10 Best Turkish Cookbooks From Modern to Anatolia Turk Cuisine

Turkish cookbooks provide an excellent introduction to one of the world’s oldest cuisines. 

Turkey’s unique food traditions come to life in the stories and recipes found in the best Turkish cookbooks.

While traveling through Turkey, exploring authentic and local Turkish food, we were struck by the diverse regional specialties.

From chefs and food experts, we share our best Turkish cookbooks that celebrate Turkey’s gastronomic heritage. 

You’ll find traditional recipes, modern adaptations of beloved recipes from mezze, kebabs, baklava, and a lot more.

Stunning photography, simple instructions, helpful tips and substitutions make it easy to bring Turkish flavors to your kitchen.

Get to know the depths of Turkish cooking with any of these 10 best Turkish cookbooks.

Our Top Picks For The Best Turkish Cooking Books

1. Istanbul And Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey

2. The Turkish Cookbook – Musa Dagdeviren

3. Vegetarian Turkish Cuisine: Easy-To-Make Mezze Dishes

Top 10 Of The Turkish Cookbooks

1. The Turkish Cookbook – Musa Dagdeviren

Considered the definitive cookbook of Turkish cuisine, chef Musa Dağdeviren is best known for his efforts to preserve Turkish recipes.He was featured on the Netflix series Chef’s Table in 2018.

The Turkish Cookbook has over 550 recipes, including regional specialties from Anatolia, the Mediterranean and from various cultures like Armenia, Arabic, Kurdish, and many more.

Musa traveled to more than 40 villages around Turkey, documenting regional recipes. Once he returned to Istanbul, he opened Çiya Sofrasi restaurant featuring some dishes from his travels.

While in Istanbul, on a food tour, we had the opportunity to eat at Çiya restaurant and try dishes from various Turkish regions. We loved the flavors and unique Turkish foods.

The cookbook is divided into 14 recipe sections. And the author has gone a step ahead to mark recipes as vegetarian, gluten-free, one-pot, quick, dairy-free, or with five ingredients or fewer. 

This helpful index, beautiful images, and clear instructions make it easy for home cooks to replicate the recipes.

From a leading authority on Turkey’s regional cuisine, this is one of the best Turkish cookbooks to get.

+ Who is It For? Home cooks who want to explore Turkish food and culture in one single comprehensive Turkish cookbook.

– Not For? Not for those looking for modern or contemporary Turkish cooking techniques.

2. Binnur’s Turkish Cookbook 

This cookbook is a collection of simple and nutritious Turkish recipes written by a Turkish housewife who moved to Canada in 1995.

Binnur’s Turkish Cookbook features more than 110 recipes, from popular dishes like kebabs, Baklava, and Turkish bread to less familiar dishes.

You’ll also find an appetizing array of salad, dips, and mezze platter recipes with grains, olive oil and yogurt.

All recipes feature easily accessible ingredients for North American home cooks allowing you to create amazing Turkish flavors in your kitchen.

For Binnur, the focus is less on using exact and authentic ingredients and more on recreating Anatolian flavors with easy methods and internationally available foods. 

The aim of this Turkish recipe book with short recipes and basic food photography is to make Turkish cooking fun and easy. 

+ Who is It For? For home cooks looking for a simple resource on adaptable and quick Turkish recipes.

– Not For?   The home cook who wants a comprehensive cookbook with traditional or elevated Turkish.

READ MORE: Istanbul Street Food Guide: 20 Tastiest Street Foods To Eat in Turkey

3. The Sultan’s Kitchen 

Chef Ozcan Ozan grew up in Izmir, on the Aegean coast of Turkey, and years later, moved to Boston as an executive chef.

The Sultan’s Kitchen Cookbook has a strong emphasis on Mediterranean cooking, which is the regional style found in Izmir.

You’ll find garlic, olive oil, cheese, dishes with eggplant, flatbread, grape leaves, lamb, and more.

There are more than 125 recipes representing some of the best Turkish dishes.

One of our favorite sections is the chapter dedicated to authentic and elaborate Turkish dinners and lunches using four distinct seasonal menus. 

Other sections of this Turkish cookbook include detailed notes about spices, meat, Turkish culinary heritage, and his personal stories about the dishes.

Recipe chapters are divided into sauces, mezze, bread, grilled meats, seafood, pilaf, salads, and desserts and drinks. 

For about 40 years, Chef Ozcan ran the Sultan’s Kitchen Restaurant in Boston. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed in 2018.

However, with The Sultan’s Kitchen, you can still enjoy flavorful Turkish cuisine with easy-to-follow directions and appetizing photography.

+ Who is It For? Lovers of Mediterranean cooking looking for a simple cookbook with Turkish Mediterranean flavors. 

