taste

Like every region, Çankırı has its own dishes. Local dishes of Çankırı, which include wheat and wheat products, have the characteristics of Central Anatolian dishes.  

Cimcik Dough Soup

This soup, which is prepared by blending dough pieces called Cimcik, whith yoghurt, butter, and spices, is one of the delicious local soups of Çankırı.

Tatar Dough Soup

This soup, which is made of lentils, noodles, tomato paste, butter, and many other ingredients, has an interesting flavour, served with garlic yoghurt after cooking. We recommend you to give it a try when you come to Çankırı.

Garlic Meat

It is one of the most delicious meat dishes, and is prepared with meat cubes, onion, and tomato paste, but this dish has a star player: Unpeeled Garlic!

Yaren Güveci

This delicious meal, in which meat cubes are cooked together with various vegetables, gets its taste from both its abundant ingredients and the clay pot, in which it is prepared. If you get the chance, you should definitely try this dish, which is essential for Çankırı.

Mıkla

Mıkla, one of the most delicious forms of preparing eggs, is also one of the essential items of breakfast tables in Çankırı. Mıkla, which is a very practical food for breakfast, is served by pouring yoghurt over roasted eggs.

Yazma Çöreği

This is one of the delicious pastries of Çankırı, and you should definitely try. This famous pastry is prepared by adding walnuts in the yeast dough that is folded and oiled, is cooked in the oven and then sliced in portions.

Hameyli

Hameyli, one of the local desserts of Çankırı, is a dessert prepared by putting walnuts in the dough opened by hand, closing it in the form of an amulet. It is soaked in sugar syrup after baking. Although Hameyli is a difficult dessert to make, it leaves a delicious taste in your mouth.

Kurşunlu Keşkek

A staple of special occasions in Kurşunlu, keşkek is prepared by slowly cooking bone-in meat and pounded wheat over a gentle fire. Its distinctive flavor develops through patient simmering and is completed with local rock salt and butter. When enjoyed around a large pot with lively village conversations, it reflects the warm hospitality of the region.

Eldivan Oily Pastry (Eldivan Yağlı Çöreği)

Eldivan Yağlı Çöreği is a traditional pastry made by layering and folding dough brushed with oil before baking it in a stone oven. This technique creates visible layers and requires considerable skill to prepare by hand. With its triangular shape and perfect balance of crispness and softness, it is especially irresistible when served fresh from the oven. Paired with tea at breakfast, it offers a simple yet memorable local flavor.

Çerkeş Badıma Bükmesi

This local pastry features a filling made with madımak (a wild herb locally called “badıma”) sautéed with onions and spices, then enriched with milk and eggs. The dough is folded into a half-moon shape and cooked on a traditional griddle. With its fresh spring aroma, this dish tells the story of Çerkeş’s close connection to nature and the land.

Çerkeş Leek Dolma

Çerkeş Pırasa Dolması is made by wrapping blanched leek leaves around a filling of minced meat and rice. Light yet satisfying, this dish requires skillful rolling, which is why its homemade character is instantly recognizable. If you visit Çerkeş, it is a specialty often recommended in local restaurants.

Çerkeş Su Böreği

In this regional version of su böreği, sheets of dough are first boiled in hot water and then shocked in salted cold water before being layered in a tray. Minced meat filling is spread between the layers, and the pastry is baked until golden. The use of dried yufka gives it a distinctive texture, while local rock salt enhances the flavor. It is considered a highlight of festive and wedding tables.

Kurşunlu Flower Honey

Kurşunlu Flower Honey carries the rich aromas of the district’s diverse floral landscape. Produced either as strained or comb honey, it reflects traditional beekeeping practices, including overwintering bees in the region. The result is a honey that captures the scent of its land. It also makes a perfect local souvenir to take along after nature walks or highland visits.

Çankırı Hameyli Dessert

Çankırı Hameyli Dessert stands out with its delicate triangular shape created by folding thin sheets of dough cut into squares. Baked until crisp and then soaked in syrup, it softens slightly while maintaining its texture. When topped with walnuts, it becomes a beloved treat often prepared for festive occasions. The intricate folding technique gives this dessert an almost handcrafted character.

Çerkeş Turkish Delight

Çerkeş Lokum (Turkish Delight) is a regional baked pastry made from a firmer dough prepared with milk and butter. The dough is rolled into rectangular sheets, patterned with a special dough comb, and baked in the oven. Its perforated top and airy interior make it distinctive. It can be prepared plain or with walnuts, and versions shaped like simit can also be found. It is an ideal snack for a roadside break.

Şabanözü Ice Halva (Dondurma Helvası)

Şabanözü Dondurma Helvası takes its name from its texture, which becomes firm and slightly frozen as it cools. Its light brown color and biteable consistency set it apart from classic halvas. Often enriched with walnuts, it is commonly served at communal gatherings such as weddings and memorial events. Thanks to its long shelf life, it is also a popular edible souvenir.

Eldivan Cherries

Eldivan cherries are easily recognized by their shiny deep burgundy skin, heart-like shape, and long stems. The district’s climate and cultivation conditions give them a distinctive flavor. If you visit Eldivan in summer, you are very likely to encounter them fresh at local market stalls.

Çankırı Tutmaç Soup

Çankırı Tutmaç Soup begins with thin sheets of dough cut into small pieces and boiled to create tutmaç pasta. Lentils and garlicky yogurt add depth to the dish, while a finishing sauce of butter with minced meat, mint, and red pepper gives it its characteristic flavor. Especially comforting in winter, it is a signature local dish often served in traditional eateries in the city center.