19 Vegan Turkish Recipes: Authentic Flavours with a Veggie Twist

The origins of Stewed Green Beans, also known as "Taze Fasulye," can be traced back to Ottoman cuisine, where it was a staple in the royal kitchens. Over time, it gained popularity among the general population and is now commonly enjoyed in Turkish households and restaurants.

To prepare stewed green beans, slowly cook fresh green beans with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and a blend of spices. This slow-cooking process melts the flavours together, resulting in a delicious and hearty side dish.

Get ready to explore the world of Vegan Turkish Pizza, also known as lahmacun, thanks to Ania from Lazy Cat Kitchen. This dish, often called Turkish pizza, is a super thin flatbread topped with a flavourful minced meat filling. It's typically served with fresh salad and a squeeze of lemon, and you roll it up to enjoy it like a wrap-style sandwich.

Ania has created a delicious vegan twist on this concept that has been well-received in her house and is sure to become your favourite, too!

Turkish delights, also known as lokum, are an iconic sweet treat from Turkey. They’re typically made with cornstarch (cornflour), sugar, and various flavours like rosewater, lemon, or pistachio.

Some adapted versions use gelatine instead of starch, which wouldn’t make it vegan-friendly.

Nico from yumsome has perfected this Turkish delight recipe for you to try and enjoy at home any day of the year.

This classic Turkish Bulgur Pilaf recipe from Unicorns in the Kitchen is a staple on Turkish dinner tables. Made from a few essential ingredients, it’s simple yet comforting. It’s often served as a side dish with main courses like doner plates at Turkish restaurants. With a dollop of vegan yogurt, it becomes a truly comforting meal.

Bulgur, a nutty grain, is the star ingredient. It’s prepared by parboiling whole wheat, drying it under the sun, and grinding it to various sizes, with fine bulgur for salads and coarse bulgur for pilaf. It’s not the same as cracked wheat, offering a unique texture and taste.

This recipe, shared by Gönül from Aegean Delight, is an authentic family treasure cherished for generations.

Gözleme is like Turkey's answer to quesadillas, and its mouthwatering taste and simplicity make it a favourite across the country. You can easily whip up the dough with just flour, water, and a pinch of salt. As for fillings, the endless options allow you to get creative with ingredients like spinach feta, plant-based mince, or spicy potato.

Whether you're an experienced cook or a kitchen newbie, gözleme is the perfect way to experience the authentic flavours of Turkish cuisine.

Baklava is a traditional pastry originating from Turkish cuisine. It has been enjoyed for centuries and is famous for its delicate layers of phyllo dough filled with a mixture of nuts, spices, and sweet syrup.

Unlike many baklava recipes that are overly sweet, this one allows the flavours to shine. The amount of sugar used is reduced, creating a perfect balance for a delightful treat that won't overpower your taste buds.

This recipe by Romy in London offers mouthwatering vegan doner kebab meat that can be enjoyed on its own, paired with vegan cheese, or stuffed with your favourite kebab toppings.

Romy's secret lies in the blend of vital wheat gluten, herbs, and seasonings, which infuse the kebab meat with a flavour reminiscent of traditional non-vegan kebabs. This recipe has received rave reviews, with one reader describing it as "absolutely gorgeous" and a favourite meal.

Introducing the zesty Turkish Sumac Onions, a fantastic recipe from Samantha at Little Ferraro Kitchen.

The magic of this dish happens when you combine tangy sumac with savoury onions, creating an incredible contrast of flavours and textures. And the best part? It's straightforward to make!

To prepare, thinly slice some red onions, add fresh chopped parsley, a squeeze of zesty lemon juice, a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and the tangy sumac. Toss everything together and let the sumac onions marinate while you prepare the rest of your meal.

These wraps offer a vegan twist on traditional Turkish wraps, replacing the meat with tofu. Inside these wraps, you'll find a fresh salad combo of red onions, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, parsley, and mint, all drizzled with a tasty tahini dressing. These wraps are perfect for a relaxed lunch or dinner, and they may quickly become your new favourite way to enjoy tofu.

Discover the delightful taste and texture of Simit, also known as the Turkish bagel, with this fantastic recipe developed by Zerrin and Yusuf at Give Recipe. Simit is a beloved street food in Turkey for good reason. It offers a contrast - crunchy and nutty on the outside, yet soft and slightly chewy on the inside.

