Dishes you should try in Varto: Varto Köftesi, Kelecoş and Tandır Ekmeği. This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Varto is famous for.
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Famous Dishes of Varto
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Varto Köftesi
Köfte made by kneading fine bulgur and minced meat and then boiling it. It is served with a yoghurt and butter sauce. It is Varto's best-known local dish.
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Kelecoş
A traditional soup made by cooking wheat, chickpeas and red lentils together. It is a nourishing winter dish.
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Tandır Ekmeği
Thick bread baked in a clay tandır oven. It is the staple of Varto tables and is eaten with fresh cheese and butter.
Dishes from Muş Cuisine
What to eat in Muş →These dishes are known throughout Muş province; see the provincial food guide for details.
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Muş Köftesi (Muş meatballs)
Köfte with a registered geographical indication.
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Muş Çorti Aşı (çorti herb soup)
A dish with a registered geographical indication, made with çorti, a herb similar to kale.
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Lobik (bean dish)
A local dish made with beans.
What to Buy in Varto: Local Products
- Varto Honey Flower honey gathered from the highland pastures at the foot of Mount Bingöl, made from the nectar of endemic plants that grow at high altitude.
- Varto Cheese Herb cheese made from sheep's milk and matured in a tulum (goatskin bag). The aroma from local herbs gives the cheese a distinctive flavour.
What Varto Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions
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Alevi Culture
Varto is one of Türkiye's important Alevi settlements. Cemevis, the semah tradition and Alevi-Bektashi culture are an important part of the district's social fabric.
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Memory of the 1966 Varto Earthquake
The earthquake of magnitude 6.7 on 19 August 1966 largely destroyed Varto. The district centre was rebuilt after the earthquake, and awareness of the disaster is an important part of the community's memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat in Varto?
Varto is known for 3 local dishes, above all Varto Köftesi, Kelecoş and Tandır Ekmeği. Köfte made by kneading fine bulgur and minced meat and then boiling it. It is served with a yoghurt and butter sauce. It is Varto's best-known local dish.
What is Varto famous for?
Varto is known for Varto Köftesi, Varto Honey and Alevi Culture. Its best-known sights include Foothills of Mount Bingöl and Varto Thermal Springs.
What to buy in Varto?
Local products and souvenirs to buy in Varto include Varto Honey and Varto Cheese.
Varto Travel Guide
What to Eat in Other Districts of Muş
- Muş Central District 3 dishes Muş Köftesi (Kitel), Muş Tandır Ekmeği and Ayran Aşı (Soup)
- Bulanık 3 dishes Bulanık Köftesi, Heriso (Keşkek) and Lor Peynirli Gözleme
- Hasköy 3 dishes Hasköy İçli Köftesi, Ayran Aşı and Peynirli Gözleme
- Korkut 3 dishes Korkut Köftesi (bulgur and meatballs), Tandır Çorbası (lamb, chickpea and wheat soup) and Lor Peynirli Börek
- Malazgirt 3 dishes Malazgirt Köftesi (Malazgirt meatballs), Kavut (roasted wheat dessert) and Tandır Ekmeği (clay oven bread)