5 Strangest Turkish Dishes You Have to Try!

Turkey's worldwide reputation as the home of the simple kebab is misleading - because the country is much more than just a nation of meat lovers. Dig into the culture and history of Turkish cuisine, and the kebab myth will turn out to be far from the simple truth. In households around Turkey, families eat salads, soups and vegetable dishes. This stems from generations of farming the land and a belief in a healthy diet. Supermarkets sell fast food and microwave meals, but high prices deter most people from even trying them. Greek, Armenian, Kurdish and Georgian cultures have influenced Turkish cuisine. While professional, trained chefs working in the Ottoman Empire's kitchen always dreamt up new dishes to satisfy the demanding sultans. All these factors influence Turkish cuisine, and sometimes, we see Turkish dishes that look out of place, seem weird, or are a rather unusual combination of ingredients. So, how many of these strange Turkish dishes have you eaten?

1. Koc Yumurtasi (Ram's testicles)

Chefs will season and grill them to perfection. However, sometimes the meat is also boiled. Which way would you like it cooked?

2. Kokorec (Stuffed intestines)

Turks dislike waste and offal dishes are plentiful in Turkey. One version sold everywhere as street food is Kokorec. This combination of offal stuffed into intestines with spices is grilled on a spit. Once ready, the chef chops it into small pieces and serves it in a donor wrap or between two slices of crusty bread with lettuce, salad, and tomato.

3. Tavuk Gogsu (Chicken dessert)

The concept of chicken served in a dessert dish is strange, yet it is a famous recipe from the Ottoman era. Boiled chicken is stripped down to its bare fibres, and any good Turkish will say it is impossible to taste its flavour.

4. Islak burger (The wet burger of Taksim)

The wet burger is famous in the Taksim area of Istanbul after a night out partying. Said to be the perfect food for soaking up alcohol, soggy bread might not appeal to many; yet many people who have tried it, swear by it.

5. Cilbir (Eggs, yoghurt and paprika)