snacking my way through the streets of Turkey
When faced with the choice between a sit down lunch or the chance to roam freely around a foreign land and sample different "grab-n-go" fare, the choice is simple: go wander with cash in hand. I'm a bona fide snacker with a passion for sampling small bites. Turkey is a snacker's paradise where you can find unique (even healthy) treats on the street and the beach.
süt mısır
When you hear a guy calling out "süt mısır" immediately head over to him and grab a bright yellow ear of corn. Translated literally as "milk corn," these corn are boiled then grilled and sold by street vendors or some guy on the beach. They tend to be a little thicker and mealier than the crisp butter and sugar corns grown in the states. I delight in these healthy snacks as they are a perfect pick me up from a day of shopping or sun bathing and provide a good boost of salt and carbs to recharge without the guilt.
midye dolma
For the seafood-loving street or beach hawker we're moving on to more risky business with midye dolma, or rice stuffed mussels (in the shell) served with lemon. My husband always jokes about eating a midye dolma when you could use a good GI cleanse (in jest, of course). Like any seafood, the quality depends on where you buy. We've eaten these from the guy selling them in 95 degree weather on the beaches of Cesme with no issues. They do pack a punch with lots of flavor and texture (hints of cumin, paprika and pine nuts) in each morsel.
Buzlu badem
Turkey is known as one of the world's largest nut producers, including hazelnuts and almonds. While hazelnuts are a popular add-in to most products in Turkey (desserts, chocolates, cookies, etc), almonds take center stage in this nifty street snack that literally means "almonds with ice." The Aegean coast is home to a plethora of almond trees which is why you can find these snacks on most streets in nearby Aegean cities and towns. Raw almonds are first soaked in water for several hours then chilled over ice so the outer skin peels easily. These snacks go well with meze, beer, or just solo.
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kokoreç
And now for one of the most popular street foods in Turkey - grilled sheep intestine - ironically pronounced ko ko retch. Suckling lamb intestines are seasoned with spices and lemon, layered on horozontal doner racks and roasted tenderly for hours. My first introduction to this "snack" was during a stay in Izmir with my husband's family. Around midnight, his dad and some uncles wandered in with grease stainted paper bags of kokoreç sandwiches. My "buyer beware" instincts kicked in and I politely declined the offer, especially considering that the Turkish Health Ministry does not conisder kokoreç a "safe" food. Kokoreç is popular after a night of heavy drinking when your common sense is severly impaired. I'll stick with a sausage and pepper sub, thanks.
süt mısır
When you hear a guy calling out "süt mısır" immediately head over to him and grab a bright yellow ear of corn. Translated literally as "milk corn," these corn are boiled then grilled and sold by street vendors or some guy on the beach. They tend to be a little thicker and mealier than the crisp butter and sugar corns grown in the states. I delight in these healthy snacks as they are a perfect pick me up from a day of shopping or sun bathing and provide a good boost of salt and carbs to recharge without the guilt.
midye dolma
For the seafood-loving street or beach hawker we're moving on to more risky business with midye dolma, or rice stuffed mussels (in the shell) served with lemon. My husband always jokes about eating a midye dolma when you could use a good GI cleanse (in jest, of course). Like any seafood, the quality depends on where you buy. We've eaten these from the guy selling them in 95 degree weather on the beaches of Cesme with no issues. They do pack a punch with lots of flavor and texture (hints of cumin, paprika and pine nuts) in each morsel.
Buzlu badem
Turkey is known as one of the world's largest nut producers, including hazelnuts and almonds. While hazelnuts are a popular add-in to most products in Turkey (desserts, chocolates, cookies, etc), almonds take center stage in this nifty street snack that literally means "almonds with ice." The Aegean coast is home to a plethora of almond trees which is why you can find these snacks on most streets in nearby Aegean cities and towns. Raw almonds are first soaked in water for several hours then chilled over ice so the outer skin peels easily. These snacks go well with meze, beer, or just solo.
kokoreç
And now for one of the most popular street foods in Turkey - grilled sheep intestine - ironically pronounced ko ko retch. Suckling lamb intestines are seasoned with spices and lemon, layered on horozontal doner racks and roasted tenderly for hours. My first introduction to this "snack" was during a stay in Izmir with my husband's family. Around midnight, his dad and some uncles wandered in with grease stainted paper bags of kokoreç sandwiches. My "buyer beware" instincts kicked in and I politely declined the offer, especially considering that the Turkish Health Ministry does not conisder kokoreç a "safe" food. Kokoreç is popular after a night of heavy drinking when your common sense is severly impaired. I'll stick with a sausage and pepper sub, thanks.
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