Turkish Delight! My Sweet Adventures in Istanbul

I just returned from the awesome city of Istanbul, Turkey, where I sampled many unique and delicious treats. First off, if you’ve never been to Turkey or have even considered visiting, you must. Istanbul, in particular, is an incredible, ancient city on the water and has the loveliest people.

Above I’m displaying a Turkish Crepe that this lady made for me by rolling out a ball of dough and heating on the black surface to her right. I had Strawberries and Honey in my crepe while my friend had one with Chocolate syrup. It was a very warm, thin, and light dessert that allowed us to eat more goodies throughout the day! I have a video of this experience coming soon, so stay tuned!

Wow-wee! Look at his beautiful array of Turkish Delight below!

For those of you unfamiliar, Turkish Delight is a nutty, gelatinous treat that is dusted in powdered sugar, or coconut bits, and comes in distinctly exotic flavors like rose water, pistachio, and bitter orange. While the consistency of Turkish Delight may vary, the best pieces have the same resistance as a generic gummy bear (versus a Haribo bear, which is a bit tougher).

Above, I am holding another distinctly Turkish dessert called Asure, or “Noah’s Pudding.” This wheat pudding is about as tasty as it sounds (not really at all). With ingredients that include wheat kernels and chick peas, the story has it that when Noah and his animals were running out of food on the arc, they combined their remaining ingredients to created this dish.

But look at those amazing hunks of Torrone in the window!  These very sweet and nut-packed nougat bars are also a staple in Italy (and one of my Dad’s favorite treats).

Finally, a glimpse into the bustling Spice Market of Istanbul above. Overall, I loved the Turkish Delight, but in general, I was not floored by the food in Turkey. I think I ate more puff pastry type carbs and Chicken in one week there than I have in one year here. But food aside, this incredible country is still a must-visit!

XOXO