Sivas has a rich and diverse culinary culture, indicating that the city has both influences from traditional Turkish cuisine and developed its own local flavors. Sivas cuisine offers a variety of dishes, especially using meat and wheat products, reflecting the region's close relationship with agriculture and animal husbandry.
One of the most famous dishes of Sivas is Sivas meatballs, also known as "Divriği meatballs". This dish is made from a mixture of minced meat, fine bulgur and spices and is usually served with yogurt or tomato sauce. Madımak is another popular dish unique to Sivas; it is a kind of herb dish made from madımak grass, bulgur and chickpeas and consumed especially during the summer months. Keledoş is a common soup prepared by the Alevi-Bektashi community in the region and is made with chickpeas, beans, wheat and yogurt and served cold.
Among the local desserts, molasses desserts and halvahs unique to Sivas stand out. Silk halva is one of the city's well-known desserts; this halva is made with a mixture of tahini and molasses and is usually served on special occasions or at banquets. Molasses is an important food produced in Sivas and is a natural sweetener made from various fruits (usually grapes and apples).
Food culture in Sivas is intertwined with hospitality and a sense of community. Especially in rural areas or in traditional communities, meals are usually eaten in large groups, at long tables and collectively. Conversations and sharing during meals are considered an important element that strengthens the social structure of the community and the relationships between individuals.
It is possible to experience the flavors of Sivas in restaurants and cafes. In the city center and districts, there are restaurants serving local cuisine as well as dishes from other regions of Turkey and world cuisines. These places are frequented by both locals and tourists visiting the city and offer ideal environments to explore the rich culinary culture of Sivas.