This spicy, crispy Turkish Pizza, called ‘Lahmacun‘ is a famous Turkish street food that can be made at home easily. Picture it as a flavor-packed crispy flatbread topped with seasoned beef or lamb, fresh mint, red onions, crumbled cheese, and lemon juice.
I have an affinity for Turkish food, a real connection, is it because of my Turkish grandma? Or is it because I love Istanbul and its charm? Such a beautiful place: the culture, the beaches, the islands, the city vibe, the shopping and of course the food!
LAHMACUN / TUKISH PIZZA
Turkish Pizza, also referred to as Lahmacun, is among the best street foods you’ll enjoy there. And the beauty of it, like many street foods across the world, they can be very casual but can also be very fancy served at high-end restaurants.
Lahmacun recipe is not really a pizza, neither is it really a wrap. It’s more of a spicy lamb flavor-packed flatbread topped with fresh mint, red onions, feta and lemon juice.
Today’s Lahmacun recipe works because I’ve used my Best Pizza Dough recipe. However I’ve also made it with store bought pizza dough and it was just as delicious!
Lahmacun is classically made with lamb meat and that’s I’ve used today. Likewise, I’ve flavored my lamb by processing all my marinade in the food processor. So it only took a few seconds of pulsing and it was all ready.
To spread the lamb mixture easily on your pizza dough, I’ve used a tip from my grandma which is to process the ground lamb for a few seconds too with the seasonings.
Once baked, you can top your Turkish Pizza with fresh veggies and crumbled cheese to take it to the next level. The sky’s the limit!
HOW TO MAKE LAHMACUN/TURKISH PIZZA RECIPE
This Turkish pizza or Lahmacun starts with an amazing pizza dough like the best pizza dough, or, if you’re short on time and kneading is not for you, then go with the no knead overnight pizza dough.
If you’re the kind of person like a dear friend of mine who never has flour at home, then ready-made pizza dough from a source you trust would be your way to go! By all means, don’t give up on this recipe just because of the dough!
Let’s talk about toppings: The classic Turkish Pizza Lahmacun is made with lamb, and it’s DIVINE !! However, if you prefer it with beef, it’s still delicious!!
A nice blend of onions, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, and spice turns into a salsa-like consistency in a food processor. Then, we add the beef or lamb to that mixture in the food processor. All gets pulsed into a thick paste that’s not necessarily smooth, but well blended and holds itself together.
Roll the Turkish Pizza dough into a relatively thin about 1/8th-inch thickness circle and smear with that spicy beef paste. It’s best to press the beef mixture down while spreading.
Bake the Turkish Pizzas (Lahmacun) at high temperature for just 10 minutes until dough and beef or lamb is cooked.
As these Turkish Pizzas come out of the oven, we sprinkle them with a generous amount of sumac spice ( a lemony spice I mention a lot in this gorgeous lemon artichoke garlic roast chicken with salsa recipe and this MUST try Labneh Dip with Zaatar Pistachio Mint Olive Topping). Then, top them with a good bunch of fresh mint, sliced onions, tomatoes, feta cheese.
Any toppings that make you happy— along with a nice squeeze of lemon juice!
You can eat your Turkish Pizza with knife and fork, but I like to roll them into a wrap and devour it in big bites – street food style!
I hope you enjoy this easy recipe for Turkish Pizza Lahmacun! It is a staple in my house and I am sure you will love it as much as we do.
LAHMACUN TIPS
- For best results, use Lamb, and always choose American Lamb!
- I always prefer my Homemade Best Pizza Dough as a base, however store-bought works too!
- Make sure your oven is at the right temperature to get the perfectly crispy Turkish Pizza.
- Process your ground beef or lamb along with the marinade until smooth. This helps you smear the mixture over the dough easily.
- Press the ground lamb mixture well in to the dough so it bakes and sticks.
- A pizza Stone is great to use here!
- Top your Turkish Pizza with fresh veggies and cheese to add texture, flavor and goodness!
- Serve the Lahmacun as a pizza or roll it in to a wrap like a classic Turkish version and eat it on the go!
LAMB RECIPES
Easy Stir Fry Recipe with Lamb and Veggies
Thai Salad With Lamb And Peanut Dressing
Cheese Fondue with Lamb Dippers
Smashed Potatoes With Spicy Lamb
Grilled Lamb Skewers BBQ Party
Leg of Lamb with Mashed Potatoes
Turkish Pizza Lahmacun
This Spicy, Crispy Turkish Pizza, called 'Lahmacun' is a famous Turkish street food that can be made at home easily. Picture it as a flavor-packed crispy flatbread topped with beef, fresh mint, red onions and lemon juice.
Ingredients
- 1 batch of the best pizza dough or no-knead over-night pizza dough
- 1 small red onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 large tomato
- 2 tablespoons tomatoes paste
- 1 tablespoon tahini paste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon sumac spice
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano leaves
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef or lamb
- 2 teaspoons sumac for serving
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves for serving
- 1 red onion, sliced for serving
- Tomatoes , feta cheese, cucumbers, jalapeño peppers and any extra toppings you like
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Make the pizza dough using this recipe or take store-bought out of the fridge.
