Turkish Lahmacun
The pizza-style lahmacun, or lahmajoun, or translated "meat on dough" is popular in the Eastern Mediterranean region from Lebanon to Turkey. The crust has a thin crispy-soft texture from the stone oven. At home, it's traditionally baked in a pan without oil. The meat infused with summer vegetables creates a refreshing juicy topping. Enjoy lahmacun rolled up with or without salad filling.
Ingredients
- 1 lb lamb or beef ground
- 1 large onion
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1 1/2 bell pepper 1/2 green, 1 red
- 12 tortilla wraps 8-inch
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2-4 tbsp tomato paste
- 1-2 lemons for juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- salt & pepper
Suggested Fillings
- 1 lettuce of your choice chopped
- 1-2 tomatoes sliced
- 1 cup yogurt plain
Lahmacun Culinary Spice Kit
- PaprikaTurkish pepper (mild Marash & Urfa, crushed with oil and salt), anardana (pomegranate), oregano
Instructions
Prepare
- In a FOOD PROCESSOR, blend onion and garlic into a paste.
- Add parsley and bell peppers and chop coarsely.
- Make sure that some tiny pieces are still visible.
Without a food processor
- Grate onion and garlic, and finely chop parsley and bell peppers.
Mix
- Pour the mixture into a BOWL.
- Stir in oil, Lahmacun spices, and 2 tbsp tomato paste.
- Add salt (1.5 tsp recommended) and black pepper to taste.
- Add meat and mix very well.
Rest
- Let rest for 15 minutes.
- Add more tomato paste if not all liquid is absorbed.
Bake
- On each tortilla, distribute 2 tbsp of the meat mixture thinly up to the very edges.
- Bake in a medium hot PAN (without oil) or OVEN (325°F, on parchment paper) until the meat topping is cooked.
- Repeat until all lahmacuns are prepared.
Tip
- To keep the lahmacuns warm until all are done, place the 2nd cooked lahmacun face down on top of the 1st one, the 3rd face up on top. Repeat.
Serve
- Sprinkle lemon juice to taste on your lahmacun and add the fillings of your choice.
- Roll up and enjoy!
Notes
Variations
▪ Substitute lamb with any other ground meat.
▪ Substitute meat with 2 cups of cooked lentils or bulgur.
▪ Substitute meat with 2 cups of cooked lentils or bulgur.
