Lahmacun: Turkish Pizza

Lahmacun, also known as Turkish pizza, is a dish consisting of a flatbread topped with minced meat prepared in a savory tomato sauce. In spite of its name, it is popular throughout Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria as well as Turkey. In this meat-free version, meat is substituted for crumbled rice cakes, which take on the flavor of the spicy paprika sauce. Garnish with lemon juice just before serving, then roll it up and eat it like a wrap!

LAHMACUN: TURKISH PIZZA [VEGAN]

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE DOUGH:

• Scant 2 cups wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 packet fresh yeast
• About 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons lukewarm water

FOR THE TOPPING:

• 7 rice cakes, crumbled with your hands
• 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons freshly boiled water
• Scant 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 clove of garlic, pressed
• 1-1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 1-1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 small piece of red peppers, finely diced
• 1 small tomato, finely diced
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes (optional, plus for more seasoning)
• 3 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon paprika powder
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt, chili flakes, and pepper to taste

FOR THE OPTIONAL GARNISH:

• Lemons or lemon juice, to taste
• Onion, sliced into rings
• 1 tomato, sliced
• Parsley, chopped

PREPARATION

TO MAKE THE DOUGH:

1. Place the flour in a bowl, make a well, and add oil, sugar, and salt.
2. Pour the fresh yeast into a scant 1/4 cup of warm water and mix with a spoon until everything is dissolved. Add to the flour.
3. Mix everything to a smooth, soft dough with the hands or a blender. Add as much water as necessary. The dough should not be too moist and should be kneaded long enough to make it supple. Cover the bowl with a cloth and let the dough rise for about 45 minutes or until the volume has doubled.

TO MAKE THE TOPPING:

1. In the meantime prepare the toppings. Place the crumbled rice waffles in a bowl and place them in a bowl with the hot water and oil. Use a fork to break apart. Leave for about 15 minutes.
2. Add the remaining ingredients, mix, and taste. The coating should have a chopped meat-like consistency. If it is still too moist, let it go a little longer or “bind” with a little more tomato paste, paprika, or nutritional yeast flakes.

TO MAKE THE PIZZA:

1. Preheat oven to 435°F.
2. When the dough has risen, knead it again, divide it into four parts and form balls. Cover with a cloth and leave to rest for 15 minutes.
3. Dust the working surface with flour and roll the dough into thin slices. Apply the topping evenly. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake for about 15 minutes.
4. Garnish with lemon juice, sliced onion, tomato, and fresh parsley. Turkish pizza is usually rolled up like a wrap and then consumed.

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