Before heading to Turkey, I was told by several people that finding vegetarian food would have been a real challenge. It certainly seemed so at the beginning. However, after three years, I’ve learned that there are quite a few options available if you know what to look for. Here are some of my favourites.
Best vegetarian breakfast options
Turkish Breakfast – Serpme Kahvaltı
The typical breakfast in Turkey consists of a variety of small dishes served with bread. Think Mexican tapas, the Turkish way. You’ll be offered a variety of cheeses along with jams, olives, butter, yogurt and tomato paste. Make sure to order tea (çay) on the side.
Menemen
If you’ve traveled to Eastern Europe, you’ve probably already tried some version of this simple dish consisting of eggs and tomatoes. It’s usually served in its own double-handled copper pan with bread on the side.
Simit
Simit is a thin Turkish bagel covered with sesame seeds. It reminds me a bit of a pretzel and it’s usually served with either spread cheese, olive paste or Nutella. This is the cheapest option, perfect for budget travellers.
There are different variations on simit across Turkey. For instance, in Izmir, it’s gevrek and is extra crispy with no sugar.
Must-try vegetarian dishes
Börek
If you’re traveling to Turkey, you cannot miss börek. This dish consists of layers of filo dough with various ingredients between them. The choice is yours. Some of the most common options include cheese, spinach and potatoes. I suggest trying a few different ones, since each bakery makes its own unique version.
Kumpir
This is a kind of Turkish jacket potato that you can buy at small, family-run restaurants. You can easily recognise these places by the bags full of large potatoes on the floor. You will also be given the option to choose a few toppings. From my experience, however, these are often disappointing, consisting mostly of whatever vegetables the owners could find in a can with only a few fresh options available. Still, it’s the perfect dish if you’re hungry, on a budget and want something relatively healthy.
Pide
You can think of this as a sort of Turkish pizza but with only two veggie alternatives: white or yellow cheese. Unlike a pizza, pide isn’t served with tomato sauce and is shaped like a little boat. This is your go-to whenever heading to a restaurant with non-vegetarian friends, as it will likely be your only option. But do not despair. These restaurants often offer complimentary çiğ köfte, the next dish on our list.
Image source Wikimedia Commons
Çiğ köfte
This is your best option if you’re heading out for a hike and want something to bring along. Çiğ köfte is traditionally prepared with raw meat; however, in 2008, the Turkish Health Ministry banned restaurants from selling this version, leading them to switch to a vegan alternative.
This dish consists of bulgur mixed with tomato paste, onion, garlic and a mix of spices. You can either enjoy it rolled in lettuce leaves or in a wrap with a variety of fresh veggies and herbs. I suggest you enjoy your çig köfte with ayran, a local drink made with salt, yogurt and water.
Fasulye Piyaz
This simple meal is made with white beans, yogurt, tahini, and vinegar and is served with boiled eggs, fresh onions and parsley. Very protein-dense and relatively healthy, this is a great option if you’ve spent days eating calorie-dense dishes and are now looking for something lighter.
Image source Wikimedia Commons
A few extra tips for eating vegetarian in Turkey
Whenever traveling to a new country, it’s always a good idea to learn how to say “I’m a vegetarian” in the local language.
- I am a vegetarian ->Ben vejeteryanım
- I do not eat meat -> Et yemiyorum
- I do not eat fish -> Balık yemiyorum
(Editor’s note: The i without a dot is usually pronounced ‘euh.’ You can see a guide to Turkish pronunciations here.)
It’s also worth noting that major cities often have canteen-style restaurants serving cheap, homemade food. Here, you will likely find some veggie soup such as ezogelin (made with lentils, rice and bulgur) served with bread. When visiting small cities, çiğ köfte and pide should be your go-to options.
If you have a sweet tooth, I suggest you try semolina ice cream and künefe, one of the weirdest desserts I’ve ever tried, featuring stringy cheese. Sounds awful but tastes amazing.
Hope you enjoy your time in Turkey!
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Read more about Turkey here in Dispatches’ archives.
Cristina Miceli
contributors, and her work has been featured on several publications, including The Cabo Sun,
Bookmundi, SleepingInAirports, and more. Cristina is a huge promoter of slow travelling and
prefers long train rides to quick flights, analogue photography to selfies, and unknown towns to
massive metropolises. When she’s not writing breaking news or reporting her latest adventures, you may find her
drinking way too much tea, reading whatever book she found on the road, or playing her
classical guitar. Cristina has travelled to more than 30 countries on three continents, always slowly. One of her proudest achievements is a trip from Italy all the way to Gambia, avoiding planes.
