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Lahmacun – Baked Turkish Pizza Recipe

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4.6 from 378 reviews

Lahmacun, often known as Turkish pizza, is a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a flavorful mixture of ground meat, vegetables, and aromatic spices. This traditional dish combines a tender, homemade yeast dough with a spiced ground beef or lamb topping, baked quickly at a high temperature for a deliciously crispy result. Perfect as a snack or meal, lahmacun is easy to prepare and full of vibrant Mediterranean flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Dough

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 ½ tsp cane sugar
  • 2 tsp dried instant yeast
  • 1 cup lukewarm water

For the Meat Mixture

  • ½ pound ground beef or lamb
  • ⅓ cup small-diced red bell pepper, packed
  • ½ cup small-diced onion, lightly packed
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped parsley, lightly packed
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp dried mint
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp kosher salt (do not use iodized)
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp Turkish red pepper paste, scraped and leveled
  • ⅔ cup water
  • ½ tsp kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, kosher salt, cane sugar, and dried instant yeast. Gradually add lukewarm water while mixing and kneading until a smooth ball of dough forms. Transfer the dough onto a floured surface, dust with additional flour on top and on your hands, and knead thoroughly for five minutes. Cover the bowl with a cloth or plastic wrap and let the dough rise at room temperature for one hour, or until it doubles in size.
  2. Make the Seasoned Meat Mixture: In a separate large bowl, combine ground beef or lamb, diced red bell pepper, diced onion, chopped parsley, finely chopped garlic, dried oregano, dried mint, cumin, kosher salt, ground black pepper, Turkish red pepper paste, water, and additional kosher salt. Mix all ingredients thoroughly by hand for five minutes until aromatic and well blended. Set aside until ready to assemble.
  3. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C) to ensure a hot baking environment crucial for a crispy thin crust.
  4. Shape the Dough: Once the dough has risen, divide it into 6 equal pieces. On a floured surface, roll out one piece at a time using a rolling pin dusted with flour. Roll the dough into a thin circle, ensuring even thickness and flat edges; this is not a pizza, so avoid puffed edges. Dust off excess flour from the dough surface.
  5. Add the Meat Topping: Place the shaped dough on a nonstick baking sheet (do not use parchment paper as it may burn). Spoon approximately 4 tablespoons of the meat mixture onto the dough and spread evenly with your fingertips, gently and carefully without pressing too hard or creating holes. Extend the mixture to the edges, and if necessary, moisten bare spots with meat juices to achieve golden edges during baking.
  6. Bake the Lahmacun: Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake the lahmacun for 6 to 8 minutes. Avoid opening the oven door during baking to maintain temperature. Use the oven light to monitor the cooking progress.
  7. Serve and Repeat: Carefully remove the cooked lahmacun from the oven and transfer to a heat-safe serving tray or pizza stone. Repeat the shaping, topping, and baking process for the remaining dough pieces until all six lahmacuns are done.

Notes

  • Use non-iodized kosher salt as iodized salt can affect the dough and seasoning taste.
  • Do not use parchment paper for baking; it can burn at high temperatures.
  • The dough must be rolled very thin to achieve the traditional crispiness of lahmacun.
  • Do not press hard when spreading the meat mixture to avoid tearing the dough.
  • Ensure the oven is fully preheated to 500°F for best results.
  • Let the dough rise until doubled in size for better texture.
  • Ground lamb adds more authentic flavor but ground beef is a great alternative.

Keywords: Lahmacun, Turkish pizza, Turkish flatbread, ground beef lahmacun, lamb lahmacun, homemade Turkish pizza, spicy meat pizza, Mediterranean flatbread

Find it online: https://lieblingsmahlzeit.com/lahmacun-baked-turkish-pizza-recipe/