TR RU

Dishes you should try in Çat: Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb), Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup) and Kesme Çorbası (hand-cut pasta soup). This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Çat is famous for.

Share with friends

Last updated:

Famous Dishes of Çat

  • Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb)

    Cağ kebabı is prepared by roasting lamb on a horizontal spit over a wood fire. In Çat, it has a special flavour from the sheep raised on the district's plateaus.

  • Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup)

    Traditional soup made with yoghurt, cracked wheat and mint, a nourishing dish that never goes missing from tables during Çat's cold winter days.

  • Kesme Çorbası (hand-cut pasta soup)

    Soup made by cooking thin-cut pieces of dough in meat broth, one of the winter classics of Çat cuisine.

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 Çat: Local Products

  • Çat Honey Flower honey gathered on the district's high plateaus. The rich flora gives it an aromatic and natural character.
  • Civil Peyniri (civil cheese) Civil cheese made from fresh milk and separated into fine strands, produced in Çat by traditional methods.

What Çat Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

  • Settlement History of the Aras Basin

    Because Çat lies in the Aras River basin, it has been settled since ancient times. Remains from the Urartian, Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk periods are found in the area.

  • Plateau Migration Tradition

    For centuries the people of Çat have migrated to the high plateaus in summer to raise livestock. This seasonal migration tradition has shaped the social life and food culture of the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I eat in Çat?

Çat is known for 3 local dishes, above all Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb), Ayran Aşı (yoghurt and wheat soup) and Kesme Çorbası (hand-cut pasta soup). Cağ kebabı is prepared by roasting lamb on a horizontal spit over a wood fire. In Çat, it has a special flavour from the sheep raised on the district's plateaus.

What is Çat famous for?

Çat is known for Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb), Çat Honey and Settlement History of the Aras Basin. Its best-known sights include Çat Dam and Lake and Çat Castle.

What to buy in Çat?

Local products and souvenirs to buy in Çat include Çat Honey and Civil Peyniri (civil cheese).

Çat Travel Guide

What to Eat in Other Districts of Erzurum

Search 81 province guides and 968 district guides.