Hailing from the Black Sea town of Akçaabat, these legendary meatballs have earned nationwide fame for being some of the most delicious in the country. Dare we even say, Türkiye’s best-kept meaty secret. Locals swear by them. Tourists fall in love at first bite. Honestly? We’re still dreaming about them.

Whether you’re a hardcore carnivore or just in it for the cultural flavours, no trip to Türkiye is complete without sinking your teeth into these savoury meat patties.

Wait, what even is a köfte?

Köfte (pronounced kuhf-teh) are Turkish meatballs, but don’t picture your typical meatball. These are another beast. Typically made with ground beef or lamb, they’re mixed with a secret blend of spices, onions, egg, and breadcrumbs, then shaped into patties or ovals rather than balls.

They’re grilled, fried, or sometimes even cooked in sauce. When it comes to Akçaabat köfte, it’s all about that smoky, charcoal-grilled goodness.

A meatball for every region

One of the interesting things about Turkish cuisine is that every region has its own version of different traditional dishes. These variations even go down to the restaurants and families of the locals, each having their own special recipe. The same goes for their köfte. Some are spicy, some are herbal, some are melt-in-your-mouth soft, with each one different from the last.

If there’s one kind of köfte that consistently steals the spotlight as the best Turkish meatballs, it’s Akçaabat köfte. Think juicy, meaty, flavour-packed patties that are so good, you better be ready to order a second serving, one just isn’t enough!

So, what makes Akçaabat köfte so special?

It all starts with the cows.

In the rolling green hills around Akçaabat in the Trabzon region, carefully selected cows are fed a diet of fresh grass, with local herbs and salt added to their feed. This unique diet gives the meat a distinct flavour that you won’t find anywhere else, making the meat a true specialty.

The making of Akçaabat köfte

The most common meat used for Akçaabat meatballs comes from lean forearm and rib meat. It’s minced then kneaded with egg, garlic, grated onion, breadcrumbs and that special blend of spices. For something so local and delicious, just honest, simple ingredients are used to let the quality of the meat shine.

Akçaabat köfte, as you can see, are more of a slider here in the Black Sea region. They’re formed into round, flat shapes, which is what makes them unique.

After this, the magic happens: they’re grilled over a charcoal fire until perfectly browned on the outside and irresistibly juicy inside. The result? Smoky, savoury perfection on a plate.

These meatballs are so unique they’re recognized worldwide

Akçaabat meatballs are officially recognized with geographic indication by the European Commission. This means that the whole life-cycle of Akçaabat köfte occur only within this geographic region, and nowhere else in the world. They’re made from specific cows that live and graze in a defined environment which can only be found in the geographic region of Akçaabat.

Where to find the best Akçaabat köfte

If you’re heading to Türkiye’s Black Sea region, and only make it to Trabzon, make sure you taste this local köfte. Tucked down a set of unassuming stairs, you’ll find one of our absolute favourite local gems: Kamiloğlu Köfte.

It’s cozy, it’s family-run, and the köfte? Unbelievable. You’ll be welcomed with warm smiles, plates piled high with meat, and that unmistakable aroma of charcoal-grilled deliciousness. It’s the kind of place you leave already planning your return. Truly some of the best Turkish köfte in the region.

The best Turkish meatballs in Türkiye

We’re not saying Akçaabat köfte are the best Turkish meatballs just to entice you, they really are. From the quality of the meat, to the traditional preparation, to that smoky grill finish, everything about them is pure comfort food bliss.

Tasting your way through Türkiye’s köfte might just be the most delicious way to see the country. Each region has its own twist, and if Akçaabat is any indication, you’re in for one unforgettable (and filling) adventure.

Exploring a country and tasting your way around it… doesn’t sound like a bad reason to travel, does it?

Name: Kamiloğlu Köfte
Address: Mumhane Önü Piyasa Meydanı No:5 Moloz, 61200 Ortahisar/Trabzon
what3words: ///frame.decide.sweeten

The post Are Akçaabat Köfte the Best Turkish Meatballs in Türkiye? appeared first on Hungry Two Travel.

