Lahmacun

Photo: flickr user Duru...

Ingredients

3/4 teaspoon Dried yeast

1/2 teaspoon Sugar

1 1/2 cups Lukewarm water

2 1/4 cups Flour

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Olive oil

1 tablespoon Butter

1 Onion finely chopped

3 Garlic minced

8 ounces Ground lamb or chuck

1 Tomato peeled, seeded,

and chopped

1 Jalapeno seeded, chopped fine

1/2 teaspoon Kirmizi biber

(or combination sweet paprika and cayenne pepper

1/4 cup Finely-chopped fresh mint

1/4 cup Finely-chopped fresh parsley

Salt to taste

Freshly-ground black pepper to taste

Juice of 1 lemon

2 1/2 cups White Turkish cheese or 2 Eggs lightly beaten

1/4 cup Unsalted butter softened

1/2 cup Finely-chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

Combine the yeast and sugar with a little of the warm water, and set aside until mixture is frothy. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl, and make a well in the center. Add the yeast mixture, along with the remaining warm water. Using your hands, work the mixture into a dough, adding more water if necessary. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until pliable and springy, about 5 minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl, turning to coat, cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.

Punch down risen dough and knead on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a log and cut into 2 to 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, place on floured surface and let rest 30 minutes under a towel.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, and preheat baking sheets, tiles, or a baking stone.

Prepare the filling: Melt the butter in a skillet, add the onion and saute until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and saute another minute. Transfer onion mixture to a large bowl, add remaining ingredients, and mix thoroughly with your fingertips. If mixture seems too dry, add a teaspoon of water.

Place a ball of dough on a floured surface and roll into a round, flat circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Place the round on the oiled, preheated baking sheets or tiles. Brush the top with olive oil and spread with a thin, even layer of the meat filling, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes - the dough should still be soft enough to roll up.

Squeeze a little lemon juice over each of the hot lahmacuns, and serve immediately either flat or rolled up into cones.

This recipe yields 2 to 3 large lahmacuns.

Cheese Filling Alternative: Mix all the filling ingredients in a bowl and blend thoroughly. Spread a thin layer on each circle of dough. Proceed with recipe, but bake for only 6 to 8 minutes.