Sweets & Pastries

The art of Turkish patisserie is legendary — baklava is just the beginning of a sweet universe:

• Baklava: Paper-thin layers of yufka dough with chopped pistachios (Antep style) or walnuts, soaked in sugar syrup. The best baklava comes from Gaziantep — brands: Güllüoğlu, İmam Çağdaş. In Istanbul: Karaköy Güllüoğlu. Price: 400–800 ₺/kg.
• Künefe: Hot, crispy shredded pastry with melted cheese in the middle, drizzled with syrup and sprinkled with pistachios. Best in Hatay restaurants.
• Lokum (Turkish Delight): The famous jelly cubes in hundreds of flavors — rose, pistachio, pomegranate, mastic. Available in the Spice Bazaar from 200 ₺/kg.
• Dondurma: Turkish ice cream made from goat's milk and salep (orchid root) — sticky-elastic. The vendors make a show of it (Taksim Square!).
• Sütlaç: Rice pudding, baked in the oven until the surface caramelizes — simple and perfect.
• Tavuk Göğsü: Milk pudding with chicken breast(!) — sounds bizarre, tastes incredible.
• Tulumba: Fried dough sticks in syrup — the Turkish churro.