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Dishes you should try in Samsat: Çiğ Köfte, Lake Fish and Lahmacun. This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Samsat is famous for.

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Famous Dishes of Samsat

  • Çiğ Köfte

    Raw kofte made by hand-kneading fine bulgur and isot pepper, Samsat's favourite local dish. It is served with lettuce and lemon.

  • Lake Fish

    Freshwater fish caught in Atatürk Dam Lake, served grilled or fried in a pan. It is the most popular menu item at lakeside restaurants in Samsat.

  • Lahmacun

    Thin dough topped with a minced meat mixture and baked in a stone oven, lahmacun is prepared in Samsat's bakeries using the traditional recipe.

Dishes from Adıyaman Cuisine

What to eat in Adıyaman →

These dishes are known throughout Adıyaman province; see the provincial food guide for details.

  • Adıyaman Etsiz Çiğ Köfte (meat-free raw köfte)

    Meat-free çiğ köfte, made by kneading fine bulgur, isot (dried hot pepper) and spices for a long time, was registered as a protected geographical indication on 12 July 2018; it is served with lettuce and pomegranate molasses.

  • Hıtap (filled griddle pastry)

    An Adıyaman pastry in which a filling is placed inside thinly rolled dough and cooked on a griddle (sac).

  • Şillik (buttered syrup dessert)

    A local dessert prepared by cooking thinly rolled dough and sweetening it with butter and syrup.

  • Besni Üzümü Pestili (Besni grape fruit leather)

    Pestil (fruit leather) made from the molasses of Besni grapes is one of the region's traditional winter preparations.

What to Buy in Samsat: Local Products

  • İsot Pepper Isot pepper grown in Samsat's sunny climate is dried by traditional sweating and offered in markets as the emblematic product of Adıyaman.
  • Dam Lake Fish Freshwater fish obtained from Atatürk Dam Lake are an important part of Samsat's natural products.
  • Pekmez (grape molasses) Pekmez made from grapes by traditional methods is an essential product of Samsat's winter preparations.

What Samsat Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

  • Samosata Heritage

    Samsat carries the heritage of the ancient city of Samosata. The capital of the Kingdom of Commagene has its place in history as the birthplace of famous thinkers such as Lucian.

  • Memory of Displacement by the Dam

    The submersion of old Samsat under water with the construction of the Atatürk Dam has left deep marks on the collective memory of the district's people. This forced migration is the most important event in the region's modern history.

  • Fishing Culture

    With the formation of Atatürk Dam Lake, a fishing culture has developed in Samsat. Fishing and cooking fish on the lakeshore have become part of the district's daily life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I eat in Samsat?

Samsat is known for 3 local dishes, above all Çiğ Köfte, Lake Fish and Lahmacun. Raw kofte made by hand-kneading fine bulgur and isot pepper, Samsat's favourite local dish. It is served with lettuce and lemon.

What is Samsat famous for?

Samsat is known for Çiğ Köfte, İsot Pepper and Samosata Heritage. Its best-known sights include View of Atatürk Dam Lake and Ruins of the Ancient City of Samosata.

What to buy in Samsat?

Local products and souvenirs to buy in Samsat include İsot Pepper, Dam Lake Fish and Pekmez (grape molasses).

Samsat Travel Guide

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