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Lamb Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza) Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 82 reviews

Lamb Lahmacun, known as Turkish pizza, is a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a flavorful mix of seasoned ground lamb and finely chopped vegetables. Baked to perfection and served with fresh chopped salad, tangy sumac onions, and a creamy herb tahini sauce, this dish offers a delightful blend of spices and textures perfect for a satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 1 pound pizza dough (at room temperature)
  • Flour (for rolling the dough)

Meat Topping

  • 1 pound ground lamb (or a mix of ground lamb and beef)
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried mint
  • ½ teaspoon sumac
  • 1 small red bell pepper (chopped)
  • ½ small red onion (chopped)
  • 2 garlic cloves (chopped)
  • 1 small tomato (seeds removed and chopped)
  • Small handful of fresh parsley
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Chopped Salad

  • 2 Persian cucumbers (peeled and diced)
  • 1 large tomato (seeded and diced)
  • Fresh mint leaves (chopped)
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

Herb Tahini Sauce

  • ½ cup tahini
  • Small handful of parsley or cilantro
  • 1 garlic clove
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Water (to thin the sauce, about ¼ cup)

Sumac Onions

  • ½ small red onion (thinly sliced)
  • 1 teaspoon ground sumac
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • Drizzle of olive oil
  • Chopped parsley (optional)

Garnishes

  • Additional sumac
  • Aleppo pepper flakes
  • Lemon wedges

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat up while you prepare the ingredients.
  2. Make the Chopped Salad: Combine peeled and diced Persian cucumbers, seeded and diced tomato, chopped fresh mint, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Toss thoroughly and set aside to let the flavors meld.
  3. Prepare Herb Tahini Sauce: In a food processor, blend tahini, a small handful of parsley or cilantro, garlic clove, lemon juice, and kosher salt until smooth. Gradually add water (start with ¼ cup) to reach a pourable yet thick consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Set aside.
  4. Make Sumac Onions: Toss thinly sliced red onions with ground sumac, lemon juice, a drizzle of olive oil, and optional chopped parsley. Let them marinate while you prepare the meat topping.
  5. Make the Meat Topping: Pulse red bell pepper, red onion, garlic, tomato, and parsley in a food processor until finely chopped but not pureed. Strain to remove excess moisture. In a large bowl, combine ground lamb with turmeric, cumin, paprika, dried mint, sumac, kosher salt, and the strained vegetable mixture. Mix thoroughly to combine flavors evenly.
  6. Roll and Assemble: Divide the pizza dough into four equal portions. On a floured surface, roll each piece into an 8 to 9-inch circle. Spread each dough circle evenly with the meat mixture, pressing gently and leaving a small border around the edges.
  7. Bake: Transfer the assembled flatbreads carefully to a baking sheet or the preheated pizza stone. Bake for approximately 10 minutes until the dough is crisp and the meat topping is fully cooked.
  8. Garnish and Serve: Remove lahmacun from the oven. Top each with chopped salad, sumac onions, and a drizzle of herb tahini sauce. Sprinkle with Aleppo pepper flakes and additional sumac if desired. Serve immediately with lemon wedges. Fold and enjoy like a wrap.

Notes

  • For best results, allow the pizza dough to come to room temperature before rolling.
  • Straining the vegetable mixture in the meat topping prevents sogginess and ensures crisp dough.
  • Adjust the amount of spices like sumac and Aleppo pepper according to your heat preference.
  • Leftover lahmacun can be refrigerated and reheated in a hot oven to maintain crispness.
  • You can substitute ground beef for lamb or use a blend for a milder flavor.

Keywords: Lamb Lahmacun, Turkish pizza, flatbread, ground lamb recipe, Middle Eastern pizza, savory meat flatbread, quick Turkish meal

Find it online: https://savorandsimmer.com/lamb-lahmacun-turkish-pizza-recipe/