Lamb Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza) Recipe

Introduction

Lamb Lahmacun, often called Turkish pizza, is a flavorful flatbread topped with a spiced ground lamb mixture. This recipe combines vibrant herbs, spices, and fresh toppings for a delicious Middle Eastern-inspired meal that’s perfect for sharing or enjoying on your own.

Ingredients

• 1 pound pizza dough (at room temperature)
• Flour (for rolling the dough)
• 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
• 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)
• 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)
• ½ small red onion (thinly sliced)
• 1 teaspoon ground sumac
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Drizzle of olive oil
• Chopped parsley (optional)
• Additional sumac
• Aleppo pepper flakes
• Lemon wedges

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats.
2. Step 2: Make the chopped salad by combining the peeled and diced cucumbers, seeded and diced tomato, chopped fresh mint, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Toss well and set aside.
3. Step 3: Prepare the herb tahini sauce. In a food processor, blend tahini, parsley or cilantro, garlic, lemon juice, and salt until smooth. Gradually add water, starting with ¼ cup, until the sauce is pourable but thick. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
4. Step 4: Make the sumac onions by tossing thinly sliced red onions with ground sumac, lemon juice, olive oil, and chopped parsley. Let them marinate while you prepare the rest.
5. Step 5: Prepare the meat topping. Pulse the chopped red bell pepper, red onion, garlic, tomato, and parsley in a food processor until finely chopped. Strain any excess moisture.
6. Step 6: In a large bowl, mix the ground lamb with turmeric, cumin, paprika, dried mint, sumac, and kosher salt. Add the strained vegetable mixture and combine well.
7. Step 7: Divide the pizza dough into four equal pieces. On a floured surface, roll each piece into an 8 to 9 inch circle.
8. Step 8: Spread the meat mixture evenly over each dough circle, pressing gently and leaving a small border around the edges.
9. Step 9: Transfer each flatbread carefully to a baking sheet or preheated pizza stone. Bake for about 10 minutes until the dough is crisp and the meat is cooked through.
10. Step 10: To serve, top each lahmacun with the chopped salad, sumac onions, a drizzle of the tahini sauce, and a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper and extra sumac. Serve with lemon wedges and enjoy folded like a wrap.

Tips & Variations

• For a milder flavor, reduce or omit the Aleppo pepper flakes.
• Use a mix of lamb and beef for a richer, more balanced taste.
• If you don’t have sumac, a squeeze of lemon juice can add a similar tangy note.
• Make extra tahini sauce to drizzle generously or use as a dip.
• Try adding finely chopped fresh chili for extra heat if you like spice.

Storage

Store leftover lahmacun in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a hot oven or skillet to maintain the crispness of the dough. Keep salad and sauces separate until serving to preserve freshness.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use store-bought pizza dough for this recipe?

Yes, store-bought pizza dough works well and saves time. Just bring it to room temperature before rolling out.

What can I substitute if I don’t have sumac?

If you don’t have sumac, lemon juice or a mix of lemon zest and a pinch of salt can offer a similar tangy flavor.

Lamb Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza) Recipe

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Lamb Lahmacun, often called Turkish pizza, is a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a spiced ground lamb mixture and baked to perfection. This recipe features a flavorful blend of aromatic spices, fresh herbs, and a vibrant chopped salad, finished with a tangy herb tahini sauce and sumac onions. Perfect as a shared appetizer or main dish, Lahmacun is traditionally served folded with fresh lemon wedges and a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper for a delightful balance of savory and bright flavors.

• Author: Sana
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Turkish

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

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, start with 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)

To Serve

• 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 during preheating for a crispier crust.
2. Make the Chopped Salad. In a bowl, combine peeled and diced Persian cucumbers, diced tomato, chopped fresh mint, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Toss well to combine and set aside to let flavors meld.
3. Prepare Herb Tahini Sauce. In a food processor, blend tahini with your choice of fresh parsley or cilantro, a garlic clove, lemon juice, and kosher salt until smooth. Gradually add water, starting with ¼ cup, to achieve a pourable yet thick consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
4. Make Sumac Onions. Toss thinly sliced red onions with ground sumac, lemon juice, a drizzle of olive oil, and optional chopped parsley. Let the mixture marinate to develop flavor while preparing other components.
5. Prepare Meat Topping. In a food processor, pulse red bell pepper, red onion, garlic, tomato, and parsley until finely chopped. Strain excess moisture from this mixture. In a large bowl, combine ground lamb with turmeric, cumin, paprika, dried mint, sumac, and kosher salt. Add the strained vegetable mixture and mix thoroughly until well combined.
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 an even portion of the meat topping thinly over each dough circle, pressing gently and leaving a slight border at the edges.
7. Bake the Lahmacun. Transfer each topped flatbread carefully onto a baking sheet or preheated pizza stone. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes or until the edges are crisp and the meat is fully cooked.
8. Garnish and Serve. Remove baked Lahmacun from the oven and immediately top with the chopped salad, sumac onions, a drizzle of herb tahini sauce, and a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper and additional sumac if desired. Serve with lemon wedges on the side and enjoy folded like a wrap.

Notes

• Allow the pizza stone to preheat fully for the crispiest crust.
• Straining the vegetable mixture helps prevent soggy topping.
• You can substitute ground beef for lamb or use a mix for a milder flavor.
• Adjust spices to your taste preference for heat and aroma.
• Lahmacun is best enjoyed fresh out of the oven for optimal texture.
• The herb tahini sauce can be thinned or thickened depending on your desired consistency.
• If you don’t have Aleppo pepper, mild crushed chili flakes work as a substitute.

Keywords: Lahmacun, Turkish Pizza, Lamb Flatbread, Turkish Cuisine, Spiced Ground Lamb, Middle Eastern Flatbread