Mardin has a rich and diverse culinary culture. This culture has been influenced by the coexistence of many different ethnic and religious groups throughout the city's history. Mardin cuisine is especially known for its meat dishes, spices and unique flavors made with local ingredients.
One of the most well-known dishes of Mardin is stuffed ribs. This dish is prepared and served especially on holidays and special occasions. Lamb ribs are stuffed with rice, minced meat, walnuts and various spices and cooked slowly for long hours. This special dish is considered one of the indispensable dishes on Mardin's tables.
İçli köfte is also one of Mardin's favorite dishes. While the outside is prepared with fine bulgur, the inside is enriched with minced meat, onion and walnuts. Kibbeh can either be fried or boiled and is usually served as a snack or appetizer rather than a main course. Semsek is another traditional Mardin dish made of thin dough filled with a mixture of minced meat, parsley and spices, and cooked on a baking sheet. It is often preferred for breakfast.
Mardin cuisine is also famous for its desserts. Stuffed kadayif is prepared by placing walnuts inside the twisted kadayif and sweetened with sherbet. This dessert is usually made on holidays and special occasions. Şıllık dessert is a dessert with sherbet and cheese, especially preferred during Ramadan.
Mardin's food and drink culture is not limited to food. Tea and Turkish coffee are an integral part of social life. Especially in Mardin's historic bazaars and narrow streets, small cafes serve tea and coffee at all hours of the day. These cafes are both a meeting point for locals and a pleasant stopover for tourists.
Mardin's food and beverage culture offers delicacies that reflect the historical and cultural richness of the city. These flavors are presented to guests with both traditional methods and modern presentations, thus ensuring that Mardin has an important place in gastronomy tourism.