What to Eat in Karkamış: Famous Dishes and Local Products

Famous Dishes of Karkamış

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  Barak Kebabı (Barak-style lamb kebab)

  The traditional kebab of Karkamış's Barak Turkmen population, made by preparing lamb with special spices and cooking it over charcoal.

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  Lahmacun

  Thin dough spread with a mixture of minced meat and vegetables and baked in a stone oven. Lahmacun is one of the staple everyday dishes of Karkamış.

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  Künefelik Peynirli Tatlılar (künefe-cheese desserts)

  Fresh künefelik cheese produced in the region is used to make desserts such as künefe and kadayıf. Künefe, served hot, is the district's favourite dessert.

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

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  Antep Baklavası (Antep baklava)

  Made with green pistachios and clarified butter, the first Turkish product to receive EU registration, in 2013.

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  Antep Katmeri (Antep katmer)

  A registered dessert made with pistachios and clotted cream, eaten in the morning.

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  Antep Beyranı (lamb, rice and garlic soup)

  A spicy soup made with lamb, rice and garlic, drunk at breakfast.

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  Antep Lahmacunu (Antep lahmacun)

  A lahmacun with minced meat on thin dough, registered as a geographical indication.

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  Antep Yuvarlaması (chickpea-sized meatballs in yoghurt)

  A registered festive dish of yoghurt with chickpea-sized meatballs.

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  Gaziantep Alinazik (kebab on smoked aubergine yoghurt)

  Kebab on a bed of yoghurt with smoked aubergine; registered as a geographical indication.

What to Buy in Karkamış: Local Products

• Antep Fıstığı (Antep pistachio) Antep pistachios, grown in the gardens around Karkamış, are the district's most valuable agricultural product.
• Pamuk ve Tahıl (cotton and cereals) Cotton and wheat grown on the fertile plains along the Euphrates form the basis of the district's agriculture.

What Karkamış Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

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  Barak Turkmen Culture

  Karkamış is a district where the Barak Turkmen tribe lives in large numbers. Barak folk songs, traditional wedding customs and oral heritage define the district's folk identity.

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  Hittite Civilisation Heritage

  After the collapse of the Hittite Empire, Karkamış Ancient City became the most important centre of the Neo-Hittite kingdoms. Archaeological work carried out since 2011 by a joint Italian–Turkish excavation team continues to uncover new finds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Karkamış Travel Guide

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

What to Eat in Other Districts of Gaziantep

• Araban 6 dishes Araban Kebabı (Araban kebab), Lahmacun and Katmer
• İslahiye 4 dishes İslahiye Kebabı, Analı Kızlı Çorbası (chickpea soup with meatballs and dough) and Keme (earth mushroom)
• Nizip 7 dishes Nizip Zeytinyağı (Nizip olive oil), Nizip Fıstık Kebabı (pistachio kebab) and Beyran Çorbası (lamb, rice and garlic soup)
• Nurdağı 3 dishes Nurdağı Tandır Kebabı (lamb slow-cooked in a clay tandır oven), Yörük Mantısı (Yörük dumplings) and Tarhana Çorbası (dried yoghurt and wheat soup)
• Oğuzeli 3 dishes Barak Kebabı, Lahmacun and Yuvalama (chickpea and yoghurt dish)
• Şahinbey 4 dishes Gaziantep Baklavası, Küşleme (Kuzu Tandır) (whole lamb cooked in a clay oven) and Lahmacun
• Şehitkamil 4 dishes Beyran Çorbası (lamb, rice and garlic soup), Ali Nazik Kebabı (lamb with aubergine and yoghurt) and Katmer (pistachio and cream pastry)
• Yavuzeli 3 dishes Yavuzeli Kebabı (marinated lamb kebab), Beyran Çorbası (lamb, rice and garlic soup) and Fırat Balığı (Euphrates fish)