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Dishes you should try in Aşkale: Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb), Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup) and Kadayıf Dolması (walnut-filled kadayıf). This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Aşkale is famous for.

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Famous Dishes of Aşkale

  • Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb)

    Lamb is turned on a horizontal spit over a wood fire. It is served in the traditional way in Aşkale's restaurants.

  • Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup)

    A traditional soup made with yoghurt, bulgur and mint. It is a nourishing dish that never goes missing from tables on cold winter days in Aşkale.

  • Kadayıf Dolması (walnut-filled kadayıf)

    A traditional dessert of fine kadayıf dough wrapped around walnuts, baked and soaked in syrup. In Aşkale it is an essential part of festival meals.

Dishes from Erzurum Cuisine

What to eat in Erzurum →

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

  • Oltu Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb)

    A kebab with a registered geographical indication, cooked on a horizontal skewer over a wood fire and served on the cağ skewer.

  • Erzurum Kadayıf Dolması (walnut-filled kadayıf)

    Shredded kadayıf filled with walnuts and soaked in syrup; it has a registered geographical indication.

  • Erzurum Su Böreği (boiled-pastry börek)

    A registered börek made with layers of boiled yufka and cheese.

  • Ayran Aşı Çorbası (yoghurt and wheat soup)

    A registered soup made with yoghurt, wheat and herbs.

  • Erzurum Hurma Tatlısı (syrupy dough dessert)

    A syrupy dough dessert with a registered geographical indication.

  • Hasıta

    A registered traditional dessert made with flour, butter and sugar.

What to Buy in Aşkale: Local Products

  • Aşkale Honey Flower honey gathered on the district's high plateaus. Thanks to the rich flora, it is an aromatic and natural variety of honey.
  • Civil Cheese (Civil Peyniri) Made from fresh milk and separated into fine strands, civil cheese is produced in Aşkale using traditional methods.

What Aşkale Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

  • Historic Trade Route Junction

    Aşkale lies at a strategic point on the Erzurum–Erzincan highway. For centuries it was an important stopping place on the Silk Road, and the district has been a centre of trade and cultural exchange.

  • Highland Migration Tradition

    For centuries, people of Aşkale have moved to the high plateaus in the summer months to farm livestock. This seasonal migration has shaped the social life and food culture of the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I eat in Aşkale?

Aşkale is known for 3 local dishes, above all Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb), Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup) and Kadayıf Dolması (walnut-filled kadayıf). Lamb is turned on a horizontal spit over a wood fire. It is served in the traditional way in Aşkale's restaurants.

What is Aşkale famous for?

Aşkale is known for Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb), Aşkale Honey and Historic Trade Route Junction. Its best-known sights include Karasu Valley and Aşkale Castle.

What to buy in Aşkale?

Local products and souvenirs to buy in Aşkale include Aşkale Honey and Civil Cheese (Civil Peyniri).

Aşkale Travel Guide

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