Lahmacun or Turkish pizza (flatbread) is an easy and delicious dish - a thin base topped with a deliciously seasoned meaty topping. Perfect finger food.
![Lahmacun or Turkish flatbread is an easy and delicious dish - a thin base topped with a deliciously seasoned meaty topping. Perfect finger food. Lahmacun - Turkish flatbread - with part view of a second one behind and dish with salad](jpg/lahmacun-turkish-flatbread-photo.jpg)
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I'm not quite sure when I first had lahmacun, but I definitely remember one of the more memorable times I had it was on a work visit to Cyprus a few years ago. Some colleagues from the office in Nicosia very kindly took me out for some food and drinks after work one evening, after a long day.
I think the host had already eaten and assumed myself and our other colleague had too since it was pretty late, and so had chosen a place that didn't really serve meals but they did have homemade lahmacun.
As soon as I took a bite I loved it.
![Lahmacun or Turkish flatbread is an easy and delicious dish - a thin base topped with a deliciously seasoned meaty topping. Perfect finger food. Close up view of toppings on lahmacun](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Lahmacun-Turkish-flatbread-pic.jpg)
What is lahmacun?
Lahmacun is often called Turkish flatbread or Turkish pizza. It's a very simple, thin dough base with a spicy meat, tomato and onion topping that makes a fantastic finger food whether you enjoy as you watch football or any other excuse to eat it.
The topping is really pretty simple but a great mix of flavors. You can spice it up or down as you prefer with a few more chili flakes to taste.
As I ate it that time in Cyprus, I was pretty sure I'd had it before some time but I gave up trying to remember. Instead I just inhaled it, it was so delicious. After a long day at work, lahmacun and a nice cold drink sitting outside was the perfect end.
![Lahmacun or Turkish flatbread is an easy and delicious dish - a thin base topped with a deliciously seasoned meaty topping. Perfect finger food. Lahmacun with a slice of lemon and sprig of parsley garnish on top with bowl of salad to side](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Lahmacun-Turkish-flatbread-picture.jpg)
True, sitting outside is not exactly an option in New England weather at this time of year, but it's still nice to bring some of that warmth inside with this dish. For a cheese-loving family like ours the idea of a flatbread/pizza without any cheese is a little tough at first. But believe me, the taste soon wins you over.
Steps to make lahmacun
It's really easy to make:
- Form the dough into small circles.
- Blend up the topping ingredients in the food processor.
- Spread the mixture on your bases.
- Bake until golden around the edges and the meat is cooked.
Here I've made the base as it's definitely worth doing if you can, but you'd be forgiven for cheating with ready-made if you like.
It's pretty common to put some salad inside the lahmacun, roll it up and eat it, as we did, and you can always add some grilled halloumi in there if you want to get that bit of a cheese fix.
![topping on base for lahmacun, ready to bake Topping on dough base, ready to cook](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Lahmacun-Turkish-flatbread-ready-to-cook.jpg)
Variations on lahmacun
The meat mixture on top is a mix of onion, tomato and either lamb or beef (I believe more traditionally lamb which is my preference but you can use beef instead). You typically season this with pepper, parsley and sometimes a few spices such as some cumin and chili flakes. You can miss out or cut back on the chili and let people add at the end as well, if you like.
Although not as traditional, I seem to remember when I had it that time in Cyprus there were pine nuts on top as well. These are often combined with lamb in dishes in the region and being another favorite, I had to add some here as well.
You can enjoy this as an appetizer, being a great finger food, but you can also have a couple each as a main, particularly if it's paired with a salad as we had. Ours was a simple mix of tomato, cucumber and parsley dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. Rolling the salad inside the lahmacun gives you all the tasty topping, fresh salad and crunchy base in each bite.
![Lahmacun or Turkish flatbread is an easy and delicious dish - a thin base topped with a deliciously seasoned meaty topping. Perfect finger food. Close up of folded over lahmacun with tomato cucumber salad inside](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Lahmacun-Turkish-flatbread-folded.jpg)
However you decide to eat it, lahmacun is a great dish to enjoy for many an occasion. So mix up some topping, make or buy your base and pop them in the oven for a delicious meal.
Looking for dishes to serve with this? Try these!
- Kisir, Turkish bulgur salad
- Pomegranate tabbouleh
- Israeli salad (which is similar to other tomato-cucumber salads in the region)
- Some Turkish-style stuffed apricots after would also be delicious!
- Plus get more ideas for regional flavors in the Middle Eastern recipes archives.
If you're looking for other cultural takes on pizza, try my Catalan coca (Spanish pizza with peppers and onion) or flammekueche (pizza/flatbread from France/Germany with bacon, onion and creme fraiche).
