Stuffed mussels in Turkish culinary culture: Ottoman Empire period

Abstract

Food and nutrition habits of societies are mostly shaped depending on the geography they live in and settle in their cultures over time. It is seen that the food culture of the Turks is shaped by the changing geography, climate, local products and various cultural interactions. Stuffed mussels is a type of street food that entered Turkish culinary culture during the Ottoman Empire. In fact, “dolma” is a name given to vegetables and fruits stuffed with rice, bulgur, meat, nuts, peanuts and spices, but in Turkish cuisine, this dish is served with almost all kinds of main ingredients; meat, chicken, seafood, vegetables, etc., can be made. Stuffed mussels is a unique flavor and practical product obtained by stuffing with a mixture of rice and spices. This product, the style of manufacture and content of which may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer, has become identical to Istanbul, its birthplace, and has come from the Ottomans to the present without slowing down.