Top 6 Turkish Poultry Dishes

Piliç Topkapı is a classic Turkish chicken dish rooted in Ottoman culinary traditions, named after the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul. It features chicken, typically boneless pieces like thighs, stuffed with a savory rice pilaf. The stuffing is a flavorful mix of pine nuts, currants, onions, and spices such as cinnamon, allspice, and black pepper, creating a balance of savory and subtly sweet flavors. The stuffed chicken is secured with toothpicks, brushed with tomato paste and yogurt, and baked until golden and tender. It is usually served with rice pilaf on the side, accompanied by roasted vegetables or a simple salad. Expand

Other than serving styles and accompanying ingredients, there really isn't much difference between this Turkish classic and Arab shawarma, or Greek gyros, as all three preparations include barbecued meat, spit-roasted over coals. However, making şiş tavuk includes marinating chicken for at least several hours in a mixture of olive oil, lemon, and garlic before roasting. The delicious Turkish chicken kebab is typically accompanied by various sauces and fresh vegetables, along with pita bread and a side of either rice or couscous.Expand

Çerkez tavuğu or Circassian chicken is a Turkish dish made with shredded boiled chicken in a sauce consisting of stale bread, walnuts, garlic, red pepper flakes, coriander, and stock. When served, the dish is often sprinkled with chopped walnuts and sprigs of coriander, accompanied by toasted bread, steamed vegetables, or a green salad. It is believed that the dish originated during the Ottoman reign, and was brought over to Turkey by Circassian slaves who had served in the harems as concubines.Expand

Keşkek is a traditional ceremonial dish made with lamb or chicken meat combined with wheat or barley stew. The mashed wheat or barley is placed in a bowl, followed by a sauce made with butter, meat broth, and pepper flakes, while the meat is placed on top. Traditionally, keşkek is served as a part of wedding celebrations and religious holidays in the Turkish region of Anatolia. In 2011, the dish became a part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Türkiye.Expand

Soslu döner, particularly in the style of Hatay, is a Turkish dish where marinated and cooked meat, often chicken, is combined with a flavorful sauce and wrapped in flatbread. The preparation involves marinating thinly sliced chicken breasts in a mixture of tomato paste, yogurt, and spices such as cumin, black pepper, mint, red pepper flakes, and salt. After allowing the meat to marinate for a few hours, it is spit-roasted and cooked on a vertical rotisserie or, for at-home preparation, sautéed until fully cooked. A sauce is prepared by sautéing pepper paste in oil, then adding water and spices like thyme, cumin, mint, and red pepper powder, simmering briefly. Lavaş bread is dipped into this sauce to absorb the flavors. The cooked chicken is then placed onto the sauced bread, along with additions like fried potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions.Expand

Tuzda tavuk is a traditional dish originating from the Hatay region. The dish is made by stuffing a whole chicken with a combination of rice and selected spices and seasonings, depending on the cook. Once stuffed, the whole bird is covered with wet salt so that it forms a crust. It is then placed into a wood-fired oven or a furnace and baked for up to two hours until fully cooked and tender. Once taken out of the furnace, the salt crust is cracked with a hammer in front of the patrons, making it a visually attractive dish that's nowadays prepared in restaurants across the region and outside of it.Expand