Description
Lahmacun is a thin, crispy Turkish flatbread topped with a flavorful mixture of ground meat, tomatoes, herbs, and spices, offering a delicious and authentic taste of traditional Turkish cuisine.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup warm water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Topping
- ½ lb ground beef or lamb
- 1 small onion, finely minced
- 1 tomato, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Mix the all-purpose flour and salt in a large bowl. Gradually add warm water and olive oil while kneading the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes to relax the gluten and make rolling easier.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 450°F (230°C) to ensure it is hot enough to crisp the thin flatbreads quickly.
- Roll the Dough: Divide the rested dough into equal portions and roll each into thin, round flatbreads, aiming for a very thin layer for the authentic crispy texture of lahmacun.
- Prepare the Topping: In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef or lamb, finely minced onion, chopped tomato, tomato paste, chopped parsley, paprika, cumin, and season generously with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine all flavors evenly.
- Assemble and Bake: Spread a thin layer of the meat topping evenly over each rolled dough round. Place the flatbreads on baking sheets and bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are crispy and the meat is cooked through.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately with lemon wedges and fresh herbs. Lahmacun is traditionally topped with lettuce leaves and rolled before eating.
Notes
- Roll the dough very thin to achieve the authentic crispy texture characteristic of lahmacun.
- Traditionally, lahmacun is served with fresh lettuce and is rolled up before eating for the best experience.
- Using ground lamb will provide a richer, more traditional flavor, but ground beef is a great alternative.
- Ensure your oven is fully preheated to get a crispy crust.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Turkish
