Had Turkish kahvaltı yet? The breakfast of champions
by Jennifer Çelik
ISTANBULFeb 15, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Jennifer Çelik
Feb 15, 2015 12:00 am
If one thinks ‘What could be so special about breakfast?' they should try the authentic Turkish breakfast experience that involves a traditional family gathering and sit-down affair rather than just a meal that offers an extensive array of tastes
Quite often when a tourist thinks of Turkey, the first food that comes to mind is kebabs. Rightly so, I mean no one does it better than Turks. But there is another meal in town that not everyone might think of or know about until they come to Turkey and experience it for themselves. I am talking about breakfast. You are probably thinking, "Ok, what's so special about breakfast?" But once you have had an authentic Turkish breakfast, there is no going back to your routine mornings of coffee and cereal.
I remember my first Turkish breakfast like it was yesterday. A couple of years ago I came to Istanbul for the first time to visit my husband's family. We had arrived in the morning and went to stay at his sister's house. When I got there, I saw a table beautifully set with small dishes and a wide variety of different foods. I thought that it was just because I was there for the first time, but when I woke up the next morning and saw the same beautifully prepared dishes on the table, I soon came to realize that this big breakfast is a custom in Turkey, and has quickly become my favorite meal of the day.
Breakfast is actually one of the most important elements of Turkish cuisine. For Turks, breakfast is not a necessity, but rather a traditional family gathering and a sit-down affair. With an extensive array of tastes, it's a meal that you start looking forward to the night before. Each day the table is set with a multitude of small plates and bowls that are especially designed for serving breakfast.
Presentation is everything. The food and dishes are exquisitely arranged and placed covering the entire table until there is no more room left. Before beginning a long leisurely breakfast, the host or waiter will seat you and say, "afiyet olsun," which is often translated as "bon appetite," but actually means, "may it be good for you."
The word for breakfast in Turkish is "kahvaltı." It can be translated as "kahve altı," meaning "undercoffee," so it is the food you eat before drinking coffee.
A typical Turkish breakfast starts with a well-prepared pot of çay (tea) and consists of several different types of cheeses, green and black olives (zeytin), kaymak (clotted cream) and honey, a variety of jams, an omelet or boiled eggs, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, yogurt and of course many freshly baked loafs of bread or simit (like a bagel with sesame seeds, but way better).
Breakfast across Turkey will generally have all of these delicious items in common, however you will be able to notice local differences in the types of cheese served, olives and even the bread when travelling through different regions. For instance, Van, a city in eastern Turkey, has distinguished itself with its breakfast culture. You can find their restaurants, Van kahvaltı evi, in Istanbul where they serve local cheeses and honey brought in from their famous city. These restaurants are very popular among locals, so you know they must be good.
Are you a meat eater in the morning? Order sucuk with eggs (sucuklu yumurta). Sucuk is dried sausage made of ground beef with garlic and a variety of spices like red pepper, cumin and sumac, and is cooked in a pan with eggs. This dish is definitely a favorite among locals and tourists.
Some people also serve börek, which is made of thin sheets of dough filled with cheese, mincemeat and/or vegetables, wrapped and baked.
And of course, once it is all finished, a lovely, long Turkish breakfast should end with a cup of well-made Turkish coffee.
What better way to start out your day then with this amazing healthy breakfast that covers all of the basic food groups you should be eating. Plus, you can enjoy a Turkish breakfast almost anywhere in Istanbul as most cafes and restaurants serve breakfast all day.
Take a seat beside the Bosporous and enjoy kahvaltı while watching yachts sail by. Stroll down the cobblestone streets and discover an old cafe, or go to Çamlıca, and sit on a high terrace and eat your breakfast like a sultan overlooking the entire ancient city of Istanbul.
Or, if you are lucky enough to know someone that lives in rural Turkey, have breakfast with a local family in their home. Turkey is one of the rare places where breakfast is always better at home because food is cooked with old family traditions and items are fresh and organic, coming from their local villages.
Want my breakfast advice?
First, find an interesting place and choose a large table, even if you are alone, because there is a minimum of at least 10 plates that will be covering the top of your table and you will want space.
Secondly, follow the "Turkish traditions" and have çay with your breakfast. One of the hardest things I had to do moving to Istanbul was to give up my morning coffee with breakfast. I mean sometimes in Canada with a busy work schedule you will only have a coffee or two for breakfast. But trust me, you will see that many glasses of tea just goes down better with this breakfast. And don't worry, you can have your Turkish coffee after your meal.
Thirdly, my all-time favorite items on the menu, kaymak and honey, are extremely addictive. When you spread the two together on a warm piece of crusty bread, before you know it you will have eaten an entire loaf. But if you are keeping away from carbs, which is almost impossible in Turkey, be cautious because your taste buds will take over.
Fourthly, if you are not living in Turkey, stock up on fresh items from the local bazaar such as honey, jam, and cheese to take back home,because once you have had the pleasure of eating breakfast in Turkey, you will want to continue carrying out the tradition at home with your friends and family.
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