Turkish Pide Bread
This delicious pizza from Turkey is a great way to have fun in the kitchen. Pronounced pee-DAY, you will find this recipe being made in street booths or small restaurants all over Turkey. This pide recipe is simple. Top it with whatever you prefer and bake it in the oven or grill it on the barbecue. It tastes wonderful either way. If you have never had pide bread before, you are in for a treat. It is very easy to make. You can even make the pide without toppings and serve it as bread.
There are many pide recipes to choose from. You can make it your own by using your favorite toppings on it or you can go with an authentic feel and use ground lamb on top. It is delicious even if you just put cheese on top. This flavorful recipe is perfect for an appetizer, a lunch or a dinner. Serve it with green salad or by itself. It is filling enough to be a meal in itself.
This is a recipe you can put together in about an hour from start to finish. It tastes superb when cooked on a grill, but the oven bakes them very well, too. Be sure to brush the crust with an egg wash to get that delicious looking golden brown color. It will make everyone’s mouths water when they see it. Just watch everyone’s eyes get wide when you set this beautiful dish on the table.
Turkish Pide
Ingredients –
Dough:
1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
1 cup warm milk
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
3 cups all purpose flour
Topping:
10 ounces lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 Tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup curly parsley, chopped
2 Tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 medium tomato, cubed
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 eggs
Corn starch
Preparation:
Warm the milk. Mix milk and yeast in a medium sized bowl. Add the sugar, egg, salt, and oil. Mix well. Add the flour. Knead until the dough is smooth and springy. Oil the dough lightly and put a damp cloth over the top of the bowl. Let the dough rise for half an hour.
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter. Add the onions and garlic. Let them cook until just translucent. Add the ground beef, salt, pepper, and cumin. Sauté the mixture for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool.
Cut the tomato into cubes and set aside.
Mix the cooled meat mixture, parsley, mint, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Take the dough from the bowl. It should be twice its original size. Sprinkle flour on your work surface and lay the dough out. Cut it into two pieces to make two pides.
Shape each half of the dough into a round ball. Set one aside. Flatten the dough out and roll it to an 18 inch long oval. The dough should be thin. Move the dough to a baking sheet. Cover the dough with a light coating of corn starch to keep it from soaking up the filling. Spread half the meat topping on top. Place half the tomatoes on the pide. Sprinkle half the cheese on top. Fold the sides up, creating a shape like a boat. Repeat with the other piece of dough.
Beat one egg. Using a pastry brush, apply the beaten egg to the sides of the pide. Slowly pour the remaining egg over the meat topping. Use a spoon if it is easier. Repeat with the second egg and pide.
Bake the pide for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Let the pide cool for a couple minutes before slicing. Serve hot.
(Makes 2 large pides.)
Photo Description:
Our delicious Turkish Pide offers you a nice change of pace for pizza. The crust is simple to make. You shape it differently. Instead of making it round, it should be boat shaped. Slice the pide lengthwise down the center and then cut crosswise to make individual slices. This dish makes a wonderful appetizer or main dish. Serve it with a fresh green salad for a simple, yet full, meal. You can use whatever toppings you like. Try substituting lamb for the ground beef for an authentic flavor. Enjoy this delicious taste from Turkey.