Cacik vs tzatziki looks at first like another simple Turkish-versus-Greek food debate. But this case is interesting because we have something more useful than national claims: historical recipes and Greek-language dictionaries that we can actually…
Browsing CategoryAppetizer
Turkish Yogurt: Tradition, Uses, and Cultural History
Turkish yogurt has a central place in Turkish cuisine and everyday food culture. It is served on its own, used in soups and sauces, mixed into meze, and transformed into drinks such as ayran. Although…
Turkish Pickles: A Tradition from Past to Present
Turkish pickles are a familiar part of everyday food culture in Turkey, but for me they are also closely connected with family and the seasons. My mother still makes several kinds of pickles every year….
Turkish Appetizers: How Meze Really Works in Turkey
When people search for Turkish appetizers, they often find very long lists of dishes. That can be useful, but it does not fully explain how meze actually works at a Turkish table. I grew up…