Is Turkish Cuisine Healthy?

Turkey has thousands of different food options to choose from but is Turkish cuisine healthy? To answer this question, we need to take a closer look at what Turkish cuisine is made of. Turkish cuisine uses ingredients ranging from animals such as chicken, cow and lamb to vegetables like spinach, broccoli and grape leaves. With its variety of ingredients to choose from, Turkish cuisine has every type of food you can ever want.

As with every national cuisine, you can find both healthy and unhealthy options in Turkish cuisine as well while we are to look for the answer the question “is Turkish cuisine healthy” we should investigate both sides.

Delicious Turkish Cuisine

If you like meat, Turkish cuisine got you covered with its options. The first food that comes in mind is Turkish kebab. Turkish kebab has different variations depending on culture and the region you are present. For example, one of the most famous is “iskender kebab” which is made from a special kind of meat called “döner” where the meat is seasoned and put on a skewer and rotates slowly in a vertical cooking device. The döner is sliced thinly then put on a clay plate with pita breads under it after the butter is poured and heated in an oven. It is then served with “yogurt” on the side. With its high protein, carbs and fat contents, “iskender döner” can be considered a fast-food type which is delicious but not quite healthy. While liver skewer can be considered one of the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet with its folate, iron, vitamin B, A and copper. So, the question “is Turkish cuisine healthy?” depends on what you want to eat.

Healthy Options

Fruits and vegetables are the essentials of Turkish cuisine. Almost every home cooked meal consists of potatoes, tomatoes, onions and much more. Turkish cuisine has both vegan and vegetarian options as well with its rich cuisine. With its balanced and nutritious meats including olive oil, peas, nuts, vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices Turkish cuisine has countless delicious and healthy meal options. For example, “the artichoke heart” where the artichokes are carefully peeled, leaving only the insides. The artichokes are then cooked to perfection and served with olive oil and lemon juice. So, is Turkish cuisine healthy? Yes it is.