Top 3 Southeastern Anatolian Ground Meat Dishes

Çiğ köfte is the Turkish version of steak tartare, traditionally made with high-quality ground raw beef (or lamb) that is combined with tomatoes, onions, garlic, pepper, and a selection of Turkish spices. The dish is consumed as a meze, and it is typically served almost cold. Nowadays, due to food safety regulations and health concerns, the meat is almost always replaced with bulgur and ground walnuts, but these vegetarian versions are so good that people mostly can’t tell them from the real thing.Expand

Patlıcanlı kebap is a traditional type of kebab originating from Türkiye, and it's especially popular in Gaziantep, Adıyaman, and Şanlıurfa. The dish is usually made with a combination of eggplants, tomatoes, garlic, bell peppers, ground meat (beef or lamb), onions, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, cumin, red pepper flakes, baking soda, tomato paste, and oil. The eggplants are sliced and placed in a bowl with salted water. The ground meat is mixed with onions, garlic, breadcrumbs, seasonings, and baking soda. The mixture is shaped into meatballs that are placed onto skewers with alternating slices of eggplants. The kebabs are topped with a sauce consisting of tomato paste, oil, salt, and pepper. They're baked in the oven with tomatoes, bell peppers, and garlic for about an hour. Once done, eggplant kebabs are typically served with rice on the side. Alternatively, the kebab can also be grilled over a fire.Expand

Kilis Tava is a minced meat dish baked in a tray, originating from the city of Kilis in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border. It is prepared using finely ground lamb or a combination of lamb and beef, mixed with chopped vegetables, garlic, onions, parsley, and regional spices. The seasoned mixture is spread evenly over a shallow metal tray, often topped with sliced peppers, tomatoes, or potatoes, and baked in a wood-fired or household oven until well-cooked and lightly browned. Kilis tava is not only a household dish but also part of the shared food culture in Kilis, where local butchers frequently prepare the raw mixture by request. Customers bring their meat, have it ground and mixed with seasonings, then take the assembled tray to a bakery for cooking. This cooperative method of preparation highlights a practical and social aspect of the local food economy. The finished dish is typically served hot, cut into slices, accompanied by flatbread, fresh herbs, and light salads or yogurt-based sides. Its taste is rich but balanced, relying on the natural flavors of the meat and vegetables rather than heavy sauces or marinades. Kilis tava is often compared to similar dishes from nearby cities, such as tepsi kebabı in Hatay, but it maintains its own identity through specific seasoning choices and preparation customs that have remained consistent over time.Expand