This Turkish Lahmacun comes together in about 30 minutes and is baked to perfection with all the delicious smells wafting through your kitchen for a quick and easy dinner that your family will love! The best part? You can easily switch up the toppings to suit whatever you have on hand or even use it as a “clean out the fridge” meal to get rid of leftover veggies and odds and ends. Perfect for those busy weeknights, right?
Ingredient Breakdown
Now let’s talk ingredients, because they’re super important! You need some good stuff to make this meal shine, and thankfully, it’s made from easy-to-find items!
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 200g minced meat (lamb or beef)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Let’s Get Cooking!
Follow these simple steps to whip up some incredible Quick and Easy Turkish Lahmacun that’ll have your family asking for seconds in no time!
Activate the Yeast: Start by mixing that warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast in a bowl. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, or until it’s all frothy and bubbly. You’ll know it’s ready when it looks all frothy and alive!
Make the Dough: In a larger bowl, combine the flour and salt. Then add the yeast mixture and olive oil, mixing until a dough forms! It should be a little tacky. Knead that delicious dough for about 5 minutes until it’s smooth, cover it, and let it rise for 1 hour. This is the time when you can kick back and relax!
Preheat the Oven: After your dough has risen, preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) that’s hot! If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat up.
Cook the Filling: In a large skillet over medium heat, add a splash of olive oil and sauté the chopped onions and minced garlic until they’re translucent and fragrant about 5 minutes. Then add in your minced meat and the green bell pepper and cook until browned.
Stir in the Veggies and Spices: Once the meat is cooked through, stir in the tomatoes, paprika, cumin, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes until everything is well mixed and bursting with flavor!
Roll Out the Dough: After the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air, then divide it into 4-6 equal portions. Roll each portion out into a thin circle, think about the thickness of a tortilla.
Top and Bake: Spread the meat mixture evenly over each circle, then transfer it to the hot oven (or on your pizza stone) and bake for about 10-12 minutes until the edges are golden brown and crispy!
Garnish and Serve: Once you pull those beautiful Lahmacun out of the oven, give them a sprinkle of chopped parsley. Serve warm and let everyone dig in!
Why I Love This Recipe
This Quick and Easy Turkish Lahmacun is my go-to recipe when I need something comforting yet quick. The smell in the kitchen when it’s baking? Oh my goodness! It’s like being wrapped in a warm, cozy blanket. Plus, my family just loves getting creative with the toppings! The best part is, you can use whatever you’ve got on hand—no pressure at all!
If you loved this recipe, be sure to check out my No-Oven Turkish Bread (Bazlama), my Turkish Meatballs, or my Kuru Fasulye Recipe (Turkish Beans)!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
This baby comes together in under 30 minutes, which means you can have a mouthwatering dinner ready in no time. Who said weeknight cooking needed to be complicated?
Customizable
You can really make this recipe your own! Feel free to switch out the meat, veggies, or spices based on what you have in your pantry. Today, it’s all about being flexible, and that’s a win-win!
Comfort Food
Every bite is packed with tons of flavor, and it’s just the kind of comforting meal that brings your family together. It’s like a hug in food form.
Budget-Friendly
Using affordable ingredients means you can whip this recipe up without breaking the bank. It’s economical and oh-so-delicious!
Perfect for Meal Prep
If you’re looking to prep ahead for the week, make the dough and the filling ahead of time and assemble it fresh for dinner. You can even freeze the rolled-out Lahmacun, you’ll thank me later!
Serving and Storage Tips
Once you’ve made your scrumptious Turkish Lahmacun, how do you serve and store it? Here’s the scoop!
Serving Suggestions
Lahmacun is best served warm, and I love to pair it with a side of creamy yogurt dip or a crisp salad for some extra freshness! You could also add a squeeze of lemon over the top for a zesty kick!
Storage
If you happen to have leftovers (I know, crazy, right?), you can keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating Instructions
When you’re ready to enjoy it again, heat it in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-10 minutes to get that crispiness back.
Freezer Friendly?
Absolutely! After baking, let them cool completely, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, and then place them in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep for up to 3 months! Perfect for those nights when you need something quick.
Now what are you waiting for? Let’s get cooking! Trust me, your family is going to request this meal again and again. Enjoy your dinner, y’all! Follow us on Pinterest for daily meal inspiration!
Turkish Lahmacun
Ingredients
Method
- Activate the yeast by mixing warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast in a bowl. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until frothy.
- In a larger bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil, mixing until a dough forms. Knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and let rise for 1 hour.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chopped onions and minced garlic in olive oil until translucent (about 5 minutes).
- Add minced meat and green bell pepper, cooking until browned.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, paprika, cumin, and salt and pepper; let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Punch down the risen dough, divide it into 4-6 portions, and roll each into a thin circle.
- Spread the meat mixture over each rolled-out circle and bake for about 10-12 minutes until edges are golden brown.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.