EAT IN ASIA / Destinations / Turkey
Culinary MUST - Traditional Turkish Testi Kebab (Pottery, Clay or Terracotta Kebab)
If you are looking for a wonderful spectacle combined with a super tasty meal and do not want to go to the theatre – try a Cappadocian specialty – Testi Kebab. This famous local dish is something you cannot skip. Although it is available also in other regions of Turkey, Testi Kebab from Cappadocia, is the most popular one.
Mostly due to the regional pottery production, that has been running since ages. Especially the town of Avanos is the one that is the most famous. Pottery demonstrations are running on a daily basis, and shops and galleries selling clay goods are spotted all around.
Most of the factories still follow the traditional method of the pots’ production and what is a nice experience – in some places you can even try making a ceramic pot by yourself. Yes, you will be dirty, but the experience is worth doing it. During the pottery demonstration you will be also able to see how the hand-made production looks like and what the final result is. Then, don’t skip going through the gallery that is usually situated in the same place.
Although it is targeted on selling different ceramic products, you are not pressed to buy anything and can admire local goods. Some of them are really very beautiful and show how skilled you must be to make it. The guide will also explain how long which of them did take time to produce and describe the usage – some ceramics are very strange and unknown in other places. So, if you have some free time, why not do that?
This pottery tradition resulted in production of the famous Testi Kebab. This local specialty is what you have to try. It is not only a pleasure for your mouth but also a great spectacle. The pot with meat and vegetables is served in flames and the waiter cuts off one part of the pot, allowing the filling to get out of it.
Where does the name ‘Testi Kebab’ come from?
‘Testi’ in Turkish means a ‘pot’ or a ‘jug’, so Testi Kebab is a kebab from a pot. However, this pot is not an ordinary one. It is a unique one designed especially for Testi Kebabs. It is made of clay and has a special groove in the lower part. All meat and vegetable ingredients are mixed, put into the pot and left for a couple of hours to marinate. Thanks to that, that they get more flavor. After that time, the stuffed terracotta pot is traditionally cooked in a charcoal clay oven or in tandoor. This process takes about half an hour. Then it is ready to be served!
How to make a traditional 'Testi Kebab' from Cappadocia?
Although ingredients are quite basic and you do not have to have any special manual skills or any previous experience in making it, preparing Terracota Kebab might not be the easiest thing for you. As you would need this special pot, you might have problems with doing it at home, unless you bring clay pots from Cappadocia or import them. Apart from that, Testi Kebab is the easiest one. No wrapping, no stuffing bread or buns, just mix all ingredients, put them in the clay pot and wait for about one hours when it is being cooked.
Ingredients are also quite simple. Meat cubes are mixed with popular and widely available vegetables. Lamb, chicken or beef meat are traditionally used. Then if it comes to vegetables, most often you will find onion, carrots, potatoes, celery root and garlic. Also, quite popular is adding tomatoes and long peppers. Apart form that, you might need some basic spices like black pepper and salt. When everything is in the pot and it is ready to be cooked, the top of the pot is covered with a small piece of an aluminum foil or more traditionally, with a bread dough, that after cooking is ready for eating too. The next, and the final step is to put it vertically in the oven. Wait half an hour and serve.
How to serve Testi Kebab?
Previously, restaurants were serving Terracotta kebab already on the plate. What means, you could not see how was is it either cooked or opened. As the dish is so unique and spectacular, recently almost all places serve it in the clay pot, that is being broken immediately after bringing it to your table. Depending on the place, sometimes one clay pot is served per person, what means that everyone has its own pot, or as it is more often, ‘Testi Kebab’ is a meal to be shared between two or more persons. Smaller single-serve clay pots have some additional advantages. First of all, the meat cooks better in a smaller pot, and secondly, more or less equal meat and vegetable parts are served to each person.
So, the extremely hot clay pot is taken out of the tandoor oven and brought by the waiter to the table. ‘Testi Kebab’ is placed on a tray with charcoal. Then, the waiter puts fire under the pot and reheats it for a while. Removes it and turns the sealed pot upside down. Still keeping it in his hand, he starts hitting the upper part of the pot. Doing it where the tiny groove is, causes it to break easier than other parts of the pot. When totally broken, the bottom part of the pot, that is now on the top, falls down and allows the kebab to get out of it.
It is sizzling and aromatic. It is so local and traditional. Something unique that allows you feel as if you were leaving ages ago. Natural fire, good smell and taste, that is what you cannot miss!
Learn more about Turkish Cuisine reading posts about TOP 15 Vegetarian and non-meat Turkish foods, TOP 12 traditional Turkish dishes, and Ancient Emperors' favorite foods.