This velvety Turkish red lentil soup is pure comfort in a bowl. Made with red lentils, vegetables, and aromatic spices like Aleppo pepper and cumin, it's naturally creamy without any added cream or dairy. The secret is in the red lentils themselves - they break down during cooking to create that silky texture we all crave.

What makes this soup distinctly Turkish is the finishing touch: a fragrant oil infused with garlic and Aleppo pepper, which is drizzled on top, adding richness and a beautiful red hue. Ready in just 30 minutes, this hearty soup works perfectly as either a starter or main dish.

Learn the art of making Turkish coffee with Gönül from Aegean Delight. In this comprehensive guide, she shares the rich history and traditional taste of this ancient brew.

This step-by-step tutorial teaches you how to brew Turkish coffee without any bitterness and offers exciting variations like iced and spiced options. Immerse yourself in Turkish coffee, where every sip is a taste of history.

This refreshing Turkish white bean salad is a beloved staple that balances creamy, tangy, and savory flavors in every bite. Made with white beans, ripe tomatoes, and red onions, it's dressed in a zesty vinaigrette of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and garlic.

Traditionally served as a side dish alongside Turkish meatballs or stuffed eggplant, Piyaz works equally well as a light main course with crusty bread or as part of a mezze spread. Ready in just 10 minutes, and naturally vegan and gluten-free, this protein-packed salad delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Meet Turkey's most beloved eggplant dish with a name that literally means "the imam fainted". Legend says a religious leader was so overwhelmed by its incredible taste (or the amount of olive oil used!) that he swooned on the spot. One bite and you'll understand why.

This stunning dish features tender roasted eggplants stuffed with a fragrant mixture of onions, tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs, all swimming in generous amounts of golden olive oil. It's part of Turkey's treasured "zeytin yağlı" tradition – dishes cooked with olive oil and served at room temperature, making them perfect for hot summer days.

Prepare to enjoy the delightful flavours of our Turkish Pea Stew, also known as "Bezelye." This wholesome and hearty dish is packed with vegetables and simmered in a rich tomato sauce. It's a satisfying meal that can be enjoyed independently or paired with tasty side dishes.

Traditionally, this stew is made with meat, but we've given it a tasty twist by replacing it with TVP (textured vegetable protein). The result is a protein-packed meal that is delicious and wholesome.

These Vegan Orange Cookies, also known as Portakallı kurabiye, are a delightful treat developed by Marc from Bake To The Roots. Inspired by similar cookies he encountered at a Turkish bakery, Marc put his own twist on the classic recipe. These cookies have a delicious fruity-orange flavour and a unique, slightly larger size, almost like tiny buns.

Zerrin and Yusuf at Give Recipe share this Ezme recipe, a delicious Turkish dip made from fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers, and parsley.

The name "Ezme" comes from the Turkish word for "crushed" or "mashed," which accurately describes its preparation method.

You prepare it by crushing or mixing the ingredients, producing a flavour-packed side dish.

These tiny Turkish dumplings are like edible parcels of joy – and yes, they're totally worth the labor of love required to make them! Known as Turkey's "ravioli," manti are delicate pasta squares stuffed with a savory filling and served with two incredible sauces that make every bite pure magic.

This vegan version swaps traditional meat for a flavorful soy filling seasoned with cumin, paprika, and tomato paste (the secret ingredient that gives the filling its perfect sticky texture for easy wrapping). The real beauty lies in the serving: warm dumplings topped with cool, garlicky vegan yogurt sauce and drizzled with paprika-spiced melted butter.

Turkey's ultimate street food with a twist – these "raw meatballs" are completely vegan! Made with ultra-fine bulgur wheat and an incredible blend of Mediterranean spices like sumac, cumin, tomato paste, and pomegranate molasses, they pack serious flavor without any meat.

The magic happens through technique: you'll knead the mixture for up to 40 minutes until the bulgur transforms from crunchy to paste-like perfection. Shape them into little balls with finger indentations (like tiny fist bumps!) for the authentic Turkish look.

Serve wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves with fresh lemon juice for the full street food experience. They're naturally vegan, fiber-packed, and perfect for parties.