Cappadocia Food: Traditional Dishes to Try
Cappadocia gathers every kind of beauty in one place, impressing us with its nature and its history alike. And among the many things to do here, one deserves a chapter of its own: discovering and tasting the region’s traditional food. Like many corners of Turkey, Cappadocia has magnificent local dishes whose flavors stay with you long after the trip ends. What is traditional Cappadocia food? What should you eat when you visit? We’ve prepared this list so you know exactly which flavors to hunt down — let’s take a look together.
Testi Kebab (Pottery Kebab)
Cooked inside the handmade clay pots of Avanos, testi kebab is the signature dish of Cappadocia. Meat and vegetables are sealed in the pot and slow-cooked over fire. When you order it at a restaurant, the server cracks open the neck of the pot at your table — all that’s left for you is to dip your bread into that glorious stew.
Chickpea Stew (Nohutlu Yahni)
The chickpeas are soaked in water a day in advance, just as tradition demands. The next day, mutton and onions are sautéed in oil, then combined with tomato paste and the chickpeas, and the stew cooks slowly over the embers of a tandoor oven. Simmered low and slow, it comes out exactly as delicious as it sounds.
Stuffed Apricots (Kayısı Dolması)
“Can you really stuff an apricot?” Don’t be skeptical — it is unusual and absolutely delicious. Sweet apricots are filled just like stuffed peppers, producing a slightly tart, slightly sweet dish that takes real effort to prepare. It is unique to the Nevşehir area, so if you are after genuinely different flavors, this is one to seek out.
Düğü Soup
A soup with a wonderful depth of flavor: tomato paste, oil and onion form the base, and a small coffee cup of fine bulgur is added. You would never guess that such a simple trio plus bulgur could taste this good.
Milk Soup (Sütlü Çorba)
One of the most widely eaten dishes in the region, loved by locals and visitors alike. The recipe is simple: bulgur is boiled, milk is poured over it, and the combination produces a surprisingly wonderful flavor.
Stuffed Quince (Ayva Dolması)
The quinces are hollowed out just like peppers for dolma, then filled with a mixture of fine bulgur and minced meat. One of Cappadocia’s traditional tastes, and one that lingers on the palate.
Gendime
Butter, tomato paste and onion are sautéed first, then cracked wheat is added, and dried bones are placed at the bottom of the earthenware pot. Like so many dishes in Cappadocia, gendime is cooked in the tandoor oven.
Dolaz
Another traditional dish of the region, dolaz is made by mixing eggs and milk (you can use water instead of milk if you prefer) and is served with honey drizzled on top.
Ağpakla
A dish of white beans, fat and meat on the bone, cooked for three to four hours: the mixture goes into an earthenware pot, which is then buried in the same tandoor where the bread is baked. Since ağpakla takes four hours to cook, we recommend ordering it in advance.
Nevşehir Tava
Hot green peppers are laid at the bottom of the pan, with cubed meat on top; garlic and chopped tomatoes follow, then tail fat and salt to finish. The pan cooks over a wood fire for about an hour and a half.
Soğanlama
As the name suggests (“soğan” means onion), this dish is built on onions sautéed in oil, followed by tomatoes and green peppers. After water and salt, eggs are cracked on top and left to set gently as the dish finishes cooking.
Sızgıt
One of the region’s best-loved dishes, sızgıt combines mutton, beef and tail or kidney fat. The trick is in the preparation: the fat and the meat are browned separately, and only then combined.
Dıvıl
A kind of croquette made from boiled potatoes and bulgur: the mixture is kneaded, shaped into small patties and fried in oil. Everyone who tries it falls for it.
Ürgüp Meatballs (Ürgüp Köftesi)
A traditional dish in which potato is grated into the minced meat. The mixture is kneaded, dipped in egg and flour, then fried. Don’t leave Cappadocia without tasting these — the flavor stays with you.
Where to Eat in Cappadocia
While enjoying a unique stay at MDC Cave Hotel, you can also eat very well at the MDC Hotel Restaurant. Breakfast is a rich open buffet with around seventy items, and the restaurant serves all the regional dishes alongside fish and special desserts, offering à la carte table service from noon until 22:30. You can browse the restaurant menu online.
Where to Stay in Cappadocia
The one thing you should never leave to chance on your Cappadocia trip is accommodation. We would be delighted to host you at MDC Cave Hotel Cappadocia, where the spacious cave-concept rooms, immaculate housekeeping and attentive staff offer everything you look for in a hotel — and more. You can also join the activities MDC Hotel organizes to make the most of your time in Cappadocia. Book the room that best suits your needs and start planning your stay today.
