Lahmacun ( Turkish Pizza)

Lahmacun ( Turkish Pizza)

Ingredients for the dough:

1 tsp dry active yeast

0,5 tsp sugar

1+1/2 cup of warm water

4,5 cups of flour

Little oil to brush the dough

Ingredients for the topping:

12 oz of minced beef or lamb

1 big onion

2-3 cloves of garlic

2 Tbsp of butter

1,5 cups of fresh curly parsley

1 cup of fresh mint

1 medium tomato

1 tsp of chili pepper

1 jalapeno

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp of cumin

salt according to your own taste

Juice of 1 lemon

little oil to brush the dough

Method

In a bowl, mix the warm water with the yeast, sugar and oil. Leave for about 10 minutes to froth up. Meanwhile, mix the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the liquid, then stir, gradually incorporating all of the liquid to make a sticky dough.

Turn out the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead until it is transformed into a glossy, stretchy dough. Return to the bowl, cover tightly with cling film and leave somewhere warm for about 1 hour. Turn out again and knead for a few more minutes.

Preheat the oven to its hottest setting 230–300°C/450–475°F/gas 8–9 and put a pizza stone or heavy roasting tray in to get really hot.

On a large board, chop together the lamb, onion, tomato, green chilli, garlic, cumin and coriander to make a smooth mush. Season well with salt.

On a well-floured surface, roll your dough into 4 rounds about ½cm (¼in) thick. Spread the lamb mix thinly on top of the dough. Remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and very carefully transfer the lahmacuns onto it (you might find a tart tin base or something flat useful for this). Bake for about 5 minutes, until bubbly and slightly brown at the edges. Sprinkle with the chilli flakes an sumac if you want. Add a squeeze of lemon and roll up with the parsley and mint leaves to eat.

P.S: It is a traditional dish in Turkey. You should try it immediately:)