Across the bustling streets of Istanbul or the sunlit coastlines of Izmir, you’ll find vendors selling midye dolma — plump mussels stuffed with herbed rice, pine nuts, and a hint of cinnamon. Served cold with a generous squeeze of lemon, each bite is a salty, spicy, and slightly sweet taste of the Mediterranean. Locals eat them standing up, often counting how many they’ve eaten only after they’re full. It’s the perfect on-the-go snack that brings the sea right to your palate. One is never enough — and that’s exactly the point.
A Taste of the Sea: The Addictive Allure of Stuffed Mussels