Rice pudding in Turkey, sütlaç

Turkish rice pudding, or sütlaç, can be found all over the country. It’s a very common Turkish dessert on many restaurants’ menus. So much so, that sometimes it’s the only dessert on there! One kind of sütlaç that is the rarest and most decadent of them all is Hamsiköy sütlacı, found only in the Black Sea Region of Trabzon. In fact, this sütlaç is revered as the best in the country, and it all has to do with the cows.

The famous cows that make Hamsiköy sütlacı so special

In the Black Sea Region of Trabzon, sütlaç is made with a rare and special milk known as Hamsiköy milk. The Hamsiköy cows which produce the milk have a unique habitat on top of the mountains of the Trabzon region. Wild flowers grow here in the mountain meadows and are eaten by the cows in their pastures. The addition of these wild flowers into the cows’ diets imparts an extremely unique flavour on the milk they produce.

This diet is so unique that there are no other cows which produce this special milk. Thus making Hamsiköy milk very regional in nature. Since this milk cannot be produced anywhere else, neither can the sütlaç, making Hamsiköy sütlacı a true regional specialty.

Worth travelling to the Black Sea Region just to try their sütlaç? We say yes!

This special Turkish rice pudding is made with the simplest ingredients. Only pure Hamsiköy milk, rice, sugar, and a pinch of salt is used. Everything is put into a clay bowl where it’s baked in the oven until slightly caramelized on top. This creates an extremely thick and velvety dessert like no other.

Just when you think it can’t get any better, this decadent Turkish dessert is abundantly topped with ground hazelnuts grown locally in the Black Sea region. If you’re feeling extra sweet, you can get a scoop of fresh Hamsiköy ice cream to finish it all off.

Sütlaç is so rare it’s been given a Geographical Indication

Hamsiköy sütlacı is so unique to the region, that it’s been registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. Then, in 2017, it was given a geographical indication certificate. If that isn’t enough, the town of Hamsiköy also holds a “Hamsiköy Sütlaç Festival” annually since 2006 to promote the dessert in Turkey, as well as abroad. It’s clear to see that this Turkish rice pudding is no joke!

Where to go for the best Hamsiköy sütlacı in Trabzon

The best place to try out this extremely tasty Turkish dessert is at Uğur Usta Hamsiköy Sütlacı Ayasofya. Located near the Trabzon Hagia Sophia Mosque, it’s the perfect place to stop for a sweet bite. You can even do a little sightseeing afterwards or walk along the Black Sea.

What to order at Uğur Usta Hamsiköy Sütlacı

They have a few different variations of Hamsiköy sütlacı to choose from, such as plain, with honey, kadayif, locally grown hazelnuts, or Hamsiköy ice cream. You really can’t go wrong with whatever you choose. Our recommendation? Both the hazelnuts and ice cream, decadence to the max!

Name: Uğur Usta Hamsiköy Sütlacı Ayasofya
Address: Fatih, Hacı Ziya Habiboğlu Caddesi no 37, 61100 Ortahisar/Trabzon, Turkey
what3words: ///fallen.declining.ranked
Price: 25TL

Watch our video below to check out this unique local specialty at the best place in Trabzon.

The post The Underrated Turkish Dessert, Hamsiköy Sütlaç: The Ultimate Turkish Rice Pudding appeared first on Hungry Two Travel.

So, what food is Trabzon famous for? The Black Sea Region is home to some incredible, unique foods. If you ask any local what the top two traditional foods of Trabzon are, you’ll be met with kuymak and hamsi. The first is a buttery cheesy cornmeal ‘fondue’ (yes please!), and the latter their Black Sea anchovy. When in Trabzon, these dishes are must eats!

