The magic of Türkiye doesn’t just lie in the waters you sail or the landscape you see – it also hides in the local ingredients we can source and the traditional dishes you can create. From Turkish breakfasts to light and tasty meze and elegant meat and seafood dinners, nothing captures the soul of the country quite like a thoughtfully curated Turkish tasting menu.

At 360 Yachting, we specialise in sourcing the very best local ingredients so you can create unforgettable culinary moments onboard. From farm, forest and field to the fork, our Turkish superyacht provisions team can provide all you need to create a Turkish tasting menu, along with local wine and beverages, traditional entertainment, table decorations – even belly-dancing outfits for the crew, if wished! Need some inspiration? Here’s our guide on how to create the ultimate Turkish tasting menu along with ideas on dishes to serve to the guests this summer.

Over the years, 360 Yachting has helped many chefs and crew host themed Turkish nights and events onboard. Some guests want a big party, which is always a lot of fun. However, some prefer a little more refinement, so a Turkish tasting menu works well, as it’s balanced and not overly abundant.

An authentic Turkish tasting menu is about serving artfully plated, small portions that showcase the very best regional dishes and ingredients. From the light olive oil, seafood, and vegetable dishes stemming from the Aegean to the spicy meat dishes and indulgent desserts from Gaziantep, there are plenty of options you can recreate and serve depending on your guests’ diet preferences.

For Turkish tasting menu inspiration, here’s a suggested 6-9 course breakdown of courses, with a few options for each and popular dishes to serve with their origins:

Amuse-Bouch

Aegean-style Stuffed Courgette Flowers – çiçek dolması – Serve each guest a delicate, herbed rice and pine nut-filled stuffed courgette flower. This attractive, floral dish is a local delicacy in Bodrum. It can be beautifully plated and tastes great, lightly drizzled with local olive oil and sprinkled with lemon zest.
Mini Bulgur-Shell Meatball – İçli Köfte – Originating in Gaziantep and served throughout the country, these crispy bulgur shells are filled with flavourful pine-nut lamb mince and served with tahini yoghurt.
Fava Bean Mousse with Lemon Oil on Toasted Ekmek – Spread a little toasted local artisan bread with smooth Fava bean purée and top with a bit of caramelised onion and a sprig of dill. This dish is popular right along the Aegean coast, particularly in Ayvalik and Foça.

Starter

Stuffed Mussel – Midiye Dolma – This popular street food originated on the backstreets of Istanbul and is now one of the country’s favourite delicacies. Warm mussels stuffed with aromatic herbed rice, a tiny hit of chilli, and generously drenched in fresh lemon.
Balik Kavurma on Toasted Simit – Fish in garlic and tomato served on sesame bread – Inspired by the Black Sea fish markets, this dish features flash-seared monkfish pieces in a garlic, tomato, and olive oil sauce served on local toasted sesame bread.
Poached Egg over Garlic Yoghurt with Paprika Butter – Çılbır – Silky, luxurious, and unexpected, Çılbır is an old Ottoman breakfast dish that can be adapted into a warm starter. Its unusual flavour combination is surprising, especially when using quality free-range eggs and good-quality extra-virgin local olive oil. Garnish with Turkish red pepper flakes and dill.

Cold Meze Selection

Serve fresh Turkish lavas flatbread with a trio of traditional Turkish cold meze on a custom ceramic tray. A few popular Turkish meze you could serve include:

Babagannus – smoked aubergine purée
Zeytinyagli Barbunya – Local Borlotti beans stewed in olive oil and tomato
Atom – Spicy yoghurt and chilli mezze topped with sizzling butter
Haydaro – Thick yoghurt dip with garlic, dried mint, and dill
Acili Ezme – A spicy meze of finely chopped tomato, onion, chilli, parsley, and local pomegranate molasses
Saksuka 0 Fried aubergine and peppers in a garlic and tomato sauce
Purslane with Yoghurt – A refreshing dip of wild purslane chopped into thick garlic yoghurt and drizzled with olive oil.

Hot Meze Interlude

Mini Lentil Kofte with Grilled Halloumi – Mercimek Koftesi ve Halloumi – A perfect blend of earthy, savoury, and sweet – soft, spicy red lentil patties served alongside grilled halloumi brushed in local honey and drizzled with pomegranate molasses.
Courguette Fritters with Fresh Mint and Labneh – Mücver – Aegean-style, pan-fried courgette fritters made with dill, mint, and spring onion and served with soft labneh cheese.
Grilled Calamari with Tarator Sauce – Originating in Bodrum, serve lightly charred tender local calamari with a flavour-packed walnut, garlic, and lemon tarator dip.

