Guide to Turkish Mezes

Kalkan, just like the rest of Türkiye is full of restaurants that serve Meze. Some have Meze in their names (Mey&Meze, BiMeze, Mezzela), some are Ocakbaşı restaurants where tradition dictates meals start with Meze (Mabeyn, Palmiye, Ata,Hünkar) and some are Meyhanes where Meze plays an integral part of the evening (Zula, Salonika, Kalamare).

​

In Türkiye, meals are family and social events and can last for hours on end, especially if you're dining out.

​

Turkish cuisine is particularly famous for it's wide selection of appetizers and starters. These mini-courses are called 'meze' (meh'-ZEH'). When dining out, 'meze' selections are usually brought out and presented on a huge tray for diners to choose from. 'Meze' is always eaten slowly together with drinks and a lot of good conversation. The first round of 'meze' are always cold selections, followed by a second round of hot dishes.

In Türkiye, you'll find some form of 'meze' wherever you go. Whether you eat a modest meal at someone's home, run down to the corner restaurant, or go to a fine restaurant in one of Turkey's big cities, you'll always be presented with several delicious 'meze' dishes to choose from.

​

The best way to explain the richness and variety of Turkish meze is to show you. Here is a list of the most common dishes that accompany either fish or meat:

​

• 'Meze' Served With Fish And Seafood

• Feta cheese

• Grilled eggplant salad

• Strained yogurt with herbs and garlic

• Samphire with garlic and olive oil

• Mussels stuffed with rice, nuts and raisins

• Stuffed vine leaves

• Stuffed squash flowers

• Purslane with strained yogurt and garlic

• Pinto beans in tomato sauce and olive oil

• Marinated sweet red peppers

• Fava bean puree

• Artichoke cups and vegetables

• Smoked sea bass fillet

• Pickled sardine salad

• Salted sardines in olive oil

• Octopus salad

• Fried mussels and calamari with tarator sauce

• Grilled calamari

• Shrimp and butter seasoned with red pepper flakes

• Shrimp and vegetable casserole topped with cheese

• Fish meatballs

• Feta cheese "cigarette" pastries

• 'Meze' Served With Grilled Meats

• Cacık

• Antep Ezmesi

• Patlıcan Salatası

• Kısır

• 'Tülüm' cheese

• Antalya Style White Bean Salad

• Flat bread and butter

• Steak tartar balls wrapped in romaine lettuce

• Hot pepper, walnut and tomato crush

• Pinto beans in olive oil

• Vegetarian lentil meatballs

• Stuffed vine leaves

• Purslane with strained yogurt and garlic

• Circassian chicken and walnut paste

• Fried 'pastırma' pastry

• Warm hummus with crispy 'pastırma'

• Fried eggplant and vegetables in tomato sauce with garlic yogurt

• Fried eggplant strips with garlic yogurt

• Turkish fried liver and onions

• Bulgur wheat balls filled with ground beef and walnut

When you Visit Kalkan go with the flow and follow tradition - try a few or a few dozen different mezes on offer.

Afiyet olsun

​

Prepared by Melissa Jones (Friends of Fethiye)

​