– Not For? Home cooks who want fast-cooking Turkish recipes as some ingredients and traditional ingredients may be difficult to access. 

RELATED: 10 of The Best Mediterranean Meal Kits Delivery for A Healthy Diet

4. Istanbul And Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey 

Considered an authority on Turkey’s diverse cuisine, Istanbul & Beyond is a lauded cookbook that celebrates Turkish cuisine and culture.

The authors, Robyn and David Eckhardt, know Turkish cuisine intimately. They travelled for more than 20 years to different neighborhoods and villages across the country.

Istanbul & Beyond is gastronomic adventure that begins in the capital, and takes you throughout the country to cuisines and recipes divided by regions.

You’ll find fish dishes from the Black Sea, little-known recipes from Hakkari and Van near the Syrian border. 

Recipes from the culinary regions of Urfa and Hatay are also featured, including those with Asian culinary heritage from Anatolia.

The recipes range from classic dishes such as meze, kebabs, and baklava to little known regional dishes like black sea hamsi pilavı, Gaziantep’s spicy meatballs, and the seafood dishes of the Aegean.

Along with the delicious recipes, you’ll enjoy insights into the cultural and historical context of each region’s cuisine. 

Beautiful photography along with stories and anecdotes from the author’s travels make using this cookbook a delicious treat.

As one of the best Turkish cookbooks in English, home cooks of all levels will be inspired to explore the diverse and delicious world of Turkish cooking.

+ Who is It For? Those seeking an authoritative book on Turkish cooking filled with culinary cultural history.

– Not For? Cooks looking for detailed recipes from Istanbul exclusively 

READ MORE: 10 of The Best Cookbook Holders To Equip Your Kitchen

5. Turkish Delights 

British food writer John Gregory-Smith shares the story of Turkey, his father’s homeland, in this stunning cookbook.

Turkish Delights Cookbook is a tempting introduction to the vibrant, modern, and traditional  flavors of Turkey. 

Covering over 100 regional dishes, John Gregory-Smith shares his passion and deep knowledge of Turkish culinary history, its ingredients, and flavor combinations. 

John keeps the healthy and tasty recipes modern and uncomplicated to encourage home cooks of all levels to cook these dishes. 

From Bursa’s Iskender Kebab filled with tender lamb to Central Anatolia’s Llgin Beef Kofta with its parsley, pepper and beef, you’ll find stunning regional recipes.

In addition to recipes, guides on diverse culinary traditions, cooking techniques, regional varieties, and ingredients provide an enriching experience. 

For home cooks, John Gregory Smith provides substitutes for unknown vegetables, spice blends, and traditional cheeses with each recipe.

The creative dishes with exciting flavors are organized section-wise as breakfast, meze, pide and kofta, kebabs, salads, meat, seafood, vegetables, and desserts and drinks. 

Mouthwatering food imagery twists to certain recipes and personal notes make this an engaging and inspiring read. 

+ Who is It For?  Someone who enjoys modern versions of traditional and regional recipes.

– Not For?  Those seeking traditional recipes using traditional Turkish ingredients. 

6. Özlem’s Turkish Table: Recipes from my Homeland

Named Best in the World at the 2020 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Heritage for Turkey, this is one of the best Turkish cookbooks to get.

Özlem’s Turkish Table is one of the best Turkish cookbooks for showcasing the diversity of the cuisine from her hometown Antakya and other Turkish regions.

In her cookbook, Özlem showcases authentic recipes from Southern Turkey, as well as those with Levantine influences, passed down over generations.

In addition to the vibrant bold and aromatic dishes and recipes, she also adds personal stories throughout.

Before the launch of the cookbook, Özlem’s Turkish Table began as a popular Turkish recipe blog with the same name.

Her goal has always been to share Turkish cuisine and the authentic recipes anyone can recreate around the world.

Find dedicated chapters about unique ingredients, common spices, and condiments used in Turkish cooking.

Mouthwatering recipes for pide and flatbreads, kebabs, homemade dips, pilafs and stews, almond cookies, and others are showcased.

Stunning food photographs accompany her favorite foods, treasured recipes, and stories of how these delicious meals shaped her childhood.

Within the pages of this well-organized cookbook that includes breakfast, pastries, meat & seafood, grains, vegetables, desserts, soups, and meze are simple, accessible recipes.

+ Who is It For? Those looking for authentic Turkish recipes with a focus on southern Turkish cuisine.

– Not For? Unfortunately, the cookbook is only available on Kindle. Not for those seeking a physical Turkish cookbook.

 7. The Turkish Cookbook: Exploring the Food of a Timeless Cuisine

From author and chef Ghillie Basan, The Turkish Cookbook: Exploring the Food of a Timeless Cuisine offers fascinating insights into Turkey’s culinary culture.

