Kebab

Kebab is a common name for various skewered meat dishes from Turkey. Marinated meat is placed on a skewer and grilled slowly over hot coals. It is a symbol of Turkish cuisine, a legacy of ancient times of the Ottomans when soldiers who camped in tents skewered the meat on their swords and cooked them over an open fire.

Today, skewers are made either from wood or metal, with wide, flat surfaces that help in holding the meat in place. They are also easy to flip over the coals. The key to a great kebab is in the marinades which differ from region to region, but they usually contain olive oil, lemon juice, onion, garlic, salt and pepper and Turkish spices such as cumin, hot pepper flakes, and paprika.

The dish is quite spicy in the end, and the meat used is usually lamb or beef. There are numerous varieties of kebab dishes, such as shish kebab, adana kebabi, urfa kebabi, beyti kebab, and the famous Döner kebab, where the shavings of this turning kebab are stuffed in a soft tortilla and eaten with various condiments, sauces, and salads.

When the kebabs are served "au yaourt", they are accompanied with thin cuts of pita bread, absorbing the meat juices and becoming the base for the dish. Yogurt is traditionally served at room temperature and flavored with garlic, its creaminess providing a contrast to the seasoned meat.