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Roll out the pizza doughs to about 1/8th of an inch thick and place each on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
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In a food processor, pulse the onions, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste and spices to a thick salsa consistency.
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Add the ground beef or lamb and pulse the mixture together until you have a paste with all ingredients blended together.
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Take about a cup of the meat mixture and spread it all on top of each pizza dough, distributing it evenly and pressing it down gently to make it adhere well to the dough. It doesn’t need much effort here, just a slight pressing.
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Bake the Turkish pizzas for about 10-15 minutes until all cooked through. Depending on your thickness and size of the pizza, you may need to bake them for up to 15 minutes. Just make sure they aren’t too crispy on the edges so that way you can still roll them int a wrap.
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When the pizza is done, sprinkle each with a teaspoon of sumac and a squeeze of lemon, then top with fresh mint, red onions, and any topping you like.
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Serve the pizza as is or roll it into a wrap.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- For best results, use Lamb, and always choose American Lamb!
- I always prefer my Homemade Best Pizza Dough as a base, however store-bought works too!
- Make sure your oven is at the right temperature to get the perfectly crispy Turkish Pizza.
- Process your ground beef or lamb along with the marinade until smooth. This helps you smear the mixture over the dough easily.
- Press the ground lamb mixture well in to the dough so it bakes and sticks.
- A pizza Stone is great to use here!
- Top your Turkish Pizza with fresh veggies and cheese to add texture, flavor and goodness!
- Serve the Lahmacun as a pizza or roll it in to a wrap like a classic Turkish version and eat it on the go!
Excellent recipe and easy to follow. I made this for my family this evening and it did not disappoint. Very savory, flavorful, and delicious.
So happy you enjoyed this Rachel!!
Wow. Just wow. I LOVE this style of pizza and am so amazed by how the mince is made! Now I’ve learnt how to make the mince into that wonderfully soft texture. Thanks for sharing such a fresh and delicious recipe!
Thanks so much!
I am totally going to make this next week! What a great addition to pizza Friday nights at our place.
Hope you enjoy it!
My wife made this and it was so delicious! Can’t wait to have this again!
Thanks, so glad you enjoyed this!
Oh wow, this looks absolutely awesome and super delicious! I love making street food favourites at home so will be giving this a try!
Thanks Bintu!
Love the sound of this! And yes, it does look exotic
You’ll love this Priya!
I am a sucker for non-traditional pizzas!! This was great, loved all the flavors!
Thanks Noelle! this is another level of Pizza!
Move over ordinary pizza! This Turkish pizza is so full of flavors and delicious spices.
hahah oh yes Sharon!
Oh my goodness! This looks so delicious. I love pizza and I can’t wait to try this!
You’ll love this Beth!
One of the things we missed the most from our trip to Turkey was the incredible pizza… the bread is just so incredible! What an awesome recipe. Can’t wait to make it again.
It’s the best things about hanging out in Turkey! Hope you make it at home!
Does the tahini paste go into the processor with the onion, garlic, and tomato paste? I didn’t see where in the instructions it gets incorporated. Thanks!
Hi Tarryn, yes it goes in with the meat in the food processor. It adds extra moisture and makes the lamb mixture malleable and easy to spread on the dough.
Anything that closely resembles pizza is number one in my book. I love the crusty bottom with the addition of meat and veggies on top!! This is meal perfection. I love the addition of all those exotic seasonings and spices. This is one pizza I have to duplicate.
Marisa, it’s not really like any pizza you’ve had!
Oh goodness you’ve just taken pizza to a whole new level! This looks awesome, Mahy! I’m so craving a slice of this…definitely need to try this soon!
Tammy, this is classic Turkish street food 🙂
Not a big pizza fan here, I know , I know! But just the ones that are loaded with cheese! Believe it or not!
But this Turkish pizza looks absolutely delicious! With spiced lamb, I’d take 2 of these pizzas! Just that kind of perfect pizza for me!
Jyothi, this is unlike any pizza you’ve had before!
SO many great flavors Mahy!! I am just loving this so much. I haven’t had a lot of turkish food, but now know i need to try. these sound incredible!
Danielle, oh you’re missing out!! Turkish food Rocks!! 🙂
I always questioned myself if I wanted to go to Turkey because Turkish food is so delicious. But I think with the recipes like this one I can make myself Turkey at home – so yummy!
April, this is classic Turkish food you need to make at home!
This looks so yummy have to do it next weekend when my children and their families spend the Saturdays at our home.
By the way 3 days back did a bbq for my son’s birthday with several mezze plus your ‘Labneh zaatar pistachio dip’ and everybody loved it and asked for the recipe.
God bless you
Oh Thanks so much for sharing! So happy you enjoyed the Labneh dip and I hope you enjoy the pizza too!