Local food map Antalya (Turkey)
Antalya guides
Recipes 33
Pick a recipe
All Antalya recipes
Lamb Tandir — traditional dish from Antalya, Turkey
Main course Meat

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥800kcal
💪60gProtein
🌾—Carbs
🥑60gFat
🌿—Fibre
⚖️400 gServing

* Per serving · 400 g. May vary.

Lamb Tandir

How to order / say it
Say it Kuzu Tandır — [KOO-zoo tan-deer]
Order I'd like the lamb tandir, please.
Locally Kuzu tandır alabilir miyim, lütfen?
Say locally

Slow-cooked lamb, tenderized over hours in a tandoor-style oven.

Why try it?

Kuzu Tandır captures the essence of Antalya’s rich pastoral tradition, showcasing the region's love for flavors developed over gentle, enduring preparation techniques.

How it tastes

The lamb is irresistibly tender with smoky undertones, infused with bay leaves, garlic, and hints of rosemary. The delicate meat easily falls off the bone in succulent pieces.

Origin & History — first documented: 1850

Originating in the 19th century, this iconic dish reflects Turkey’s nomadic history where slow-cooking in earthen pits was practical. Over centuries, it evolved into a staple of family gatherings in Antalya.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🥩 1 kg lamb leg
  • 🧄 4 cloves garlic
  • 🌿 3 leaves bay leaves
  • 🫒 50 ml olive oil
  • 🌿 1 tbsp rosemary
  • 🧂 to taste salt

Method

  1. 1 Marinate lamb with garlic, rosemary, and olive oil.
  2. 2 Preheat tandoor oven to 150°C.
  3. 3 Place lamb in oven with bay leaves and cover tightly.
  4. 4 Cook for 5-6 hours until meat is tender.
All Europe recipes — Turkey — Antalya — Lamb Tandir
keyboard_arrow_up