Dishes you should try in Palu: Palu Köftesi (Palu meatballs), Tandır Kebabı (tandoor-baked lamb), Kelecoş (lentil and bulgur soup) and Palu Tava. This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Palu is famous for.
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Famous Dishes of Palu
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Palu Köftesi (Palu meatballs)
A meatball made with fine bulgur and minced meat, cooked in water with a tomato sauce. It resembles Harput köftesi, but its flavour differs through a spice mix specific to Palu; it is the signature dish of the district.
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Tandır Kebabı (tandoor-baked lamb)
Prepared by slow-cooking lamb for hours in an earthen tandoor. Prepared on special days and at festivals in the villages of Palu, tandır kebabı is one of the most beloved delicacies of the region.
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Kelecoş (lentil and bulgur soup)
A traditional soup made with lentils, bulgur and yoghurt, one of the winter dishes of Eastern Anatolian cuisine. It is frequently eaten in Palu on cold winter days.
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Palu Tava
Palu Tava is one of the local main dishes specific to Elazığ.
Dishes from Elazığ Cuisine
What to eat in Elazığ →These dishes are known throughout Elazığ province; see the provincial food guide for details.
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Elazığ Orciği (walnut and grape-must sweet)
A traditional sweet made with walnuts and grape must, with a registered geographical indication.
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Sırın
An Elazığ dish with a registered geographical indication.
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Taş Ekmeği Tatlısı (stone-bread dessert)
A dessert with a registered geographical indication.
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Elazığ Çedene Kahvesi (menengiç coffee)
Coffee made from menengiç (terebinth), with a registered geographical indication.
What to Buy in Palu: Local Products
- Palu Tava Palu Tava was registered as a protected geographical indication on 21 January 2026 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1814). Product group: dishes and soups. Registered by: Palu Village Services Union.
- Apricots Apricots grown in keeping with Palu's climate are eaten fresh and dried. High-quality apricot production takes place on the fertile soils of the Murat River valley.
- Walnuts Walnuts grown in the district are eaten both fresh and dried. Cevizli sucuk (walnut sausage) and walnut desserts are traditional products of the region.
What Palu Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions
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Civilisations of the Murat River
Palu has been a place of settlement in the Murat River valley for thousands of years. Bearing traces of the Urartian, Seljuk, Artuqid and Ottoman periods, the district reflects the historical depth of Eastern Anatolia.
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Traditional Life
A traditional Eastern Anatolian way of life continues in the villages of Palu. Life based on livestock farming, agriculture and handicrafts is supported by social solidarity and neighbourly relations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat in Palu?
Palu is known for 4 local dishes, above all Palu Köftesi (Palu meatballs), Tandır Kebabı (tandoor-baked lamb), Kelecoş (lentil and bulgur soup) and Palu Tava. A meatball made with fine bulgur and minced meat, cooked in water with a tomato sauce. It resembles Harput köftesi, but its flavour differs through a spice mix specific to Palu; it is the signature dish of the district.
What is Palu famous for?
Palu is known for Palu Köftesi (Palu meatballs), Palu Tava and Civilisations of the Murat River. Its best-known sights include Palu Castle and Murat River Valley.
What to buy in Palu?
Local products and souvenirs to buy in Palu include Palu Tava, Apricots and Walnuts.
Palu Travel Guide
What to Eat in Other Districts of Elazığ
- Elazığ Central District 3 dishes Harput Köftesi (bulgur and mince meatballs), Elazığ Oruk (stuffed bulgur dough parcels) and Tandır Kebabı (clay-oven lamb)
- Ağın 8 dishes Keban Balığı (Keban fish), Tandır Kebabı and Bulgur Pilavı
- Alacakaya 3 dishes Tandır Kebabı (clay-oven lamb), Bulgur Pilavı and Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup)
- Arıcak 3 dishes Tandır Kebabı (clay-oven lamb), Kelecoş (lentil, bulgur and yoghurt soup) and Bal ve Kaymak (honey and clotted cream)
- Baskil 4 dishes Harput Köftesi (bulgur and mince meatballs), Tandır Kebabı (clay-oven lamb) and Kayısı Tatlısı (syrup-soaked dried apricots)
- Karakoçan 3 dishes Karakoçan Köftesi (meatballs with fine bulgur and minced meat), Tandır Kebabı (lamb baked in a clay oven) and Karakoçan Balı (Karakoçan honey)
- Keban 5 dishes Keban Balığı (Keban lake fish), Harput Köftesi (bulgur and mince meatballs) and Tandır Ekmeği (clay-oven bread)
- Kovancılar 3 dishes Harput Köftesi (bulgur and minced meat dumplings), Üzüm Pekmezi (grape molasses) and Tandır Kebabı
- Maden 3 dishes Tandır Kebabı (clay-oven lamb), Harput Köftesi (bulgur and mince meatballs) and Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup)
- Sivrice 3 dishes Hazar Gölü Balığı (Lake Hazar fish), Harput Köftesi (bulgur and mince meatballs) and Tandır Ekmeği (clay-oven bread)