What to Eat in Kalecik: Famous Dishes and Local Products

Famous Dishes of Kalecik

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  Kalecik Karası Şarabı (Kalecik Karası red wine)

  A red wine made from Kalecik Karası grapes, which give Kalecik its name. It is one of Türkiye's most valued local wines. With its light body and fruity character, it has won international awards.

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  Pekmez (grape molasses)

  Grape molasses is one of Kalecik's most traditional products. It is made by boiling fresh grape juice until it thickens, and is eaten at breakfast in the winter months.

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  Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole)

  Ankara tava, lamb cooked with onions and peppers in a casserole, is also an important dish on traditional tables in Kalecik.

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

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  Ankara Tavası (Ankara oven-baked meat and rice)

  An old Ankara dish in which sautéed meat and vegetables are baked in the oven in meat stock with rice or vermicelli; at weddings, hıdrellez and mesire picnics it is eaten with cacık, pickles and hoşaf.

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  Ankara Simidi (Ankara sesame bread ring)

  An indispensable part of the Ankara breakfast.

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  Beypazarı Kurusu (Beypazarı dry biscuit)

  A biscuit baked in stone ovens from flour, milk, butter and yeast, which stays fresh for a year; it received a geographical indication on 14 May 2013.

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  Beypazarı Cevizli Tatlı Sucuk (walnut sweet sausage)

  A sweet with a geographical indication, made by dipping strings of walnut kernels in molasses dough and drying them.

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  Çubuk Turşusu (Çubuk pickles)

  The best-known pickle of Ankara breakfast tables and dinner tables.

What to Buy in Kalecik: Local Products

• Kalecik Çöreği (Kalecik pastry) Kalecik Çöreği was registered as a protected geographical indication on 7 October 2020 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 560). Product group: bakery and pastry products, dough products, desserts. Registered by: Kalecik Municipality.
• Kalecik Ekmeği (Kalecik bread) Kalecik Ekmeği was registered as a protected geographical indication on 6 October 2020 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 559). Product group: bakery and pastry products, dough products, desserts. Registered by: Kalecik Municipality.
• Kalecik Karası Üzümü (Kalecik Karası grapes) Kalecik Karası Üzümü was registered as a protected geographical indication on 6 July 2007 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 89). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruit and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Kalecik Municipality.

What Kalecik Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

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  Viticulture and Winemaking Tradition

  Kalecik has a viticulture tradition going back thousands of years. Kalecik Karası grapes are believed to have been grown in the region since the Hittite period. Festivals held at harvest time keep this tradition alive.

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  Life on the Banks of the Kızılırmak

  The fertile soil provided by the Kızılırmak has created a farming-based way of life in Kalecik. Fishing and farming continue side by side on the riverbank.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kalecik Travel Guide

• 📍 Things to Do in Kalecik 5 places to visit →
• 🗺️ What to Eat in Ankara All the famous dishes of the province →

What to Eat in Other Districts of Ankara

• Akyurt 4 dishes Akyurt Fıtı Çorbası, Akyurt Soğuk Çorbası and Akyurt Toyga Aşı
• Altındağ 3 dishes Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole), İşkembe Çorbası (tripe soup) and Döner Kebap
• Ayaş 3 dishes Ayaş Mantısı (baked Ayaş dumplings), Keşkek (wheat and meat dish) and Bazlama (griddle flatbread)
• Balâ 4 dishes Tarhana Çorbası (fermented grain and yoghurt soup), Tandır Ekmeği (clay-oven bread) and Kuzu Çevirme (whole spit-roasted lamb)
• Beypazarı 6 dishes Beypazarı Cevizli Tatlı Sucuk (walnut sweet sausage), Beypazarı Dolması (stuffed dish) and Beypazarı Havuç Lokumu (carrot delight)
• Çamlıdere 6 dishes Çamlıdere Höşmerim Dessert, Çamlıdere Mantısı and Keşkek
• Çankaya 3 dishes Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole), Çubuk Turşusu (Çubuk pickles) and Ankara Simidi (sesame bread ring)
• Çubuk 4 dishes Çubuk Agat Taşı (Çubuk agate), Çubuk Turşusu (Çubuk pickles) and Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole)
• Elmadağ 2 dishes Ankara Tava and Tandır Kebabı
• Etimesgut 2 dishes Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole) and Pide
• Evren 2 dishes Keşkek (wheat and meat dish) and Tarhana Çorbası (yoghurt, tomato and flour soup)
• Gölbaşı 4 dishes Gölbaşı Sevgi Çiçeği, Lake Fish and Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole)
• Güdül 4 dishes Trout, Keşkek (pounded wheat and meat) and Bazlama (griddle bread)
• Haymana 6 dishes Haymana Pidesi, Keşkek and Tandır Bread
• Kahramankazan 3 dishes Ankara Tava, Keşkek and Sac Kavurma
• Keçiören 3 dishes Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole), İşkembe Çorbası (tripe soup) and Etli Ekmek (meat flatbread)
• Kızılcahamam 3 dishes Kızılcahamam Pidesi, Alabalık (trout) and Keşkek (wheat and lamb porridge)
• Mamak 3 dishes Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole), Etli Ekmek (meat flatbread) and Tarhana Çorbası (yoghurt, tomato and flour soup)
• Nallıhan 4 dishes Nallıhan Pide, Keşkek and Alabalık (Trout)
• Polatlı 5 dishes Polatlı İşkembe Çorbası (Polatlı Tripe Soup), Polatlı Tandır Kebabı and Ankara Tava
• Pursaklar 2 dishes Ankara Tava and Etli Ekmek (Meat Bread)
• Sincan 3 dishes Ankara Tava, Pide and Tarhana Soup
• Şereflikoçhisar 4 dishes Şereflikoçhisar Tahinli Pidesi (tahini flatbread), Tuz Lake Fish and Keşkek (wheat and meat dish)
• Yenimahalle 3 dishes Ankara Tava, AOÇ Ice Cream and AOÇ Beer