What to Eat in Kızılcahamam: Famous Dishes and Local Products

Famous Dishes of Kızılcahamam

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  Kızılcahamam Pidesi

  A pide specific to Kızılcahamam, known for its thin dough and generous fillings. The minced-meat and kaşar-cheese varieties of pide baked in a stone oven are the most preferred.

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  Alabalık (trout)

  Trout raised in the district's cold-water springs, served grilled or fried in a pan. It is the flavour most preferred by spa visitors.

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  Keşkek (wheat and lamb porridge)

  Cracked wheat and meat cooked for a long time and pounded is the traditional dish at weddings and festivals. Keşkek, an essential at wedding tables, is prepared in a communal spirit.

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 Kızılcahamam: Local Products

• Kızılcahamam Bazlaması (Kızılcahamam flatbread) Kızılcahamam Bazlaması was registered as a protected geographical indication on 14 December 2018 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 400). Product group: bakery and pastry products, dough products, desserts. Registered by: Kızılcahamam Municipality.
• Çam Balı (pine honey) Produced in Kızılcahamam's extensive pine forests, pine honey is one of the highest-quality honeys in Türkiye, known for its dark colour and distinctive aroma.
• Orman Mantarı (forest mushrooms) Various mushroom species gathered in the forests in autumn are sold fresh at local markets and used in regional dishes.
• Thermal Water Mineral water obtained from Kızılcahamam's thermal springs, bottled and sold.

What Kızılcahamam Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

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  Spa and Thermal Tourism Tradition

  The spa tradition, which has continued since the Roman period, forms the basis of Kızılcahamam's identity. The district has attracted visitors for centuries as Ankara's most important thermal tourism centre.

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  Forest Village Culture

  Kızılcahamam is one of Ankara's most wooded districts. Forestry, beekeeping and the gathering of natural products form the basis of its traditional way of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kızılcahamam Travel Guide

• 📍 Things to Do in Kızılcahamam 4 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
• Kalecik 3 dishes Kalecik Karası Şarabı (Kalecik Karası red wine), Pekmez (grape molasses) and Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole)
• Keçiören 3 dishes Ankara Tava (lamb and pepper casserole), İşkembe Çorbası (tripe soup) and Etli Ekmek (meat flatbread)
• 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