FULL RECIPE FOR THE LAHMACUNIngredients (10 lahmacun) For the Dressing: 600 g ground beef (medium fat) 450 g (~3 medium) onions 500 g (~3 medium) tomatoes 200 g (~1 large) Sweet red pepper 3-4 garlic cloves bunch fresh parsley 1 tbsp tomato paste 1 tbsp pepper paste 1 tbsp salt 1 tbsp isot tbsp. cumin tbsp. paprika tbsp. ground black pepper 1 tsp flaked red pepper cup olive oil cup water (if needed) For the Garnishes: 1 large red onion 1 tbsp isot 1 tbsp sumac bunch fresh parsley 1 large tomato 2-3 lemons For the dough: (*) 3 cups flour 1.5 cups water tbsp. salt (*) You can skip making the dough and simply use 8-10 large tortillas Directions PREPARATION THE DRESSING The taste and texture of the dressing foretell the quality of a LAHMACUN Basically, the vegetables should be diced thinly and remain visible So, thinly dice and mince the onions Professionals use special knives for this process Using a food processor can be easier but reduce the visual quality I recommend, try your best using a regular knife for this process Place the minced onion into a large bowl Add the minced garlic cloves and tbsp. of salt into the bowl Crush the minced onion and garlic with the salt for 1 minute Cover the bowl with a lid and let it rest while preparing other vegetables Discard the stem and seeds of the sweet red pepper Then, thinly dice, mince and place them in a separate bowl Thinly cut the parsley and place in a separate bowl Thinly dice the tomatoes, mince them, and place in a separate bowl MIX THE DRESSING INGREDIENTS Combine the dressing ingredients in the following order: Start with the onion-garlic mixture Pour cup of olive oil into the bowl Then, add 1 tbsp of tomato paste, 1 tbsp of pepper paste, 1 tbsp of isot, tbsp. of salt, tbsp. of cumin, 1 tsp of red-flaked pepper, tbsp. of paprika, and tbsp. of ground black pepper At that stage, thoroughly mix the spices, minced onions, and garlics Then, add the minced vegetables: Sweet red pepper, parsley, and tomatoes Give a good stir to the ingredients Then, add the ground beef and knead the mixture to achieve a homogenous and juicy consistency If it is needed, add cup of water at that stage Cover the bowl with a lid and keep it in the fridge THE GARNISHES Peel and wash 1 red onion Cut the onion thinly into semi-circles and place into a bowl Add 1 tbsp of sumac and 1 tbsp of isot, then, mix the ingredients gently and set aside the spiced onion Wash and drain bunch of parsley, discard the hard stems, place into a bowl and set aside MAKING THE DOUGH Choose a large bowl with a lid Place 3 cups of flour into the bowl Add tbsp. of salt, and mix the dry ingredients Then, add 1.5 cups of water and lightly combine the ingredients together Once the dough has formed, knead the dough for 4 to 5 minutes Then, fold the dough and form a smooth ball Place the dough into the bowl, cover with a lid, then rest for 30 minutes at room temperature Once the dough become softer, form it into a long cylinder and divide the dough into 50-60 g pieces Using these pieces, form small and smooth balls Place the small balls into the bowl again, cover with a lid and rest for 10 minutes FORMING THE LAHMACUN Generously flour the dough and the counter Roll the small balls of dough into 25-30 cm wide round-phyllos (!!)During this process make sure to keep the dough and phyllos moist Place 1 round-phyllo on a parchment paper Place 2-3 tbsp of the dressing mixture on the phyllo Spread the dressing on the surface thoroughly in a thin layer Transfer the lahmacun and parchment paper onto an oven tray If you skip the dough making, spread the dressing on a large tortilla I can guarantee, the taste will almost be the same!! BAKING Bake the Lahmacun at a 400 F or 200 C oven for 10-15 minutes Parchment paper provides an easy transfer for a repeated baking process SERVIS A freshly baked lahmacun invites the people nearby with its savoury aroma, crunchy texture, and memorable flavor!! Traditionally, LAHMACUN is served with a glass of cold Ayran or Salgam!! LAHMACUN is always companied with its garnishes: Fresh parsley, the slices of fresh tomatoes, the generous drops of lemon juice, and the crunchy touch of the spiced onion salad These fresh, flavourful, and colourful garnishes enhance the taste of this special menu Once you bake it at home, you become addicted to this famous dish; LAHMACUN Now, it is time to roll and dig in!! Enjoy your homemade pleasure! Best way to say thanks; SUBSCRIBE!
