Lamb Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza)
Lahmacun, or Turkish pizza, is a thin flatbread topped with spiced lamb, baked until crisp, and finished with fresh herbs, lemon, and tahini sauce.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Turkish
Keyword: Lahmacun recipe, Turkish lahmacun, Turkish pizza
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 819kcal
For the Lahmacun
- 1 pound pizza dough at room temperature
- Flour for rolling the dough
- 1 pound ground lamb or a mix of ground lamb and beef
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried mint
- ½ teaspoon sumac
- 1 small red bell pepper chopped
- ½ small red onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 small tomato seeds removed and chopped
- Small handful of fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
For the Chopped Salad
- 2 Persian cucumbers peeled and diced
- 1 large tomato seeded and diced
- Fresh mint leaves chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Herb Tahini Sauce
For the Sumac Onions
- ½ small red onion thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon ground sumac
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Drizzle of olive oil
- Chopped parsley optional
Garnishes
- Additional sumac
- Aleppo pepper flakes
- Lemon wedges
Make the Chopped Salad:
In a bowl, combine cucumbers, tomato, mint, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Toss well and set aside.
Prepare the Herb Tahini Sauce:
In a food processor, combine tahini, herbs, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Blend until smooth, then slowly add water (start with ¼ cup) until the sauce is pourable but still thick. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Make the Sumac Onions:
Toss sliced red onions with sumac, lemon juice, olive oil, and chopped parsley. Let marinate while preparing the rest of the recipe.
Make the Meat Topping:
In a food processor, pulse together the red bell pepper, red onion, garlic, tomato, parsley, until finely chopped. Strain any excess moisture.
In a large bowl, mix the ground meat with turmeric, cumin, paprika, dried mint, sumac, and salt. Add the strained vegetable mixture and mix until well combined.
Roll and Assemble:
Divide the pizza dough into four equal pieces. On a floured surface, roll each piece into an 8 to 9 inch circle.
Spread one portion of the meat mixture evenly over each dough circle, pressing it gently into the dough and leaving a slight border around the edges.
Garnish and Serve:
Top each lahmacun with chopped salad, sumac onions, a drizzle of tahini sauce, and a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper and extra sumac. Serve with lemon wedges and enjoy folded like a wrap.
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- Roll the Dough Thin: Aim for about ⅛ inch thick (8–9 inches wide). This helps the crust crisp up quickly and hold the topping well.
- Use a Pizza Stone or Steel: Preheat it in a 450–500°F oven for at least 30 minutes to mimic the intense heat of a traditional Turkish oven.
- Spread Meat All the Way to the Edges: Use your fingers to press the meat mixture directly onto the dough so it sticks and cooks evenly.
- Serve Immediately: Lahmacun is best hot from the oven. Have your toppings and salad ready so you can assemble and enjoy right away.
- Meat Options: Use all ground beef if lamb isn’t your thing, or try a 50/50 mix.
- Dough Swaps: Use lavash or pita for a super thin base.
- Vegetarian/Vegan: Try this vegan Lahmacun recipe, which swaps the meat for a spiced mushroom mixture.
Calories: 819kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 1487mg | Potassium: 724mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1760IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 7mg