Ghillie Basan has spent years exploring the food of Turkey and has compiled this delicious cookbook with over 150 recipes from her travels.

The range of dishes starts with meze or appetizers, to main courses and desserts, along with practical advice to prepare and serve them. 

Whether you want to enjoy roasted and stewed lamb, fiery kebabs, or anchovy pilaf, you will find your perfect recipe.

Each recipe comes to life with beautiful photography and detailed instructions to easily make them at home.

More than cookbook, you’ll take a culinary journey across the country with an emphasis on the diverse food customs in the different regions.

Stunning photography of Turkey’s landscapes and markets draw you in, as well as tips about the local ingredients and how they accentuate a recipe’s flavors. 

Those interested in Turkish cuisine or who love exploring new flavors and cultures through food, this is one cookbook you’ll reference repeatedly.

+ Who is It For? Home cooks looking for incredible Turkish recipes that don’t require hard-to-source ingredients and a visually rich cookbook.

– Not For? Not for the home cook who is not already familiar with Turkish cuisine. Some recipes require ingredients or recipes that are unfamiliar.

8. Vegetarian Turkish Cuisine: Easy-To-Make Mezze Dishes 

Chef Murat Ersoy, founder of the Istanbul Gastronomy Workshop, has put together one of the best Turkish cookbooks on mezze dishes with a vegetarian touch.   

With Vegetarian Turkish Cuisine, you can create quick, simple, and meatless appetizers that score high on taste and flavor.

Fresh vegetables combined with nuts, fruits, cheese, and olive oil and seasoned with native herbs and spices create the delectable dishes in this cookbook. 

You also find information about Turkish cuisine and the culture behind the dishes.

The mezze dishes are structured on the basis of vegetables and other ingredients. You have sections on beans and lentils, eggplant, zucchini, cheese, bulgur, leek and spinach, and more. 

All recipes are accompanied by beautiful photographs and clear instructions, making them easy to follow even for those who are new to Turkish cuisine.

For those looking to explore vegetarian mezze dishes, Vegetarian Turkish cuisine is a great option.

+ Who is It For? Lovers of Turkish cuisine looking for meat-free recipes.

– Not For?  Home cooks looking for a Turkish cookbook with comprehensive recipes and authentic dishes.

9. Ultimate Turkish Cookbook 

This cookbook on delicious Turkish recipes is one in a series of cookbooks on Balkan cuisine.

Ultimate Turkish Cookbook covers 111 recipes that are authentic and yet adapted to contemporary palates.

The author has gathered secret family recipes and culinary delights that Turkish moms have passed from the time of the Ottoman empire.

While you find detailed instructions to prepare Kofte, Dolmasi, and Baklava within the pages, the author introduces lesser-known recipes. 

Many of these reflect the multicultural influences on food in the Anatolian regions. 

Divided by meal types, you’ll find sections for breakfast, main dishes, appetizers, salads, soups, and Turkish desserts. 

The recipes are straightforward and easy even for home cooks new to Turkish cooking.

Unfortunately, there are only a few food images sprinkled throughout the cookbook.

+ Who is It For? For home cooks seeking simple recipes about Turkish and Ottoman cuisine. 

– Not For? Cooks who want an authoritative book on authetic Turkish cooking written by an acclaimed chef or food expert.

10. Anatolia: Adventures in Turkish Eating  

According to the author, Somer Srivioglu, “a dish tastes better when it comes with a good story.” 

Turkish-born chef and Australian restaurateur collaborates with food scholar David Dale to tell the stories of Turkish cuisine in their cookbook Anatolia: Adventures in Turkish Eating.

Recipes from across the Turkish landscape are covered starting from Ottoman cuisine to the unique snacks of Istanbul’s street stalls.

The more than 140 recipes are reimagined versions of everyday dishes from a 4000-year-old cuisine.

Representing a day of eating in Anatolia, the cookbook starts with breakfast recipes. Regional soups, stews, and kebabs recipes make for a wide selection of lunch recipes.

And you have Turkish pastries, Turkish tea, and coffee for the afternoon.

Recipes for a variety of mezze sharing plates, Turkish wine and modern Turkish cooking for dinner round out the cookbook’s main sections.

In addition to the recipes, specially commissioned photography brings the different regions, dishes, and people behind the food to life.

This book on modern Turkish cooking is part cookbook, part travelogue, and part culture guidebook.

If love Turkish cuisine, Anatolia offers stunning regional recipes updated for easy home cooked meals.

+ Who is It For? Lovers of Turkish cuisine looking to explore ancient and modern Turkish recipes.

– Not For? This cookbook has a modern spin on some classic Turkish food. Not for someone looking for traditional recipes and ingredients.

Do you love Turkish food? Which one of these Turkish cookbooks do you think is best? Please let us know in the comments below!

Savor the Adventure!

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