Kumru

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Typically associated with Çeşme, kumru is a toasted sandwich prepared with an artisanal bread that is typically enriched with chickpea flour. It was originally prepared with sinik , a circular bread that was sold by street vendors, but it achieved its current form in the 1950s when sandwiches became a popular option in Türkiye. Nowadays, it is typically filled with kaşar cheese (which is typically griddled before it’s placed on the bread), spicy sausage known as sujuk , and tomatoes, while modern variations may also include pickles, red pepper flakes, other types of cured meat, or even mayonnaise or ketchup, though the latter two are often frowned upon. This filling and affordable street food option is usually found at specialized kumru restaurants.