Try the Famous Milk Desserts of Turkish Cuisine at Mama Fatma

Get acquainted with Turkish milk desserts at Mama Fatma! Enjoy classics like kazandibi, trilece, sütlaç, and güllaç, each offering unique tastes and creamy textures. Come and taste the authentic essence of Turkish cuisine with us!

The Importance and General Characteristics of Milk Desserts in Turkish Cuisine

Dessert holds a significant place in Turkish culture, serving as an essential component of meals and assuming a key role in celebrations and noteworthy events. In Turkey, the conclusion of a meal with family or friends typically involves a dessert, highlighting the host’s hospitality or the affection of the housewife towards her family, as sweets and desserts hold significant importance in Turkish cuisine. Dairy-based desserts are widely enjoyed due to their nutritional and sensory qualities. Traditional Turkish dairy desserts such as Mustafakemalpasa, Gullac, Kazandibi, Sutlac, Hosmerim, and Tavukgogsu are primarily crafted from milk or fresh cheese.

Milk desserts in Turkish cuisine are characterized by their rich and creamy textures. They are often made with the use of dairy products like milk, yoghurt, or fresh cheese. These desserts offer a balance between sweetness and the tanginess of dairy. This helps creating a unique taste profile. Common ingredients such as sugar, starch, and nuts or dried fruits are used to add sweetness to these desserts. Traditional Turkish milk desserts are often spiced with ingredients like rose water, saffron, or mastic. Served cold or at room temperature, these desserts are enjoyed as a refreshing conclusion to meals.

The Most Consumed Beverages Next to Milk Desserts in Turkish Cuisine

Turkish beverages have garnered global popularity over many centuries and they extend far beyond Turkey’s borders. Whether to refresh during scorching summer days, to be consumed next to milk desserts or to keep warm and healthy in winter, these drinks are cherished primarily for mainly their refreshing taste.

One of the beverages that is consumed next to milk desserts in Turkish cuisine is tea. Turkey leads the world in tea consumption, with each person drinking about 3.2 kilograms per year. Turkish tea, served in tulip-shaped glasses, is a favourite all day, especially during breakfast. Tea is often enjoyed alongside milky desserts in Turkish cuisine because it offers a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the dessert.

The other one is Turkish coffee. Turkish coffee is often enjoyed alongside milky desserts because it contrasts well with its creamy sweetness. The strong flavour of the coffee complements the desserts, and its caffeine can balance out their richness, making for a satisfying combination. This tradition enhances the overall dining experience. Similarly, gazoz is also a beverage that is enjoyed alongside milky desserts because of its refreshing and fizzy nature.

Let’s Get to Know the Milky Turkish Desserts at Mama Fatma

At Mama Fatma, you’ll find a wonderful selection of classic Turkish milky desserts, each with its own special taste and feel. Mama Fatma will introduce you to the wealthy and tasty Turkish desserts. The classic Turkish milky desserts, (such as sutlac, kazandibi, gullac and trilece) all of which have their own specific and special texture and taste, will take you to the heart of the Turkish cuisine.

A Dessert Frequently Cooked in Every Cuisine in Turkey: Sutlac (Rice Pudding)

Sutlac, a classic Turkish dessert, consists of rice cooked in sweetened milk and served chilled in individual clay pots. It is also known as Turkish rice pudding. There are two sutlac recipe variations: “oven sutlac,” where the pudding is briefly broiled to create a caramelized layer on top, and the plain version, which skips this step and is often topped with cinnamon. Both versions of this milky dessert offer delightful tastes. Also, they are commonly enjoyed as a refreshing treat in Turkish cuisine.

The Reflection of Tres Leches in Turkish Cuisine: Trilece

Trilece, or tres leches cake, is a beloved dessert in Turkish cuisine. Trilece is the local interpretation of the renowned tres leches cake. This decadent treat consists of a sponge cake soaked in a syrup infused with three types of milk, resulting in a moist and creamy texture. Topped with fluffy whipped cream and a thin layer of buttery caramel, Trilece offers a delightful balance of sweetness and richness. While tres leches cake has its origins in Mexico, Trilece has found its place as a cherished dessert in Turkish households and is often served on special occasions or enjoyed as a comforting treat.

A Special Dessert: Kazandibi

Kazandibi, often referred to as “chicken breast pudding,” is a unique dessert in Turkish cuisine that originates from the caramelization of the pudding as it sticks to the sides and bottom of the cooking pan. This overcooked layer is then scraped off in wide strips and folded into portions, with the darkened side facing up to create a roll-like shape. The resulting dessert boasts a hearty, earthy flavour from the caramelized outer layer, which beautifully contrasts with the sweet and creamy interior. Similar to other milk-based desserts in Turkish cuisine, such as chicken breast pudding, kazandibi holds a special place in the hearts of both adults and children. While it can be found in most Turkish restaurants and buffets, the best versions often come from renowned chain restaurants that specialise in milk desserts.

Milk, Rose Water and Pomegranate: Indispensable for Ramadan, Gullac

Gullac dessert’s origins can be traced back to the 15th century, when Turks prepared dough from corn starch, dried it during the summer, and then combined it with milk and sugar for consumption in winter. This dish was later embraced by the sultan and further perfected in palace kitchens, ultimately evolving into the dessert recognized today. Gullac, meaning “rosy dish,” likely got its name from the use of rose water in palace kitchens. It is a natural dessert made from corn-starch pastry, milk, and sugar, often garnished with pomegranate seeds and nuts, particularly pistachios. Traditionally, rose water is poured on top of this milky dessert. Gullac is favoured during Ramadan and at ceremonial events like princes’ circumcision ceremonies in the past.