Trabzon Kuymak is the ultimate high-calorie breakfast of the Black Sea

Imagine hot, melty, buttery cheese that stretches as far as your arm can reach, this my friend, is Trabzon kuymak. Made with three simple ingredients, cheese, butter, and cornmeal. Kuymak is a traditional food of Trabzon. It was invented as a high-calorie breakfast by harvesters working in the hazelnut fields. As a result, it’s usually eaten as a breakfast food. But, as far as we’re concerned, something this indulgent and cheesy could be eaten any time of the day.

Kuymak is served with fresh Turkish ekmek (bread). This is to pile on the cheese, and dip in the pool of butter left behind at the end of the dish. Black Sea Cuisine is very rich and full of butter, and Trabzon kuymak does not disappoint. It’s hard not to drool while typing…

Where to eat the cheesiest, gooiest kuymak in Trabzon

There are different ‘versions’ of kuymak found across the Black Sea Region. The main diference being the ratio of cheese, butter and cornmeal used. One of the best places to try kuymak is at Cemilusta in the main town square of Trabzon city. Here, they do an amazing kuymak with the perfect amount of all three ingredients to get the most wonderful stringy cheese consistency. Let’s put it this way, it was so good we debated a second!

Name: Cemilusta
Address: İskenderpaşa, Belediye Caddesi., Atatürk Alanı No:6, 61100 Trabzon
what3words: ///giggled.combines.awoken
Price: 60TL

For a bit more of a local experience, there’s a wonderful place tucked away inside a building just off the main street of town. With its own private courtyard, you can enjoy an amazing kuymak en plein air, or inside one of its cozy rooms below.

Name: Vosporos Café
Address: Gazipaşa, Yavuz Selim Blv. No:40, 61030 Trabzon
what3words: ///marriage.front.brands
Price: 40TL

Black Sea Cuisine straight from the Black Sea itself

Hamsi, which is Turkish for anchovy, is a famous traditional food of Trabzon. It’s found abundantly in the Black Sea Region and is very culturally significant. In fact, there are poems, folk songs, and stories all about it since it’s been a major staple of Black Sea cuisine for millennia. No wonder it’s dubbed the ‘prince of fish’! Hamsi, and fish in general, are so popular in the Black Sea Region that they’re actually consumed more than meat.

You see this as you walk through the streets of town and in any of the little local markets. Stall after stall selling an unending amount of fresh fish caught in the Black Sea that morning. Each stall home to the friendliest fishmongers I think we’ve ever come across. Nothing but smiles and warm faces greet you as you wander through.

Naturally, any visit to the Black Sea Region isn’t complete without trying the famous hamsi. The most popular way to do so is fried. The fresh hamsi are dipped in cornmeal and fried up in the most beautiful circular display. They’re served up perfectly crispy and decadently rich, on a plate in their own oil. Since they’re a small fish, the portion you receive is decent in size! Hamsi tava, or fried anchovy, are an extremely traditional food in Trabzon that you must try when in the Black Sea Region.

Where to get the freshest, crispiest, plumpest hamsi in Trabzon

The markets and stalls that are all over Trabzon sell freshly caught hamsi to take home to cook your own meals. The best way to have it though – in our opinion – is to go out to one of the many restaurants in the city. They will all have their catch of the day out on display and ready for your choosing.

Our first choice is Balıklama Balık Lokantası. Just pick what fish you’d like, hamsi and the rest, and have it cooked up, fresh to order. There’s really nothing like it!

While you’re there, we highly recommend trying their fish soup. Don’t worry, they’ll remind you to try it since it’s so popular. Massive chunks of fish are served in a mildly sour, light yellow broth that’s super hearty and warms you from the inside out. Make sure you squeeze some lemon juice into it to give it a nice acidic zing.

Name: Balıklama Balık Lokantası
Address: İskenderpaşa, Şht. İbrahim Karaoğlanoğlu Cd. 15/A, 61100 Trabzon
what3words: ///paddle.master.shells
Price: 75TL

Check out our video below, trying both kuymak and hamsi tava at some of the best restaurants in Trabzon.

The post Traditional Foods of Trabzon: Gooey Kuymak and Black Sea Hamsi appeared first on Hungry Two Travel.