Turkish pizza

Tips: Make the best Turkish pizza

With our helpful tips, you can learn to make authentic Turkish pizza.

Spread the meat evenly

Make sure to spread the meat evenly over the dough. That way, every bite will be filled with all the right flavours.

Storing leftover pizza

To keep your Turkish pizza fresh and tasty for later, wrap it in aluminium foil or cling film once it has cooled. Store it in the fridge if you plan to eat it within a few days, or place it in the freezer for longer storage. Thorough wrapping protects the pizza from freezer burn and picking up odours from other foods in the fridge.

Freeze leftovers

You can keep the pizza in the freezer for a couple of months by wrapping each piece tightly in plastic wrap or aluminium foil and storing them in freezer-safe bags or containers. When you are ready to eat it, reheat it straight from the freezer in a hot oven. This warms it up evenly and makes the crust crispy again. For the best results when reheating, lightly sprinkle water over the crust to keep it from getting dry. This helps bring back the fresh-baked flavour and texture.

Try our delicious Turkish pizza recipe

A slice of Turkish pizza is a slice of pure goodness. Try our delicious recipe and enjoy crisp bread with tomato sauce, lamb, and fresh onion salad. Every bite comes with a satisfying crunch as you sink your teeth into the thin bread. The flavours that hit your tongue are a great mix of spicy, savoury, and fresh. This combination has helped popularise Turkish pizza in both street food shops and home cooking. Serve hot from the oven and enjoy a new take on pizza night.

Maybe you are in the mood for Italian pizza. Consider trying our recipe for Margherita pizza with mozzarella cheese. For another recipe that puts lamb to good use, go for a classic shawarma.

Made with rich minced lamb

Rich minced lamb is crumbled and spread over the pizza to ensure every bite has all the right flavours. It pairs beautifully with the crisp bread and provides a hearty and flavourful contrast to the tangy Turkish yoghurt. As the pizza lies comfortably in the oven, the lamb meat releases its rich juices. The pizza dough then soaks up those juices, creating a blend of tasty flavours. Using lamb as a topping gives the dish a slightly more indulgent touch.

Aromatic flavours with cinnamon, cumin, and paprika

While the lamb provides a lot of flavour, it needs a little help from a combination of spices. Cinnamon, cumin, and paprika all mix and match to create a blend perfect for Turkish pizza. Cinnamon introduces subtle warmth and sweetness that help balance the savoury notes of the lamb. Cumin adds an earthy, slightly nutty flavour, while paprika injects the mix with a bit of heat. Together, they bring out the best in the rich lamb.

Serve with a fresh red onion salad

Fresh onion salad is the perfect accompaniment to Turkish pizza. It is considered a traditional side, and it provides a zesty and crisp contrast to the rich and spiced lamb topping. Thinly sliced red onions are soaked in ice-cold water to mellow their sharpness just a tad. The vibrant and refreshing touch comes from the lemon juice, providing a welcome acidic note and cutting through the deep flavours of the meat. Combine with a dollop of creamy and tangy Turkish yoghurt to create a dish full of flavourful contrasts.

Discover Lahmacun – the Middle-Eastern pizza

There is another name for Turkish pizza: Lahmacun. It is often called the Middle-Eastern pizza because of its similarity to the classic Italian pizza. Like the pizzas of Europe, the Lahmacun is simple to make. Its simplicity has made it a popular choice for street food vendors to serve. Similar to Italian pizza, it consists of bread, sauce, and toppings, the biggest difference being the absence of cheese. But worry not; a dose of Turkish yoghurt brings the fresh and creamy sensation we are after. There is also a difference in how the Lahmacun is enjoyed compared to Italian pizza. Add red onion salad and yoghurt to the baked bread with lamb topping, roll the slice into a wrap, and enjoy traditional Turkish pizza.

Experiment with the ingredients

You are welcome to experiment with our Turkish pizza recipe and the ingredients. Even though it is a traditional dish, there are plenty of ways to tailor it to your preferences. Below, we help you along the way with a few suggestions.

Traditional Lahmacun uses minced lamb, but lean minced beef is a great alternative that still captures the unique flavours of the traditional version. Make sure to coat the beef well with the cumin, cinnamon, and paprika to keep the authentic taste of Turkish pizza. While you lose some richness from the lamb, chicken is also a great-tasting substitute.

Adding finely chopped tomatoes, peppers, and garlic to the lamb mixture can introduce new flavours and textures. They also bring a crunch alongside an array of beautiful colours. We also understand if you cannot refrain from putting cheese on the pizza. Add crumbled white cheese with fresh herbs or coriander as a garnish. The combination gives the pizza a fresh and tangy touch while satisfying the desire for cheese.