The Most Beautiful Traditional Dishes of the Black Sea Cuisine

The Black Sea cuisine is one of Turkey’s most delicious cuisines, known for its rich variety and fresh ingredients. Shaped by the sea, mountains, agriculture, and livestock, this cuisine offers both healthy and tasty dishes. Fresh fish from the rough sea of the Black Sea, fruits and vegetables from its lush nature, herbs and meat varieties from its green highlands make their way to our tables. Here are some of the most well-known and delicious traditional dishes of the Black Sea cuisine:

Akçaabat Meatballs

Akçaabat meatballs are one of the most famous dishes of the Black Sea region. Particularly associated with the Akçaabat district of Trabzon, this meatball is made from minced meat mixed with fine bulgur and spices. The meatballs are served with yogurt and are usually accompanied by rice or salad. The most important feature of Akçaabat meatballs is the aroma imparted by the spices used in the dish.

Karadeniz Pidesi

Karadeniz Pide is a type of pide made with various ingredients placed on thin dough. Particularly common in the provinces of Trabzon and Rize, this pide is typically prepared with minced meat, cheese, and butter. What makes the pide unique is its thin dough, which is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Karadeniz Pide is even more delicious when served hot.

Kuymak (Muhlama)

One of the most well-known breakfast dishes of the Black Sea region, kuymak is made with cornmeal, butter, milk, and cheese. The combination of cornmeal, butter, and cheese creates a dish that, when hot, has a creamy, almost clotted cream-like consistency. Especially popular at breakfast, kuymak is a staple in the mountain villages of the Black Sea, often found on breakfast tables.

Hamsi Tava (Anchovy pan)

Anchovy, the symbol of Black Sea cuisine, is the most valuable and most consumed fish of the region. Anchovy pan is made by flouring anchovies and frying them in oil. Anchovies are usually coated with corn flour and become crispy. Served with onion and rocket, this dish is frequently made especially in winter months when fresh anchovies are abundant. Anchovy is the most popular seafood in this region.

Laz Böreği (Laz Pastry)

Laz Pastry is a dessert belonging to the Laz culture of the Black Sea. Laz pastry, which is very popular especially around Rize and Artvin, is a dessert with sherbet. This dessert, made from the milky mixture poured between the phyllo pastry, offers a tremendous flavour after meeting with sherbet. It is one of the most popular Black Sea desserts with its soft structure and sweetness.

Cornbread 

Cornbread is a traditional dish made in many villages of the Black Sea region. In the Black Sea region, corn bread is eaten especially with kuymak and various herb dishes. Corn flour is added to the dough and baked in the oven. This bread is usually consumed with butter and cheese.

Soup Types

Black Sea cuisine is very rich in soups. Tarator soup is a light soup made from a combination of yoghurt and tahini and is preferred in summer. Black Cabbage Soup is one of the best known and most nutritious soups of the Black Sea region. It is cooked with black cabbage, meat broth and various spices. 

Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage rolls, which are widely made in the Black Sea region, especially in Trabzon, Giresun and Ordu provinces, are prepared by stuffing fresh cabbage leaves with meat and rice and wrapping them. Cabbage rolls decorate the tables especially in winter. It is served with butter and eaten with yoghurt.

Baked Corn

Baked corn is a street delicacy made especially in the summer months on the Black Sea coast. Corn cobs are cooked directly on the fire and served hot. The corn is salted or flavoured with lemon. This flavour is very popular in the coastal villages of the Black Sea, especially near the coast.

Börek and Manti 

Börek and Manti are dishes commonly found in the cuisine of the Black Sea region. Börek is especially famous for the 'Trabzon Böreği,' a popular dish from Trabzon. Trabzon Böreği is made by placing a filling of white cheese and minced meat between layers of thin dough. Additionally, Black Sea-style manti is also very delicious. The dough is rolled out very thin, filled with minced meat, sealed, boiled, and served with yogurt.

Yalancı Karides (Mock Shrimp)

The rich seafood of the Black Sea cuisine includes dishes made with sea creatures like shrimp. Mock Shrimp is a dish made with small fish and local herbs, designed to mimic the flavor of shrimp, even though it does not actually contain any. The herbs used in its preparation add a unique taste to the dish.

Hamsiköy Rice Pudding (Hamsiköy Sütlacı)

Hamsiköy Rice Pudding is one of the most beloved desserts of the Black Sea region. Made from a combination of rice, milk, and sugar, this dessert is baked in the oven before being served. It is also very common to enjoy it with fresh clotted cream..

The Delicious Secrets of Black Sea Cuisine 

The richness of Black Sea cuisine is based on the region's agricultural activities and seafood. Dishes made with fresh fish from the sea, herbs, fruits, and vegetables provided by nature are the core elements of this cuisine. Most of the dishes are prepared with simple and natural ingredients, which makes them both healthy and delicious.