Dishes you should try in Mardin: Mardin Kaburga Dolması (lamb ribs stuffed with rice), Mardin Sembusek (minced-meat pastry), Mardin Kibe (stuffed bulgur dumpling) and Mardin İkbebet (bulgur kofte). This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Mardin is famous for.

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Famous Dishes of Mardin

  • Mardin Kaburga Dolması (lamb ribs stuffed with rice)

    Lamb ribs stuffed with spiced rice; it has a registered geographical indication.

  • Mardin Sembusek (minced-meat pastry)

    A local börek with thin dough and a minced-meat filling, with a registered geographical indication.

  • Mardin Kibe (stuffed bulgur dumpling)

    A type of stuffed dish with a registered geographical indication.

  • Mardin İkbebet (bulgur kofte)

    A bulgur kofte; it has a registered geographical indication.

  • Mardin Alluciye (plum stew)

    A stew made with plums, with a registered geographical indication.

  • Mardin Kiliçesi

    A bread roll with a registered geographical indication.

Local Specialities from the Districts of Mardin

What to eat in Artuklu

  • Kaburga Dolması (stuffed lamb ribs)

    Lamb ribs are filled with a mixture of rice, almonds and spices, then baked in an oven. It is the best-known dish of Mardin.

  • İçli Köfte (stuffed bulgur balls)

    A fine bulgur dough is filled with a mixture of minced meat, onion and spices, then either boiled or fried.

  • Sembusek (Mardin pastry)

    A traditional Mardin pastry: thin dough filled with minced meat or cheese, folded into a triangle and fried.

What to eat in Dargeçit

  • İçli Köfte (stuffed bulgur balls)

    A fine bulgur dough is filled with a mixture of minced meat and spices, then boiled.

  • Kaburga Dolması (stuffed lamb ribs)

    Lamb ribs are filled with a mixture of rice and spices, then baked in an oven.

What to eat in Derik

  • Derik Halhalı Olive Oil

    Derik Halhalı Olive Oil was registered as a designation of origin on 31 October 2022 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1249). Product group: solid and liquid oils including butter. Registered by: Kızıltepe Commodity Exchange.

  • İçli Köfte

    A thin bulgur dough is wrapped around a filling of minced meat and spices, then boiled. Prepared by local people on special occasions, this dish is a symbol of hospitality.

  • Kaburga Dolması

    The filling of rice and spices is stuffed into a lamb rib and baked in the oven. Prepared by local people on special occasions, this dish is a symbol of hospitality.

  • Derik Olives and Olive Oil

    Olives in Derik district, whose production is estimated to date back a thousand years.

What to eat in Kızıltepe

  • İçli Köfte (stuffed bulgur dumplings)

    Fine bulgur dough wrapped around a filling of minced meat and spices, then boiled. Prepared with fresh, natural ingredients, the dish is a healthy option.

  • Kaburga Dolması (stuffed lamb ribs)

    Lamb ribs are stuffed with a filling of rice and spices, then baked in the oven. Prepared with fresh, natural ingredients, the dish is a healthy option.

  • Hamis, sembusek, ırok, teşt and şanbörek

    Listed on the Kızıltepe Municipality website among the main dishes specific to the district.

  • Kızıltepe ovası durum buğdayı (Geographically Registered)

    Durum wheat grown on the Kızıltepe plain, a geographically registered type of wheat.

What to eat in Mazıdağı

  • İçli Köfte (bulgur balls stuffed with spiced mince)

    Thin bulgur dough is wrapped around a filling of minced meat and spices, then boiled. The recipe, passed down through generations, varies slightly in every household.

  • Kaburga Dolması (stuffed lamb ribs)

    Lamb ribs are stuffed with a filling of rice and spices, then baked in the oven. The recipe, passed down through generations, varies slightly in every household.

What to eat in Midyat

  • İçli Köfte (bulgur balls stuffed with spiced mince)

    Thin bulgur dough is wrapped around a filling of minced meat and spices, then boiled. It can be tasted in its most authentic form at local markets and home-style restaurants.

  • Sembusek (triangular pastry)

    A traditional pastry made by folding thin dough around minced meat or cheese into a triangle shape and frying it.

