This Turkish Lahmacun Recipe is the perfect example of how a simple meat meal can be transformed into something extraordinary. With its crisp base, fragrant topping, and vibrant garnishes, it’s no wonder it’s one of the most loved foreign food recipes worldwide.
This recipe is for a traditional Turkish lahmacun made with sturdy semolina dough, and a meaty, well-spiced topping. Serve lahmacun with some salad on top, a drizzle of lemon juice, and a sprinkling of chili flakes. Roll it up and eat with a side of yogurt drink ayran.
Lahmacun, pronounced “lahma’joun”, comes from the Arabic “lahma bi’ajeen,” which literally means “dough with meat.” Think of lahmacun as perfectly thin, crispier pizza (or flatbread), topped with a spiced minced meat mixture.
In Mosul, Iraq, lahmajin is a common food served at any time of day. [37] In The Netherlands lahmacun is often sold as a street food or snack, often under the name Turkish pizza. The lahmacun is rolled up and filled with salad, sambal and garlic sauce, often with added döner meat and/or cheese. [38]
Lahmacun was one of many dishes to rise to prominence during the Ottoman Empire, primarily in the Levant. Indeed, the dish was primarily found in south-eastern parts of Turkey, Armenia, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
This recipe for lahmacun is easy to make and features a homemade dough and spicy beef topping. If you are short on time, you can substitute a package of fresh, ready-made pizza dough.
Homemade Turkish Lahmacun (or Lahmajun-Lahmajoun) is a super-thin, crispy flatbread topped with ground beef or lamb mixed with vegetables, herbs, and spices. You can find this popular street / fast food everywhere in Turkey, in restaurants, cafes, and fast-food shops.