MAIN INGREDIENTS
Döner kebab is a delicacy that is known throughout the world, consisting of grilled pieces of meat that are shredded from a vertical skewer. The meat is typically seasoned with fresh herbs and spices. Originally, the meat used in döner was exclusively lamb, but today in Istanbul, there are kebabs prepared with a combination of lamb and beef, or sometimes only with beef.
Meat that is grilled vertically on a skewer isn't a new thing, as it has been mentioned in the 18th-century Ottoman travel books. The sandwich form döner kebab, which means rotating kebab, appeared in the early 1970s in Berlin.
VARIATIONS OF Döner kebab
MOST ICONIC Döner kebab
View moreHünkar beğendi is a traditional dish consisting of a flavorful lamb stew that is served on top of a creamy roasted eggplant purée. The purée is often thickened with milk and cheese, while the whole dish is sometimes topped with a tomato-based sauce or garnished with freshly chopped parsley.
It is believed that the dish is native to Istanbul and was first prepared for the wife of Napoleon III in the late 19th century.
MOST ICONIC Hünkar beğendi
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A specialty of the city of Bursa, İskender kebap is named after a butcher called İskender Efendi, who first prepared this flavorful dish. It consists of thinly sliced lamb that is grilled and combined with a spicy tomato sauce and pita bread, while melted sheep butter and yogurt are traditionally drizzled over the dish at the table.
It is recommended to pair this kebap with şıra, a Turkish beverage that is known to aid digestion.
MOST ICONIC İskender kebap
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Beyti is a traditional kebab variety originating from Istanbul. It consists of ground lamb or beef that's seasoned with spices, grilled on a skewer, then served wrapped in lavash, cut into pieces, and topped with tomato sauce and yogurt. The ground meat is typically mixed with onions, eggs, garlic, cumin, coriander, salt, breadcrumbs, paprika, and black pepper.
Lavash or phyllo pastry is brushed with butter, then wrapped around the grilled kebabs into a roll. The rolls are cut diagonally, then topped with a sauce consisting of tomatoes and butter, while the yogurt is usually served in the center of the rolls or on the side.
MOST ICONIC Beyti kebab
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 4 Marmaran Lamb and Mutton Dishes” list until February 14, 2025, 1,996 ratings were recorded, of which 1,252 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.