Main dishes are never served on their own in Turkey. You will always find them alongside a ton of side dishes both at restaurants and at homes. We have made a list of best Turkish side dishes below.
These sides can be simple or more filling. Depending on the meal, and they complement the main dish they complement the main dish and make the whole meal even more inviting.
Whether you're serving grilled meat, kebabs, or a simple everyday dinner, there is always something on the side.
From salads and meze to breads and pilaf, these dishes are easy to prepare and perfect for sharing.
Fresh Turkish Salads
Fresh salads are a regular part of everyday meals in Turkey. No matter what’s on the table, there is almost always a simple salad served on the side.
Some are the kind you see all the time and go with almost anything, while others are made when you want to change things up a little.
Turkish Shepherd Salad (Çoban Salata)
Shepherd Salad is one of the most common salads in Turkey, made with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. It’s fresh, simple, and goes well with almost any main dish, especially grilled meat.
It’s fresh, simple, and especially popular in summer when tomatoes and cucumbers are at their best.
Turkish Lettuce Salad (Mevsim Salata)
Mevsim Salata is a simple and refreshing salad made with lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. It is light, easy to put together, and often served alongside everyday meals in Turkey. It is more commonly preferred in colder months when these vegetables are at their best.
Turkish Red Cabbage Salad
Turkish Red Cabbage Salad is a simple and tangy salad made with finely sliced red cabbage, often dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. It has a bright flavor and a slightly crunchy texture. This salad is commonly served alongside everyday meals in Turkey, and also popular in kebab restaurants.
Sumac Onion Salad
Sumac Onion Salad is a simple side made with thinly sliced onions tossed with sumac and parsley. It has a tangy, slightly sharp flavor and is commonly served alongside kebabs and other grilled dishes.
Piyaz
Piyaz is a hearty and flavorful salad made with white beans, onions, and a tangy dressing. It is more filling than most salads and is often served alongside everyday meals in Turkey. It is especially known as a classic side for Turkish meatballs and is almost always served at meatball restaurants.
Turkish Beetroot Salad (Pancar Salatasi)
Turkish Beetroot Salad is a simple salad made with cooked beets, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds, dressed with a tangy dressing flavored with pul biber. It has a slightly sweet and earthy flavor and is usually served as a side when you want something a bit more special on the table.
Looking for more ideas? See all our Turkish salad recipes.
Turkish Pilaf Side Dishes
Pilaf is a staple side dish in Turkish cuisine. Made with rice or bulgur, it’s filling and pairs well with almost any main dish.
Bulgur Pilaf with Tomatoes
Bulgur Pilaf with Tomatoes is a simple and flavorful side made with coarse bulgur, tomatoes, and peppers. It is one of the pilaf dishes you see most often on Turkish dinner tables.
Want to learn more about bulgur? See our guide on how to cook bulgur or explore more bulgur recipes.
Orzo Rice Pilaf
Orzo Rice Pilaf is a classic Turkish side made with rice and orzo pasta. It’s the everyday version of rice pilaf in Turkey and the one most commonly served with home-cooked meals.
İç pilav
İç Pilav is a fragrant rice dish made with rice, pine nuts, currants, and warm spices. Unlike everyday pilafs, it’s usually prepared for special meals or served as a stuffing, giving it a richer and more festive feel.
Turkish Rice Pilaf (Plain)
Turkish Rice Pilaf is a simple side made with rice, butter, and oil. It’s the most basic version of rice pilaf in Turkey and is usually made when you want something plain and light next to a meal. While orzo rice pilaf is more common, this version is also sometimes served in restaurants or made at home when you don’t have orzo on hand.
Turkish Meze & Appetizers
These are small dishes served alongside the main meal or sometimes before it. They are not something you see on the table every day at home, but are often prepared when you want to make the meal feel more special or when you have guests over. In restaurants, however, you will usually find one or more meze served with the meal.
Ezme
Ezme is a finely chopped tomato-based meze made with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and chili. It has a spicy flavor and is usually served alongside grilled meat dishes, and is almost always brought to the table at kebab restaurants when you order a main dish.
Cacik
Cacık is a refreshing yogurt-based meze made with cucumbers, garlic, and herbs. It has a light, cooling flavor and is one of the side dishes we make most often at home. We serve it with almost everything, no matter what we cook.
Çiğ Köfte
Çiğ Köfte is a traditional Turkish meze made with fine bulgur, spices, and herbs. It has a spicy flavor and is often served as an appetizer at kebab restaurants before the main dish.
Turkish Eggplant Salad
Turkish Eggplant Salad is made with roasted eggplants combined with fresh tomatoes and parsley, all mixed with a garlicky dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, and vinegar. It has a light, smoky flavor and goes really well with kebabs and other main dishes.
Turkish Baba Ganoush Without Tahini
Turkish Baba Ganoush (without tahini) is a regional eggplant meze from the south of Turkey, made with roasted eggplants, roasted peppers, and sometimes tomatoes, mixed with parsley, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. It has a smoky, fresh flavor and is often served as part of a meze spread alongside grilled dishes.
Looking for more ideas? See all our Turkish meze recipes.
Turkish Breads
Bread is an essential part of Turkish meals and is almost always on the table. In fact, many people would say they don’t feel full without it. It’s often used to scoop up food and even to wipe the plate clean at the end of a meal, which is usually a sign that the dish was really enjoyed.
Pide Bread
Pide is a soft and slightly chewy flatbread that is often served warm alongside meals. It’s perfect for dipping into meze or enjoying with grilled dishes, and the long lines you often see outside bakeries are a good sign of just how much people love it.
Lavash Bread
Lavash is a thin and flexible flatbread that is commonly used to wrap kebabs or served on the side. It’s light and works well with almost any dish.
Bazlama
Bazlama is a thick and soft flatbread with a slightly chewy texture. It is often served warm. It is especially popular at breakfast and goes well with butter, cheese, and olives. It also pairs well with soups.
Want to learn more breads? See all our Turkish bread recipes.
Not sure what to cook for dinner? Take a look at our Turkish main dishes or browse our best Turkish kebabs for more ideas.
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Aysegul Sanford says
This, here, is the best list for kebab side dishes. I literally want to try every single one of these recipes.
Well done, friends.
Zerrin & Yusuf says
Thanks lovely! Glad you liked them!