Soup Course

Yayla Corbasi – Highland Yoghurt Soup – Originally served in the Anatolian highlands, this light and comforting soup is made with yoghurt, mint, and rice and is a Turkish summer favourite.
Sehrilyeli Domates Corbasi – Tomato and Vermicelli Soup with Minted Butter – This classic family favourite from Istanbul incorporates fresh tomatoes with thin vermicelli noodles and is then topped with sizzling butter and mint.
Ezogelin Corbasi – Spicy “Bride” Lentil Soup – This well-loved Turkish soup is enjoyed throughout Türkiye. It’s a flavourful mix of red lentils, bulgur, rice, tomato, butter, and dried mint. Traditionally served with a drizzle of hot paprika-infused oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Main Course

Sultan’s Lamb over Aubergine Purée – Hünkar Beğendi – This old Ottoman dish was created by the palace chefs for the sultans. It features slow-cooked lamb shoulder, gently spiced and served over a smoky aubergine puree.
Poached Sea Bass – Leverek Buğulama – Light and perfect for a summer night, this dish is a favourite at seafood restaurants in Bodrum and Marmaris. It’s a delicate dish of poached sea bass with tomato, lemon, garlic and bay leaf.
Grilled Aegean Lamb Chops with Local Thyme & Olive Tapenade – A popular dish inland and right along the coast, serve local lamb chops over sun-dried tomato bulgur.

Palate Cleanser

Pomegranate & Rose Sorbet – Inspired by the classic Turkish sherbets, serve a light, floral, and refreshing pomegranate and rose sorbet to cleanse the palate.
Cucumber, Mint and Lime Granite – Cool and cleansing, offer guests this cool Aegean cleanser in a frosted shot glass.
Watermelon and Basil Ice Spoon – Originating in Fethiye, this hydrating and elegant mouthful is as cool as it is delicious.

Dessert

Fig Mousse with Clotted Cream – İncir Uyutması – Dried Aydın figs blended with warm milk and a touch of cinnamon, set into a naturally sweet mousse. Garnish with local walnuts and a dollop of kaymak (Turkish clotted cream).
Rosewater Layered Pastry – Güllaç – This traditional dessert is an Ottoman classic, featuring thin layers of rosewater-soaked pastry, walnuts, and pomegranate.
Mini Baklava with Clotted Cream – No Turkish tasting menu would be complete without offering one perfectly crafted local baklava bite, served warm with kaymak.

Final Touch

Turkish Coffee and Lokum – A traditional Turkish coffee with rosewater flavoured Turkish delight for the ultimate conclusion to the Turkish tasting menu.
Ottoman-Style Turkish Tea & Petit Fours – Hailing back to Istanbul’s old upper-class and guest rituals, if you don’t serve Turkish coffee, you should serve bergamot black tea in little tulip-shaped glasses with a sugared almond or a walnut-stuffed dried apricot.

Set the Scene

An authentic night deserves the right atmosphere, so why not ask us to supply some traditional Turkish table decorations or arrange for a local musician or dancer to visit the yacht?

Olive branches, lemons, traditional Turkish mosaic lamps, tealights, seasonal flowers, and table runners can all be arranged and look fabulous on the centre table. We can forward across a playlist to suit, maybe some ambient Anatolian folk music, classical oud, or instrumental jazz. Alternatively, we can arrange for local musicians to attend the yacht if preferred. We can also organise traditional folk dancers, belly dancers, and other entertainment on request.

Source the Best Turkish Superyacht Provisions

As chefs know, pulling off a tasting menu of this detail is challenging, so sourcing fresh, authentic, and carefully selected ingredients and arranging the supply of the best local PROVISIONS is vital.

At 360 Yachting, our superyacht provisioning service in Türkiye can supply all that’s necessary for any of the dishes mentioned above, as well as any other local or imported ingredients you may require. We can also source authentic Turkish tableware, linen, serving plates and an exceptional array of classic and new-generation Turkish wines and beverages to pair with each course. CONTACT US today to place an order or learn more.