İskender kebap
Thinly sliced grilled meat over bread, topped with tomato sauce, butter, and yogurt
İskender kebap is a Turkish main dish from Bursa, made with thin slices of grilled lamb or chicken served over pieces of pita bread. The meat is topped with hot tomato sauce, melted sheep's milk butter, and yogurt, and is usually served hot, often with the butter poured at the table.
- Named after its inventor, İskender of Bursa
- Served with hot tomato sauce, melted butter, and yogurt
- Thinly sliced grilled lamb or chicken over pita bread
- The butter is often poured at the table
- Trademarked by the İskenderoğlu family in Bursa
What is İskender kebap?
İskender kebap is a dish of thin slices of grilled lamb or chicken, served over pieces of pita bread. The meat is topped with a hot tomato sauce and a generous amount of melted sheep's milk butter. Yogurt is served alongside or on top. The dish is known for its rich, savory flavors and the contrast between the warm, juicy meat, the tangy yogurt, and the soft bread underneath. It is usually served hot, with the butter often poured at the table.
Where does İskender kebap come from?
The dish is named after its inventor, İskender, who lived in Bursa during the late 19th century, when the region was part of the Ottoman Empire. İskender kebap quickly became popular in Turkey and is now considered one of the country's most well-known dishes. The original restaurant, run by the İskenderoğlu family, still operates in Bursa. The name 'Kebapçı İskender' is trademarked by this family.
How is İskender kebap made?
To prepare İskender kebap, lamb or chicken is grilled on a vertical spit, then cut into thin slices with a long knife. The meat is arranged over small pieces of pita bread. Hot tomato sauce is poured over the meat, followed by melted sheep's milk butter. Yogurt is served on the side or spooned over the dish. Often, the butter is poured at the table just before eating.
How and when is İskender kebap eaten?
İskender kebap is usually eaten as a main course for lunch or dinner. It is served hot, often with the melted butter poured at the table in front of the diner. The dish is enjoyed in restaurants across Turkey, but is especially associated with the city of Bursa. It is considered an everyday meal and is not tied to any particular festival or religious occasion.
Kinds of İskender kebap
While the classic version uses lamb, some restaurants also offer İskender kebap made with chicken. The dish is widely available in Turkey under names like 'Bursa kebabı' and 'Uludağ kebabı,' sometimes with small changes in presentation or ingredients depending on the restaurant. However, the essential elements—grilled meat, bread, tomato sauce, melted butter, and yogurt—remain the same.
What İskender kebap means
İskender kebap is a point of pride in Turkish cuisine and is especially linked to the city of Bursa. The original restaurant, still run by the inventor's descendants, holds a trademark on the name 'Kebapçı İskender.' The dish is widely recognized as one of Turkey's most popular foods and is a staple in many Turkish restaurants.
Questions people ask about İskender kebap
What is İskender kebap made of?
It is made with thin slices of grilled lamb or chicken, served over pieces of pita bread, topped with hot tomato sauce, melted sheep's milk butter, and yogurt.
Where does İskender kebap come from?
İskender kebap comes from Bursa, a city in Turkey, and was created by İskender in the late 19th century.
Is İskender kebap always made with lamb?
While the traditional version uses lamb, some restaurants also prepare it with chicken.
How is İskender kebap served?
It is served hot, with the melted butter often poured over the dish at the table, and yogurt on the side or on top.
Is İskender kebap tied to any festival or religious occasion?
No, İskender kebap is considered an everyday dish and is not specifically linked to festivals or religious events.
Good reading and sources
- İskender kebap on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "İskender kebap", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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