Recipes

Chosen from Warm Bread and Honey Cake by Gaitri Pagrach-Chandra, this recipe for meat-topped flatbreads are known in Turkish as pide. She writes "These Turkish flatbreads are quite easy to prepare. They are a kind of meat pizza and make a delicious snack or lunch component. They are generally quite mildly spiced, but a sprinkle of chilli flakes, as used here, will liven them up."

Makes 2

For the Dough

    125g strong white (bread) flour
    3/4 tsp easy-blend (active dry) yeast
    1/4 tsp salt
    1/2 tsp sugar
    1 tbsp olive oil
    About 5 tbsp lukewarm water

For the Filling
 
    150g lean minced lamb or beef
    1 1/2 tbsp very finely chopped onion
    1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
    A few sprigs or parsley, finely chopped
    Generous grind of pepper or sprinkle of chiili flakes
    1 large tomato, deseeded and chopped

Timing:
This is a yeast dough so it will need to rise. Set aside about 2 1/2 hours for the whole process, including baking for 15-20 minutes.

Method

Combine the ingredients for the dough and knead well for several minutes. The dough should be soft but not sticky. This dough can also be kneaded in a food processor fitted with a plastic kneading attachment or a mixer fitted with a dough hook.

Shape the dough into a ball. Cover with clingfilm or a tea towel wrung out in hot water and leave in a warm draught-free place until doubled in volume.

Combine the filling ingredients except the tomato, and set aside. Add the tomato just before you are ready to use the filling.

Knock back the risen dough and knead briefly, then divide into two portions. Roll out one portion to a 24cm circle and spread half the filling on it, leaving about 2.5cm free around the edge. Fold about 1cm of the dough edge inwards and then fold it again, so you get a double thickness that forms a raised ridge. Pinch two oposing sides together to form a point, so that the flatbread is formed like a boat and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the second portion of dough and filling.

Leave to rest for about 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Bake the flatbreads for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and golden brown around the edges.