Lahmacun - Turkish flatbread
Ingredients
For the base
- ¼ oz fast acting instant yeast 7g, 1 packet/sachet
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon warm water
- 2 cups white bread flour 300g, or all-purpose would be fine
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 150 g Greek yogurt 1 small pot
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup water 60ml, or a little less
For the topping
- ½ red onion large or 1 small
- 1 tomatoes large or 2 small
- ½ red pepper
- 1 handful parsley leaves
- ½ lb ground lamb 225g lamb mince, can use beef
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoon pine nuts approx
- red pepper flakes and lemon to serve
Instructions
- To make the base, dissolve the yeast and the sugar in the 2tbsp of warm water. Leave them to start throthing a little. Meanwhile mix together the flour and salt in a large bowl and measure out everything else (you can blent together the yogurt and oil if you like but not essential).
- Add the yogurt, oil and yeast mixture to the flour and salt and mix well, adding a little water as you go until you get a smooth, very slightly damp mixture. It's often easiest to mix by hand, at least towards the end.
- Tip the mixture out onto a floured surface and knead for around 5 minutes. It should stop feeling sticky and more elastic. Clean out your mixing bowl, gently brush with a little oil then put the dough back in and put it in a warm place, covered with a cloth, for around 2 hours to rise.
- After the dough has rested, pre-heat the oven to 450F/230C.
- Roughly chop the onion, tomato and pepper - deseed half the tomato to save the mixture getting too wet. Place all along with the parsley in a food processor and blend to a rough paste.
- Add the lamb, allspice, cumin and a good grinding of salt and pepper. Blend until combined.
- Knock back the dough and divide into eight balls. Cover the ones you are not using until ready and roll them out into thin circles, around 6in in diameter (really just as thin as you can make them.
- Transfer to a lined baking sheet and spread a spoonful of the topping mixture over the top, carefully spreading it into a thin layer (it's often easiest to finish by hand and press it out).
- Sprinkle over a few pine nuts on the top of each.
- Bake in the oven for around 12-15min until browning around the edges and the topping is cooked.
Notes
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
Remember to pin for later:
![Lahmacun or Turkish flatbread is an easy and delicious dish - a thin base topped with a deliciously seasoned meaty topping. Perfect finger food. Lahmacun or Turkish flatbread is an easy and delicious dish - a thin base topped with a deliciously seasoned meaty topping. Perfect finger food. #Turkish #flatbread #pizza](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Lahmacun-Turkish-flatbread-pin.jpg)
Veena Azmanov
This is so delicious and yummy. Have to make it for family.. They would enjoy it.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, hope they do as much as we did!
Jere Cassidy
This is a recipe I never heard of but it sure looks delicious.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it's not that well known but it should be as it's really tasty.
Natalie
I love this dish! Looks so delicious and perfect for hosting too!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, yes it's both tasty and perfect for a party!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Lauren, it really is!
Tara
Love Lahmacun! They have been on my cooking bucket list for a while now. Yours look delicious!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Tara, I can understand why, they're great - hope this sparks you to make them!
KC the Kitchen Chopper
I love the idea of Pine Nuts. The ones in the photo look so big, I wondered if they were really pine nuts. Halloumi is a cheese I've heard of but never tried. I think a bit of cheese on this would be wonderful. Such a winner dinner!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks KC. Re the pine nuts, I think it's just the photo angle! But they are delicious on there either way!
Analida's Ethnic Spoon
I love the flavors in Turkish food and this one looks like a keeper! Pinned for later.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Analida, it's really delicious, even being pretty simple - I hope you enjoy!
Denise Wright
Oh my gosh, this is weird. I was just checking out Ethnic Spoons site and she made a Lebanese dish that had me reminiscing of dishes my father's family used to make and I was thinking about my aunt's meat pies. This is it! I am so excited to make these as I have forgotten about them and they were so good. (pinning)
Caroline's Cooking
How weird, indeed, but so glad this is what you were thinking of - a happy coincidence! I just hope it tastes as good as you remember (it was certainly good in our minds!)
Jade @ Jonesin' For Taste
These sound perfect for a crowd! Make up a whole bunch of small appetizer shaped ones!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Jade, they are definitely good for a group!
Cathy
I would love to use this for lunch today! It would be a great compliment to my leftover chicken and veggies! Delicious! 🙂
Cathy
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Cathy, it would definitely work well with veg!
Tara
We love this flatbread here and have made it a few times, great for game day too!
Caroline's Cooking
It is delicious I agree, Tara. And indeed great for the game!