Ingredients
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For the dough
- 200g
Flour
- 2g
Baker's yeast
- 15cl
Lukewarm Water
Salt
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For the Toppings
- 140g
Ground beef
- 60g
Minced lamb shoulder
- 1
Onion
- 1
Long Green Pepper
- 2
Ripe tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon
Chilli flakes
Salt & Pepper
Directions
Discover this delicious recipe (tarifi in Turkish) of Lahmacun, these Turkish pizzas not to be missed!
Origin and provenance of this very special pizza
Lahmacun, also called Lahmajoun in Armenian, literally means “meat with dough”. This traditional Levantine recipe is also called Turkish pizza, Kurdish pizza or even Armenian pizza.
It is a dish made of crispy dough filled with minced meat. Lahmacun are very popular in Turkey, Lebanon, Armenia and Syria.
This delicious Turkish pizza is a must of the street food, you can find it everywhere!
Composition of the recipe for homemade Lahmacun
The Lahmacun is cooked in the form of a dough, often oval or circular, on which is placed a filling composed of minced meat (lamb or beef), finely sliced vegetables (green or red peppers, onions, tomatoes) and spices and herbs (chili, parsley, coriander, basil). You can also spice up your Lahmacun with a little lemon juice.
It is a very nutritious recipe with the presence of vegetables, proteins, starches, that good things to feed your body!
How to enjoy this recipe like in Turkey?
If you know how to eat a pizza, you could do the same with this Turkish pizza, but that’s not exactly how the Turks do it!
In Turkey, Lahmacun is served on a large plate with a salad and a little olive oil. They use this salad composed of grated carrots, pickles, onion rings, red cabbage, parsley and others to top their pizza with. Once your pizza is topped with the ingredients of your choice, roll it up and enjoy! It will only get better. You can accompany this dish with Ayran, a yogurt-based drink.
The different variants of Lahmacun
The traditional recipe consists of a mixture of minced lamb and beef, onions, parsley, tomatoes and red peppers, all finely chopped. There is also often a little garlic. You can also make this recipe with only beef or lamb.
The fillings of Lahmacun can vary according to the season. In summer, you can make a vegetarian version (without meat!) which will be lighter with tomato and parsley. Instead of serving this vegetarian version with a salad, you can serve it with grilled eggplant slices.
In short, treat yourself! Don’t be afraid to try new fillings for your homemade Lahmacun, it’s in the trying that you learn. Choose seasonal vegetables for more flavor and garnish it according to your taste. You can even try sweet and salty Lahmacun by adding a little fruit (some add quince but I have never tried it myself).
As for the spices, there are several options: chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, paprika, sumac or cayenne pepper.
Regarding the dough used, some use a classic pizza dough (for the laziest!) but I recommend making a bread dough like in this recipe.
How to bake your Lahmacun ?
Simply place your dough and filling on a hot pan, a plancha or even on a wood fire for even more flavor! The main objective is to obtain a crispy dough.
Enjoy your meal!
Steps
1 Done 1h | Preparation of the Lahmacun doughMix the yeast with the warm water until it dissolves perfectly. In a bowl, mix the flour, a little salt and the water mixed with the yeast and knead until you get a nice ball of bread dough. Let your dough rest for at least 1 hour away from draughts (or near a radiator, doughs that rise like heat!). |
2 Done 5min | Preparation of the fillingFinely chop the onion, bell pepper and tomatoes and mix the vegetables with the minced meat. Add a pinch of chili powder, salt and pepper and mix well to garnish your Lahmacun. |
3 Done 15min | Topping and Baking of Turkish PizzasPreheat your oven to 180 degrees. Once the dough has rested, knead it again and separate it into 4 portions (for 4 Lahmacun). On a floured work surface, roll out your portions of dough into a thin disk and cover them with your spicy meat and vegetable filling. Bake your Lahmacun for 5 to 10 minutes. |
4 Done | Enjoy your homemade Lahmacun!That's it! You have made delicious homemade Turkish Lahmacun. You can serve them with lemon slices and a bunch of chopped parsley or coriander. Enjoy your meal! |
