Top Mardin Dishes You Must Try: Discover the Flavors of Mesopotamia

Attracting more and more attention in terms of gastronomy tourism, Mardin fascinates its visitors with its unique cuisine. Mardin's cuisine offers a feast where different spices are used together, fruits and meat meet in harmony, local herbs are used in abundance, and pastries are not missing. In this city where every table turns into a feast, every bite you eat is an experience. If you want to have an unforgettable taste experience, Mardin should definitely be on your itinerary. You can be sure that when you return from Mardin, you will be dreaming about what you didn't get to taste!

So, what to eat in Mardin? What are the famous dishes of Mardin? Let's explore together the unique cuisine of Mardin!

1. Lebeniye Soup Görseli — The lebeniye soup, which belongs to the Southeastern Anatolia region and is one of the indispensable dishes of Mardin cuisine, delights the palate with every bite. Made with rice, chickpeas and tiny meatballs, this delicious soup is topped with mint fried in butter. We can say that you should not leave Mardin without tasting lebeniye soup, which is both light and filling.

2. Flour Soup Görseli — One of the most economical yet delicious soups of Mardin cuisine, flour soup draws attention with its practicality. Flour is roasted in butter until it smells fragrant, then water is added and cooked. It is then served with red pepper flakes and mint oil drizzled over it. It may seem simple at first, but I can guarantee that once you taste it, you will want to drink it every night.

3. Kiliçe

Kiliçe is a delectable bun with an irresistible savoury flavour, born from the marvellous combination of mahaleb, cinnamon and ginger. It is also popularly known as the “bun of life” because during traditional weddings in Mardin, the bride and groom divide the bun in half and share it. This sharing is a symbol of living life together. As you wander through the historic streets of Mardin, we recommend that you buy a kiliçe from a bakery and pleasantly continue on your way.

4. Sembusek

Sembusek is a delicious stuffed flatbread that is thin like a lahmacun, in the style of a calzone. The filling is made with minced meat and onions blended with special spices and baked in the oven until crispy. If you want to have a delicious afternoon break on your trip to Mardin, sembusek with a glass of ayran is a great alternative. Be sure to give it a try!

5. Ikbebet

One of the familiar yet unique flavors of Mardin cuisine, ikbebet, or stuffed meatballs, can be boiled or fried. A great snack, a delicious starter and an irresistible flavor, ikbebet, once tasted, makes you want to eat one before every meal. I'm telling you, you must try ikbebet!

6. Irok

One of Mardin's signature stuffed meatballs, irok, is prepared in a round form and fried in oil, unlike the usual stuffed meatballs. Irok goes perfectly with tea, and I think it is best accompanied with strained yoghurt. It is really enjoyable to eat crispy irok dipped in strained yoghurt.

Source: Milli Gazete

7. Firkiye

One of the flavours of Mardin cuisine that combines meat and fruit is firkiye. Firkiye, which is made with the perfect harmony of Çağla, lamb and shallots, is one of the most frequently cooked dishes in Mardin. We recommend that you taste this flavour, which you can easily find in restaurants serving local dishes, before you leave Mardin.

Source: Milli Gazete

8. Mardin Dizme

For those who love the perfect harmony of eggplant and meat, Mardin-style dizme is a feast of flavour. This dish is cooked by adding tomato paste sauce on the eggplant and meatballs lined up in rows, and has a taste like Turkish delight. Those who think eggplant and meat are inseparable should definitely taste Mardin's dizme.

9. Stuffed Ribs

One of the most famous dishes of Mardin cuisine, stuffed ribs, is a taste that will leave a long-lasting impression on your palate. Stuffed with a delicious rice pilaf with lots of almonds, pistachios, currants and lamb liver, the ribs offer a truly unique flavour. A little suggestion: Tasting the stuffed ribs with homemade ayran will make the experience perfect.

10. Onion Kebab

Onion Kebab is one of the most different and delicious dishes of Mardin cuisine. The meatballs, which are prepared in a size that fits inside the onions, are placed inside the onions, which are peeled and cut in half. Pomegranate syrup and olive oil sauce are poured over them and served. Even those who don't like onions will love this kebab, and it is a taste to be experienced. A flavour you must try before returning from Mardin!