Appetizers are small dishes often served before the meal and can be enjoyed as a sharing experience. Turkish cuisine is known for its rich flavors and diverse selection of appetizers, also known as “meze.” Here are some of the best Turkish appetizers that will leave you licking your fingers:

Hummus: 

Nohut ezmesi, popularly known as “Hummus,” is a creamy dip originating from the Middle East. It has rightfully received its reputation as a clean and nutritional food choice.

At its core, hummus possesses a lineup of superfoods, each contributing to its extraordinary nutritional profile. Wholesome chickpeas, nutrient-rich sesame paste (tahini), flavorsome garlic, and the richness of olive oil form the base of most traditional versions of hummus. Altogether, these ingredients create a blend that not only baffles the taste buds but also gives a ton of health benefits.

Ezme: 

Ezme is an outstanding Turkish sauce, condiment, and appetizer that compliments kebabs when served with fresh bread. Its preparation takes only 10 minutes, and the delectable flavor is due to the inclusion of tomatoes, peppers, and aromatic herbs. The blend of these ingredients results in a mouthwatering delight that enhances the culinary experience.

It is a spicy salad made with luscious tomatoes, crisp capsicums, peppers, onions, and parsley, all mixed with delightful pomegranate molasses and sumac dressing. This refreshing creation is a perfect balance between sweet and sour. It can be enjoyed as a healthy dip.

Cacık: 

Cacık is among the best Turkish appetizers because of its freshness, simplicity, and how quickly it’s prepared.

It is a delightful combination of yogurt and cucumber. Its flavor comes from the infusion of garlic, dried mint, and sometimes dill. It can also be savored as a side dish. Its cool and creamy texture offers a delicious rest from the heat, making it an ideal choice for the tables during the warm months.

Patlıcan Salatası: 

Patlıcan salatası is another traditional Turkish salad that uses roasted eggplants as a highlight, resulting in a delicious mix of flavors. While the basic components remain the same, each restaurant adds a unique touch, affected by the chef’s preferences. 

Apart from the scrumptious roasted eggplants, the salad typically includes a harmonious blend of tomatoes, onions, and red peppers, all mixed with the tanginess of lemon juice, olive oil, and some garlic. This delightful mix creates a delectable and diverse culinary experience. Patlıcan salatası is often served as an accompaniment to barbecued meat.

Sigara Böreği: 

Sigara Böreği, also known as Sigara Borek, is a superlative Turkish appetizer that promises to be a highlight at any gathering. These crispy fried cheese rolls are simple and will surely please the crowd. With their perfect cheesy and oozy filling wrapped in a delightful crunch, they’ll vanish from the plate.

It is a mouthwatering pastry made from fine Phyllo dough, abundantly filled with delicious options like meat, cheese, or spinach. The pastry offers versatility in its display, as it can be rolled into a spiral, cut into delicious rectangular pieces, or charmingly shaped into small, tempting rolls or triangles.

Baba Ghanoush: 

Baba ganoush and hummus are similar, mouthwatering dips from the Eastern Mediterranean. However, their star ingredients differ; while hummus uses chickpeas, baba ganoush uses grilled or roasted eggplant. These delicious dips complement each other superbly and are usually served with pita bread and fresh, crunchy veggies.

At its base, baba ganoush is made from eggplant, olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, salt, and garlic. However, raising it to the next level is as simple as adding some smoked paprika, ground cumin, and fresh parsley. These additional ingredients add to its flavor and take this dip to new heights of lusciousness.

Muhammara: 

Another one of the best Turkish appetizers is Muhammara. The dip baffles the taste buds with its scrumptious mix of savory, sweet, slightly smoky, and just the right spiciness. It includes a delicious blend of roasted red peppers and walnuts that will definitely leave you wanting more.

The recipe for this red pepper dip includes roasted red peppers, walnuts, extra virgin olive oil, breadcrumbs, Aleppo pepper, pomegranate molasses, tomato paste, sumac, garlic, and some cayenne pepper for more spice, blended together to present a superb balance of sweet and spicy.

Mercimek Köftesi: 

This delicious Turkish dish provides a vegan option. It contains oval-shaped patties made from an appetizing mix of boiled red lentils and bulgur, producing a doughy texture. To enhance its taste, the mixture is seasoned with a pinch of salt and improved with sautéed onions, tomato paste, and a bit of cumin. The spicy version of this yummy delicacy incorporates chili flakes that tantalize the taste buds with an extra punch of spiciness. 

Near the end of the cooking process, a luscious touch of spring onions, fresh parsley and dill is incorporated, giving the dish an energizing flavor. In Turkey, Mercimek köfte relishes widespread popularity, often served cold as appetizers in social gatherings. The traditional way of savoring them involves accompanying the köfte with crisp lettuce and a dribble of lemon juice with zest, giving tanginess to the whole experience.

Sarma: 

Sarma is a typical dish in Turkish cuisine among the native foods of the regions that once belonged to the Ottoman Empire. The prep of this tasty delicacy includes carefully wrapping either grape leaves or cabbage around a savory filling; it is then carefully boiled for hours to achieve its scrumptious taste. The filling usually consists of diced or minced meat, such as beef or veal, at times combined with barley or rice and a bunch of seasonings for enhanced flavor. 

The poaching liquid often consists of animal fat to enhance the dish further, giving it a delightful and strong taste. Sarma is quite similar to dolma, which is another toothsome culinary creation.

Haydari: 

Haydari is another one of the renowned and best Turkish appetizers, broadly recognized as a magnificent yogurt sauce or dip. This tasty blend has an invigorating and thick texture, created from a yummy combo of yogurt, feta cheese, garlic, a pinch of salt, and the refreshing flavors of dill and fresh mint.

Traditionally, this delightful recipe establishes a delectable twist by including garlic cooked in a dill-infused butter mix, giving the dip a toothsome deep garlic flavor without overwhelming the sharpness. Moreover, traditionally, the recipe calls for using strained yogurt, known as süzme, similar to Greek yogurt, to ensure that the dip stays thick and creamy.