The typical Turkish Anatolian breakfast Kahvaltı is usually rich and filling. The direct translation of Kahvaltı, the Turkish word for the English word breakfast, means before coffee. I got to experience a Turkish breakfast during my 3-night stay in Istanbul at Faros Hotel near Taksim Square. Every morning the buffet offered so much variety: starting with different sorts of bread – baguette and the typical simit – as well as some cake, different sorts of cheese and some meat which was probably pastırma, the Turkish ham, followed by cucumber and melons as well as olives, several jam, butter, cream cheese and honey. They also offered hard-boiled eggs and scrambled eggs with ham. I really enjoyed having a traditional breakfast at my Hotel, instead of some kind of intercontinental breakfast that you get to eat all over the world.

Traditional Anatolian Breakfast Kahvaltı

While some Turks prefer their breakfast rather small, with bread, cheese and tea only, some really enjoy having a rich breakfast before starting the Day. A typical Turkish breakfast consists of cheese (beyaz peynir, kaşar etc.), butter, olives, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, jam, honey, and kaymak. Sucuk (spicy Turkish sausage, that can be eaten with eggs), pastırma, börek, simit, poğaça and soups are eaten as a morning meal in Turkey. A common Turkish speciality for breakfast is called menemen, which is prepared with tomatoes, green peppers, onion, olive oil and eggs. Invariably, Turkish tea is served at breakfast, and during the Day.

Have you ever tried the traditional Anatolian Breakfast Kahvaltı or any other traditional breakfast? I’m curious about your experiences, feel free to share them in the comments!!