Dining Safely: Managing Nickel Allergy in Turkish Cuisine
Learn how to enjoy Turkish restaurants safely with a nickel allergy. Discover risky ingredients, smart substitutions, and how mm food app’s AI scans menus for allergen-safe dishes.
MM Food Team

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Dining Safely: Managing Nickel Allergy in Turkish Cuisine
Navigating Turkish restaurants with a nickel allergy can feel daunting, but with awareness and smart tools like the mm food app, you can savor authentic flavors safely. Nickel exposure often comes from plant-based foods, and Turkish cuisine's rich use of legumes, whole grains, and vegetables requires vigilance.
Nickel-Rich Culinary Hazards
Common Turkish ingredients high in nickel include:
- Legumes: Lentils (in mercimek çorbası), chickpeas (in hummus and nohut dishes)
- Whole grains: Bulgur (in kısır and pilav), whole wheat breads
- Nuts/seeds: Sesame (tahini), hazelnuts, sunflower seeds
- Vegetables: Spinach, mushrooms (in clay pot dishes)
- Canned foods: Pickled items or sauces
Proactive Dining Strategies
- Opt for Fresh Produce: Choose grilled meats (şiş kebap), seafood, and fresh salads with low-nickel veggies like cucumbers and lettuce.
- Avoid Cookware Risks: Ask about cooking methods—steel pots may leach nickel. Traditional clay pots (güveç) are safer.
- Substitute Smartly: Request rice instead of bulgur and skip legume-based appetizers.
Mastering Menus with mm food App
Eliminate guesswork:
- Set Custom Alert: Add "nickel-rich foods" as a dietary restriction in the app.
- Scan and Translate: Instantly translate Turkish menus to your language.
- Get AI-Powered Insights: The app highlights safe dishes like şiş tavuk (chicken skewers), balık ızgara (grilled fish), and yogurt-based cacık, while flagging risky items.
Embrace Turkish hospitality without hesitation—using mm food’s real-time analysis, you’ll confidently enjoy culinary adventures while avoiding nickel triggers.

Dine Confidently Anywhere
Get the MM Food app for instant menu translation and allergy detection.