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Traditional Turkish Lahmacun Recipe (Home-Style)

Lahmacun, often called "Turkish pizza," is a thin flatbread topped with a spiced minced-meat mixture and baked until lightly crisp. It is a staple of Turkish cuisine, widely enjoyed across Türkiye as a street food and home-cooked meal.

• Food
• Published Date: 10:30 | 16 January 2026
• Modified Date: 10:33 | 16 January 2026

If homemade lahmacun turns out dry, hard, or lacking flavor, the issue is usually the consistency of the topping and the cooking technique. Following this recipe step by step helps achieve a soft, juicy, and flavorful result.

INGREDIENTS

For the dough:

• 2 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 cup warm water (add gradually)

FOR THE TOPPING:

• 250 g medium-fat ground beef

• 1 medium onion

• 1 tomato (grated or very finely chopped)

• 1 tablespoon red pepper paste

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 1 small red pepper (very finely chopped)

• A handful of parsley (finely chopped)

• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 1 teaspoon ground red pepper

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• Salt (about 1 teaspoon)

• 2–3 tablespoons olive oil

• 2–3 tablespoons water (to soften the mixture)

PREPARATION

Place the flour in a large mixing bowl and add the salt and sugar. Mix the dry ingredients, then add the olive oil. Gradually pour in the warm water while kneading. The goal is not a stiff dough, but one that does not stick to the hands and spreads easily when pressed. Once the dough comes together, cover it and let it rest for at least 20 minutes. Resting allows the dough to roll out easily and prevents it from becoming tough during baking.

While the dough rests, prepare the topping. Finely chop or process the onion, red pepper, and tomato. This step is important, as large pieces prevent the topping from bonding well with the dough. Place the vegetables in a bowl, add the ground beef, then mix in the tomato paste, pepper paste, spices, salt, olive oil, and water.

Mix thoroughly by hand or with a spoon until the topping reaches a paste-like, slightly juicy consistency. This texture is key to keeping the lahmacun soft and moist after cooking.

Divide the rested dough into mandarin-sized balls and roll them out very thin, taking care not to leave the dough thick.

COOKING

Oven method:
Preheat the oven to its highest temperature. If using a baking stone or an inverted tray, make sure it is fully heated. Place the lahmacun in the oven and bake briefly until the edges are lightly browned, then remove.

PAN METHOD:
If an oven is not available, heat a non-stick pan well. Place the lahmacun topping-side down in the pan and cover with a lid. Cook over low to medium heat. Once the bottom is browned and the dough is set, remove from the pan. The steam created by the lid helps keep the lahmacun soft.