Gaziantep may be famous for it’s baklava but there’s another delicious pastry that it is just as well known for: katmer.
Straight from the oven, this sweet, flaky pastry pillow of kaymak and pistachio will have you wanting more. It is usually eaten for breakfast but if you sleep in, it is still perfectly acceptable to have it with cay (tea) during the morning!
On our first visit to Gaziantep we went in search of Katemerci Zekeriya Usta, often mentioned as one of the best in this city . It wasn’t the easiest place to find but we persevered and were handsomely rewarded. Our visit was validated as, on our second trip to Gaziantep we were taken there by our guide from Culinary Backstreets.
This time we forego sitting at the outside tables to learn how katmer is made.
How to make katmer:
First you take a small ball of pastry and treat it like pizza dough…flip it through the air until it is quite thin and then stretch it out so that it is even thinner….as thin as tissue paper!
Kaymak (turkish clotted cream) is then dotted over the pastry…..
…and a layer of chopped pistachio sprinkled on top. The pistachios from Gaziantep are the best you can buy so this could be the secret!
The pastry is then folded…..
and the katmer is popped into the wood fired oven…..
A little while later it is ready to be served…
Don’t miss tasting this delicious pastry when you visit Gaziantep. You won’t be disappointed!
Information:
Katmerci Zekeriya Usta can be found at Bay Hilmi Gecidi No: 16/C-D
Körükcü Sokak,
They are open until 12 noon.
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That must be delicious. I’ve not had this mixture before, but I’ve tasted the single ingredients making the whole thing. What may worry me is the fact that there’s too much fat in it! Of course, for a traveler, who wants to try different things, I will surely have a stop there if I go to this town one day.
Thanks for the information.
Forget the fat Rahman, you have to try it! It really is a taste sensation!
STOP! I’m salivating!! Much as I love my Aussie bakeries, this looks sensational!
It is sensational Red! There’s nothing that even comes close in our bakeries! I’ll get you to Turkey one day!!
OMG…just seeing your photos reminds me of our visit to the same katmer shop in 2012! I absolutely loved it, and even though, Ciya and some other restaurants in Istanbul serve it, it’s simply not the same. 🙂
It isn’t the same is it Joy. I’m sure the quality of pistachios makes the difference! I haven’t had it at Ciya but if I get desperate I’ll have to try it there!
Jenny, I cannot believe I’ve never heard of this nor eaten it. Looks delicious!
I can’t believe you haven’t tried it either Corinne. Now you will have to go back!
We REALLY need to go to Gaziantep to sample theÅŸr katmer. In our neck of the woods in the southwest, katmer is filled with tahini – *very* tasty. Love the idea of the kaymak, though. 🙂
Julia
Yes, you really do need to go to Gaziantep and not just for the katmer!!I’d love try katmer filled with tahini…very different but equally as tasty nI’m sure.
That looks absolutely amazing! I love pistachios!!
It is amazing! If you love pistachios, you’ll be heaven with those from Gaziantep…I’ve never tasted any like it!
Oh my goodness! This looks too delicious for words.
It is sensational Debra! Gaziantep has so many fabulous dishes which is why it’s one of my favourite cities outside of Istanbul.
This looks incredible. That pastry dough is so thin, I wonder how it can hold all those delicious ingredients without tearing or leaking!
It is amazing how it doesn’t split Toby but it doesn’t! It’s just one big envelope of deliciousness!
Seeing how it is made and the ingredients I know I would love this so much. Another reason to revisit Turkey!
It’s every bit as good as you imagine Jan! Any reason to go back to Turkey!
Well, now I need to go back to Turkey to try this fabulous sounding dessert!
BTW, I referenced your blog often during my recent trip to Istanbul 🙂
I’m sure you’ll go back to Turkey again Heather! I’m glad the blog posts were helpful to you. Isn’t it the most wonderful city!
Ohh haven’t heard of that one. I wonder how it tastes. And it is surprising how they can roll it so thin.
It’s so delicious that once you taste it you’ll want more! Katmer is sweet but not overly so. The pastry helps cut the sweetness and delivers a fabulous taste sensation. I’m not sure how it doesn’t break…the pastry is quite elastic.Thanks for stopping by.
YUM! Gaziantep has so much amazing food. We loved this on our recent visit there. It felt a bit naughty eating something so sweet for breakfast but someone has to do it! Haha.
I’m so glad you made it to Gaziantep! The food is the best isn’t it! I gave up worry what I ate for breakfast after a while too …There was no way I was going to miss having a few baklavas and katmers!
Goodness me they look amazing! I need to find myself some of these #teamwanderlust
There has to be a Turkish restaurant in Sydney making them though I doubt they would taste the same. The pistachios were like none I have ever eaten and the kaymak is delicious. Just a winning combination of fabulous ingredients!
Oh my gosh, that sounds so delicious and easy to make. I have to try to make it immediately. I have been in Turkey , some decades ago, going camping there and I was all over Turkey, but seen that kind of deliciousness. Thank you for sharing.
I’m in admiration that you are contemplating making this! Unfortunately we’re not able to buy similar pastry or cream that is even close to kaymak. Please let me know how you go Cornelia.
As a Turkish and person who visits Gaziantep a lot. This is my favoruti dessert. I love it.
Hi Ozgür. I’m not surprised it’s your favourite…it’s heavenly! I have a few questions for you! Do you go to this shop when you eat katmer in Gaziantep. Are there any paces in Istanbul that make an exceptional katmer? Thanks for stopping by.