cereals are ground into powder, mixed with flour, starch, and spices, sifted, and stored in this form. To prepare the soup, the Turks simply pour the mixture into boiling water and cook until thick,” explains the blogger, advising not to buy into the marketing idea that this soup is healing. Instead, she advises Turkish merjimek or lentil – it is much healthier, filling, and tasty.
Sarma or dolma in its vegetarian version. “Rice, some vegetables, spices, grape leaves – that’s all. Amateur taste. An exception is Sarma from Konya. It is prepared with minced lamb, poured with tomato sauce, and consumed hot. It is worth trying,” advises the blogger.
Puddings. “If sütlach (rice pudding with a ruddy crust) is worth paying attention to, then all the others are overrated. Most puddings contain only sugar, starch, flavoring, and coloring, sometimes cocoa powder. It is better to give up this dessert in favor of baklava and other Turkish sweets,” the blogger declares.
And, finally, such a must-have souvenir as Rahat-lukum made it to the list. “It usually contains only 3 ingredients: starch, molasses, and powdered sugar. Rose water is added to a good Turkish Delight, while dyes and flavorings are added to a budget one. I understand that this delight is traditional since the Ottoman Empire. But do many people love her sincerely? Another thing is Turkish Turkish Delight with creamy nougat, dried fruits, or nuts. This is where the real masterpiece is,” the author of the blog declares.