Sep 13, 2010
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Lahmacun (Flat Bread with Lamb and Tomatoes)

Bake these Turkish spiced lamb and tomato flat breads on a heated pizza stone in the oven so that the crust and topping cook evenly.
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Lahmacun (Flat Bread with Lamb and Tomatoes) Enlarge Image Credit: Todd Coleman
1 tsp. sugar 
1  1⁄4-oz. package active dry yeast
2 cups flour, plus more
1 1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
1⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. tomato paste
1 tbsp. minced flat-leaf parsley
1⁄2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1⁄4 tsp. ground cumin
1⁄4 tsp. sweet paprika
1⁄8 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 oz. ground lamb
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 plum tomato, grated
1 small onion, grated
1⁄2 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded, 
   and minced

1. Combine sugar, yeast, and 3⁄4 cup water heated to 115˚ in a small bowl; let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. Combine flour and salt in a bowl and make a well in the center. Add yeast mixture and stir to form a dough. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth, about 6 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let dough rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Punch down dough, divide into 4 portions, and roll each portion into a ball. Transfer dough balls to a floured baking sheet. Cover with a damp tea towel and let rest for 45 minutes.  

2. Meanwhile, make the topping: In a large bowl, combine oil, tomato paste, parsley, cayenne, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon and stir vigorously with a fork. Stir in lamb, garlic, tomatoes, onions, and chiles and season with salt; set topping aside. 

3. Put a pizza stone in bottom third of oven and heat oven to 475°. Working with one dough ball at a time, use a rolling pin to roll dough into a 10" disk. Brush off excess flour and transfer dough to a piece of parchment paper. Spoon 3–4 tbsp. topping onto dough and using your fingers, spread topping evenly to edges. Season with salt. Holding parchment paper by its edges, transfer to baking stone. Bake until dough is golden brown and topping is cooked, 6–8 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough and topping; serve warm or at room temperature.   


SERVES 4 – 6

Lahmacun (Flat Bread with Lamb and Tomatoes)

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #132

Ratings & Reviews (4)

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Delicious! My favourite Saveur recipe so far...and now a regular dinner around here...great with a salad and a glass of red.

Read about it here: Saveur Saturday on IslandVittles.com -- http://islandvittles.com/2010/11/27/saveur-saturday-turkish-lahmacun/
noAvatar
This is one of my favorites. Everytime I visit my family, one dinner has to be just lahmacun! Can't wait to try at my home.

Ilke
http://www.ilkeskitchen.com
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Best ever in the country is a little place near Ephesus. Just a little one table place in the town center.
noAvatar
Awesome as an appetizer, instead of making the bread try to find a fuccacia bread at your grocery store. So much easier and much tastier
Lahmacun (Flat Bread with Lamb and Tomatoes) 5 5 3 4

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