Discover the flavors of Lahmacun: Your guide to homemade Turkish pizza

Turkish cuisine offers many delicacies, and you don't need to buy plane tickets to enjoy them. One dish worth trying is lahmacun, also known as Turkish pizza. It features a very thin crust topped with a spicy meat filling.

While some Italians might cringe at the comparison of lahmacun to pizza, there is an undeniable similarity between them. Both have dough and toppings, but the flavors are distinct enough to earn even an Italian's respect. The simple dough is made from flour, water, and yeast.

Traditionally, the filling for Turkish pizza includes lamb or beef, onions, tomatoes, red pepper, garlic, and parsley. Aromatic Middle Eastern spices are also essential. You'll find hot pepper, cumin, and cinnamon, which add a rich, spicy aroma. In Turkey, lahmacun is baked in a hot stone oven for crispiness, but a home oven at high temperature also does the trick.

Ingredients:

Dough:

• 9 oz all-purpose flour
• 5 fl oz lukewarm water
• 1 teaspoon dry yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Filling:

• 10 oz ground lamb or beef
• 1 large onion
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 1 red pepper
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil or water

Preparation:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water with sugar. Set aside for a few minutes until the yeast activates. The mixture should become frothy.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and sugar, and add the yeast mixture.
3. Knead the dough by hand or with a dough hook mixer for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. If the dough is too dry, add a bit of water; if it’s too sticky, add some flour.
4. Form the dough into a ball, place it in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a cloth, and set it aside in a warm place for about 1-1.5 hours, until it doubles in size.
5. Finely chop the onion, tomatoes, garlic, and pepper.
6. Add the chopped vegetables to the ground meat, along with the tomato paste, parsley, and spices.
7. Add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil or water and mix the filling thoroughly until all the ingredients are combined. The mixture should have a paste-like consistency.
8. Take the risen dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Divide it into 8 to 10 equal parts.
9. Roll out each dough piece thinly into a round or oval shape with a diameter of about 8-10 inches. The dough should be very thin.
10. Place the dough round on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
11. Spread a thin layer of meat filling evenly on the dough, leaving about 0.5 inches of the edge bare.
12. Bake the lahmacun in an oven preheated to 450-480°F for about 5-8 minutes. The dough is ready when the edges are golden brown and the filling is well-cooked.

Serve the finished Turkish pizza flat, cutting it into smaller pieces if desired. You can also roll it up with fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Enjoy!