Lokma: Fried Dough Dessert

I guess that there is a fried dough dessert in every country's cuisine. But you may be surprised by the place of Lokma, which has been in the Balkan and Middle Eastern cuisine for hundreds of years, in Izmir. How would you like to discover this dessert, which you can try for free on your Izmir trip?

This delicious dessert is also known by different names in Arabic and Greek in the literature, while Turkish is lokma... Lokma means morsel or mouthful, and it's luqma in Arabic and loukoumádes in Greek.

The content of the dessert is quite simple: Yeast-leavened dough, oil, sugar syrup. Sugar syrup used to be replaced with honey, but I have never come across it being used until today. Also, during the service, if you wish, you can sprinkle some cinnamon powder on it, which I recommend.

It is stated that there are different lokma recipes in the first printed Turkish cookbook, Melceü't-Tabbâhîn by Mehmed Kamil. On the other hand, as far as I can see, there are two different lokmas in Turkey. I don't know if the proportions in their contents are different, but they differ in size (appearance). The first photo is the lokma, mostly made in Izmir. Usually a portion consists of 2-3 pieces. The second photo is the lokma made in other cities and its portion consists of 5-7 pieces. On the other hand, of course, you can find Izmir lokma in other cities and you can find the lokmas in the second photo in Izmir.

My preference is Izmir lokma. It's crispier on the outside. Maybe I feel that way from the habit of years. But once you taste one of each, I think you'll agree with me.

Let's go back to the question I asked in the first paragraph: You can have a free lokma in Izmir. The reason is quite beautiful. Those who want to do charity in Izmir make an agreement with the companies that make lokmas: cook and distribute them on the day and time they want.

Why do they cook and distribute lokmas?

The most common answer is "charity work". Let's expand a little more... For example, some may prefer this as a votive offering. Those who have lost their loved ones can also make lokmas on special days. Sometimes it can be seen in circumcision ceremonies. Sometimes just to do good...

Where and when are the lokmas sold or distributed?

Frankly, I don't know of a cafe or patisserie that sells lokmas; but in the summer months, just like ice cream shops, it is sold on the counters in areas where there are local and foreign tourists. You can come across it on the shores or evening markets where evening walks are made.

Those who do charity work prefer different places. Sometimes in front of a mosque, sometimes on a busy street or square, sometimes in front of the benefactor's house or workplace... As you can imagine, during Ramadan, fasting hours and even the rest of the time, lokmas are not distributed as charity. Other than that, there is no special tradition. But on Fridays, one can come across after Friday prayers. On the other hand, it can be found every day of the week, usually between noon and afternoon.

If you see a minibus or pickup truck decorated with images similar to these photos and people are lining up, don't hesitate...

New generation lokma

Some time before the pandemic, there was a new breakthrough in lokma tradition. Lokma shops have opened in some busy streets and malls. The lokmas sold here were served with chocolate sauce and the like. If you come across, I don't recommend it...