Welcome to Episode 3 of our cooking series! Today, we are making Authentic Turkish Pizza, traditionally known as Pide (pronounced pee-deh). This delicious, boat-shaped flatbread is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and packed with a savory ground beef filling. It is much easier to make at home than you might think!
Authentic Turkish Pizza (Pide) Recipe with Ground Beef | Episode 2
Difficulty: Medium4
servingsIngredients
- For the Pide Dough
2 cups whole wheat flour (or bread flour)
1 cup warm water (around 110°F)
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar- For the Ground Beef Filling
1/2 lb ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
1 small green bell pepper, finely diced
1 small yellow onion, grated or finely minced
Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, but recommended)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon paprika
Directions
- Activate the Yeast
Start by pouring your warm water (110°F) into a small bowl. Add the yeast and sugar, give it a gentle stir, and let it sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes frothy and activated. - Prepare the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine your dry ingredients: the flour and the salt. Once your yeast mixture is ready, whisk in the olive oil and white vinegar. Pour this wet mixture into your dry ingredients. Mix in the bowl until the dough starts to come together and takes shape. - Knead and Rest
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Keep kneading by hand for about 10 minutes to activate the gluten. (If you are using a stand mixer with a dough hook, this will only take about 5 minutes, but I love using my hands!).
Once you are done mixing and the dough is smooth, place it in a clean bowl. Cover it and let it rest for 45 to 60 minutes. For the best results, a full 60 minutes is perfect! - Prepare the Ground Beef Filling
While the dough is resting, prepare the meat topping. Finely dice your red and green bell peppers. Grate or mince your onion—pro tip: wrap the minced onion in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out the excess water so it doesn’t make your dough soggy!
Place the ground beef, prepped vegetables, minced garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and paprika into a bowl. Combine all the ingredients using your hands. Mix well for about 2 minutes until everything is evenly incorporated. - Shape the Dough
Once your dough has rested, transfer it to a floured surface so it doesn’t stick. Roll out the dough thinly. You want to shape it into a long oval because traditional Pide is supposed to look like a boat! Once you have a nice, thin Pide shape, add your ingredients. Spread your ground beef mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Fold the edges slightly over the filling and pinch the ends to lock in that classic boat shape.
Note: I made a ground beef version today, but you can customize this however you want! Try cheese, sausage, or any toppings you like. - Bake to Perfection
Preheat your oven to its highest heat setting (I recommend 500°F). Place a pizza tray or a pizza stone inside the oven while it preheats.
Carefully transfer your Pide to the preheated tray or stone. Start by baking it on the bottom level of the oven for about 7 minutes to crisp up the base. Then, move your Pide to the upper level of the oven for another 7 minutes. This will make the crust beautifully brown and crispy. - Slice and Serve
After the time is up, check the bottom of your Pide. If it looks firm and nicely browned, take it out of the oven. Let it rest for about 2 minutes (it will continue cooking slightly from the residual heat).
Finally, slice your Pide with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. That’s it! Enjoy your homemade Turkish Pizza.