Lahmacun: What It Is and How to Make It

Lahmacun, pronounced 'lahma'joun' and otherwise known as Turkish pizza, Armenian pizza or Kurdish pizza, literally means 'meat with dough'. It's a Middle Eastern dish consisting of a layer of dough topped off with minced meat. 

Lahmacun is hugely popular in Turkey, but also in Armenia, Lebanon, Kurdistan and Syria. It has also been one of the most searched recipes on Google in recent years.

What is lahmacun made of?

Lahmacun consists of a thin circular or oval piece of dough, on which a topping is placed, which can be made from meat (often lamb), vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, onions) and aromatic herbs (basil, coriander, parsley ). While it can be served flat like an Italian pizza, it can also be found rolled up. Other seasonings, such as salad, parsley, basil or squeezed lemon, can also be added.

Lahmacun recipe

Lahmacun is made in two stages, firstly by preparing the bread dough and secondly, the topping.

To make lahmacun you will need the following ingredients:

For the dough

250g of bread flour
1 C. 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
15cl of lukewarm water
1 C. coffee sugar
½ tsp. teaspoon salt
1 C. tablespoon olive oil

For the meat stuffing:

400g of minced meat (lamb or beef)
2 tbsp. sumac
1 C. chilli
Espelette pepper
1 small can of crushed tomatoes
Salt
Pepper
Chopped parsley
Dried mint
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 small orange pepper
1 small yellow pepper
1 small red pepper

Cooking instructions

1. Dilute the yeast in lukewarm water and leave to stand for 10 minutes.
2. Pour the flour, salt and sugar into a salad bowl.
3. Add the yeast and olive oil. Pour in lukewarm water and knead until you get a smooth dough.
4. Oil the bottom of a salad bowl and shape the dough into a ball. Cover with cling film and let rise until the dough doubles in volume.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the meat stuffing. Heat a little olive oil in a pan and sauté the chopped onion and the diced peppers.
6. Add the garlic and continue cooking for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, mint, then the minced meat, salt and pepper. Add the spices and cook slowly until all the vegetables are tender.
7. Remove from the heat and add the parsley. The topping is ready. 
8. Knock back the dough and divide into 5 small balls.
9. Spread thinly on a floured work surface.
10. Heat a crepe maker or skillet.
11. Place a disc of dough in the pan, spread the meat topping, cover and cook gently until the dough takes on a nice colour.
12. Repeat the same with the rest of the dough.
13. Serve with fresh tomatoes and lettuce.