  • Midyat İnciri (Midyat figs)

    Registered as a geographical indication, Midyat fig is recorded as a mountain fig of Midyat.

What to eat in Nusaybin

  • İçli Köfte (stuffed bulgur dumplings)

    Fine bulgur dough wrapped around a filling of minced meat and spices, then boiled. Made with seasonal ingredients, the dish offers a different flavour in every season.

  • Kaburga Dolması (stuffed lamb ribs)

    Lamb ribs stuffed with rice and spices, then baked in the oven. It can be tasted in its most authentic form at local markets and home restaurants.

  • Buğday, arpa, mercimek ve pamuk (wheat, barley, lentils and cotton)

    Counted among the most widely produced agricultural products in the district.

What to eat in Ömerli

  • İçli Köfte (bulgur balls stuffed with spiced mince)

    Thin bulgur dough is wrapped around a filling of minced meat and spices, then boiled. An important part of the district's gastronomic identity, this dish is a favourite with visitors.

  • Kaburga Dolması (stuffed lamb ribs)

    Lamb ribs are stuffed with a filling of rice and spices, then baked in the oven. Because it is prepared with seasonal ingredients, the dish offers a different flavour in each season.

What to eat in Savur

  • İçli Köfte (bulgur balls stuffed with spiced mince)

    Thin bulgur dough is wrapped around a filling of minced meat and spices, then boiled. Prepared by local people on special occasions, this dish is a symbol of hospitality.

  • Sembusek (triangular pastry)

    A traditional pastry made by folding thin dough around minced meat or cheese into a triangle shape and frying it. Prepared by local people on special occasions, this dish is a symbol of hospitality.

What to eat in Yeşilli

  • İçli Köfte (bulgur balls stuffed with spiced mince)

    Thin bulgur dough is wrapped around a filling of minced meat and spices, then boiled. Prepared with fresh, natural ingredients, the dish is a healthy choice.

  • Sembusek (triangular pastry)

    A traditional pastry made by folding thin dough around minced meat or cheese into a triangle shape and frying it. Prepared with fresh, natural ingredients, the dish is a healthy choice.

What to Buy in Mardin: Local Products

  • Midyat Telkârisi (Midyat silver filigree) Silver wire craftsmanship; it has a registered geographical indication.
  • Mardin Taşı (Mardin stone) The limestone used in the city's houses, with a registered geographical indication.
  • Kızıltepe Kırmızı Mercimeği (Kızıltepe red lentils) Lentils with a registered geographical indication.
  • Derik Halhalı Zeytinyağı (Derik Halhalı olive oil) Olive oil with a registered geographical indication.
  • Midyat İnciri (Midyat figs) Figs with a registered geographical indication.
  • Mardin Bulguru (Mardin bulgur) Bulgur with a registered geographical indication.

What Mardin Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

  • Syriac heritage

    The monasteries, churches and Syriac liturgy of Tur Abdin.

  • Multilingual city

    A cultural landscape in which Arabic, Kurdish, Syriac and Turkish are spoken together.

  • Telkâri craftsmanship

    Silverwork passed down from generation to generation in Midyat and Mardin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I eat in Mardin?

Mardin is known for 6 local dishes, above all Mardin Kaburga Dolması (lamb ribs stuffed with rice), Mardin Sembusek (minced-meat pastry), Mardin Kibe (stuffed bulgur dumpling) and Mardin İkbebet (bulgur kofte). Lamb ribs stuffed with spiced rice; it has a registered geographical indication.

What is Mardin famous for?

Mardin is known for Mardin Kaburga Dolması (lamb ribs stuffed with rice), Midyat Telkârisi (Midyat silver filigree) and Syriac heritage. Its best-known sights include Mardin Stone Houses and Kasımiye Madrasa.

What to buy in Mardin?

Local products and souvenirs to buy in Mardin include Midyat Telkârisi (Midyat silver filigree), Mardin Taşı (Mardin stone), Kızıltepe Kırmızı Mercimeği (Kızıltepe red lentils) and Derik Halhalı Zeytinyağı (Derik Halhalı olive oil).

Mardin Travel Guide

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