Turkish · Baking

Turkish Pide

Boat-shaped flatbreads with the edges rolled and pinched around a filling of spiced lamb or cheese and egg, baked hot until the base blisters. Turkey's answer to pizza, and older than most of the competition.

55 min prep and cooking plus 1 hr 30 min proving 2 hr 25 min start to finish Serves 4 servings Medium
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Turkish Pide

Photograph credit: Nazilli-Tahinli-Pide-20160711 203037 by Erdalkara · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Build the Meal Around Turkish Pide

  • Ayran or a cold beer
  • A shepherd's salad with tomato, cucumber and sumac
  • Pickled chillies

Making Turkish Pide, Step by Step

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  1. Mix the flour, yeast, salt and sugar, then add the water, olive oil and yoghurt. Knead 10 minutes to a soft, smooth dough. Prove 90 minutes until doubled.

  2. Combine all the lamb filling ingredients and mix well with your hands. Do not cook it — it cooks on the bread.

  3. Heat the oven to its maximum, at least 250°C / 480°F, with a baking stone or heavy tray inside.

  4. Divide the dough into 4 and roll each into a long oval, about 30 x 15 cm and 5 mm thick.

  5. Spread a quarter of the filling down the centre of each, leaving a 3 cm border.

  6. Roll the long edges inward over the filling and pinch the two ends together firmly to make a pointed boat shape.

  7. Slide onto the hot stone and bake 10 to 12 minutes until the crust is blistered and the lamb is cooked.

  8. If using eggs, pull the pide out at 8 minutes, crack an egg into the centre of each, and return for 4 minutes until just set.

  9. Brush the crusts with melted butter, dust with sumac, and serve with lemon.

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Worth Knowing Before You Cook

The oven must be as hot as it will go. Pide bakes in minutes and a moderate oven dries it out.

Pinch the ends firmly. They are what hold the boat shape and keep the filling in.

For peynirli pide, fill with a mixture of feta, mozzarella and parsley instead of the lamb.

Keeping What's Left

Best straight from the oven. Keeps 2 days and reheats at 220°C / 430°F for 6 minutes.

Questions and Answers

How long does Turkish Pide take to make?

40 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour 30 minutes of proving, so allow 2 hours 25 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 4.

The Numbers per Serving

Per serving, an approximate calculation from the ingredient list. Treat it as a rough guide: garnishes, greasing and other items with no amount are not counted; optional ingredients are counted. How the figures are worked out.

977Calories
41gProtein
93gCarbs
49gFat
6gFibre
7gSugar
1910mgSodium

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Compiled by Turab

Checked by script for timings, diet labels and nutrition arithmetic. How the recipes are checked. Found a mistake? Tell us.

First published ; last changed .