‘Turkish Cuisine Week’ kicks off in Islamabad

‘Turkish Cuisine Week’ has commenced in the federal capital featuring an impressive assortment of over 650 unique recipes that highlight the distinctive culinary heritage of Hatay province.

The Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan Dr Mehmet Paçaci inaugurated the event. While addressing the audience, he said, “Shaped by more than a thousand years of cultures and traditions, social heritage, and stories, Turkish cuisine presents its distinctive and diverse flavours to the world during ‘Turkish Cuisine Week’ from May 21-27.

“In its second year, the cuisine introduces Türkiye’s rich gastronomic culture to a broad audience at home and abroad through the representations of the Republic of Türkiye,” he added. Talking about the similarity of foods between Türkiye and Pakistan, he said, “The food in some regions of Türkiye is similar to Pakistani food, especially the food of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and northern regions.”

Featuring more than 650 dishes, Hatay’s gastronomy is a Mediterranean cuisine characterised by fresh vegetables, quality olive oil, and legumes and cereals. Hatay’s menu, showcased in this year’s international events, includes flatbread with red pepper paste, olive salad, hummus, kisir (fine bulgur salad), oven-baked kebap, and rose syrup.

During ‘Turkish Cuisine Week’, numerous dishes reflecting timeless and sustainable Turkish cuisine will be prepared with local ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. Events held across Türkiye’s 81 provinces will showcase all aspects of Turkish cuisine, including Turkish coffee, Turkish tea, and Turkish delight.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2023.