Osmaniye Zorkun Tava

Osmaniye Zorkun Tava is a traditional meat dish from the Zorkun Plateau in Osmaniye Province, prepared with lamb meat. The main ingredients include cubed lamb, tomatoes, red dried onions, green and red peppers, garlic, spices, and salt. No liquid oil or tomato paste is used in its preparation; the red dried onions impart a distinctive and dominant aroma and flavor. Zorkun Tava is cooked for several hours in a stone oven with the tray covered by a metal lid and served hot.

History and Cultural Significance

Originating in the 1960s in local tavern kitchens, Osmaniye Zorkun Tava quickly spread throughout the Zorkun Plateau and became an essential element of regional culinary culture. This dish preserves its geographical identity through unique local production and cooking techniques.

Osmaniye Zorkun Tava (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Ingredients

• 1 kg cubed lamb (hind leg or foreleg)
• 100 g tail fat
• 2 red dried onions
• 1 kg tomatoes
• 3 green peppers
• 2 red peppers
• 15 garlic cloves
• 10 g sweet or hot red pepper powder
• 20 g salt

Preparation

The lamb is cut into cubes and arranged on a large tray. Thinly sliced red dried onions, garlic, and green and red peppers are added on top. Salt and red pepper powder are sprinkled over the mixture. The tomatoes are peeled, chopped, and added to the mixture. The entire contents are covered with tail fat. The tray is sealed with a metal lid and cooked in a stone oven for approximately four to five hours. The dish is best served hot.

Geographical Indication and Oversight

Osmaniye Zorkun Tava was registered as a geographical indication by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office on 29 September 2023, following an application by the Osmaniye Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Registration No: 1477). The registration mandates that production must occur exclusively within the boundaries of the Zorkun Plateau. Production methods, ingredient quality, and compliance with geographical indication standards are regularly monitored by a control committee composed of the Osmaniye Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Food Traders’ Association.