Turkish Pide (Flatbread Pizza) with Cheese, Spinach, and Ground Meat Fillings Recipe

Introduction

Pide, often called Turkish flatbread pizza, is a delicious and versatile dish perfect for sharing. This recipe features a soft, chewy dough topped with flavorful fillings like cheese, spinach, or spiced meat. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy a taste of Turkey right at home.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup water + 2 tbsp water (lukewarm, 207 ml)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon instant yeast
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (300 g)
• 3 tbsp powdered milk or 1 tbsp dough conditioner (optional)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 tbsp molasses or pomegranate molasses
• 1 cup toasted sesame seeds (optional)
• 1 egg (beaten)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp nigella seeds (optional)
• 2 cups Turkish kasar cheese or mozzarella cheese (shredded)
• 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 1 tsp Turkish Spice Blend (optional)
• Green and red hot chiles (diced or sliced)
• 1 medium white onion (diced)
• 6 cups baby spinach leaves
• 1 tbsp dill (chopped)
• 1 tbsp parsley (chopped)
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
• 1 lb ground lamb or beef
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground cayenne

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, mix the lukewarm water, sugar, and instant yeast. Let the yeast activate until foamy, about 3 minutes.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl or mixer, combine the flour, kosher salt, and optional powdered milk or dough conditioner. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture.
3. Step 3: Mix and knead the dough for 6–7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover with a linen towel and let it rise for 1 hour until doubled in size.
4. Step 4: In a shallow dish, whisk together the molasses with 3 tablespoons of water. Place toasted sesame seeds in another shallow dish. Set both aside.
5. Step 5: Preheat your oven to 450°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
6. Step 6: Divide the dough into 6 equal balls. Roll each ball into a long oval about 1/2 inch thick.
7. Step 7: For cheese filling: place shredded cheese and 3 tablespoons cream cheese mixed with seasoning in the center of each dough oval, leaving a 3/4 inch border. Fold up the sides, pinch to seal, turn over, and press gently. Dip each pide in the molasses water, then coat with sesame seeds.
8. Step 8: Place the ovals on the prepared tray. Use a sharp knife to make a deep, long slice down the center of the dough top, leaving 1/2 inch at each end. Open the slice to expose the filling, flatten slightly, and top with more cheese, Turkish seasoning, or chiles.
9. Step 9: Bake on the bottom rack for 10–12 minutes, then move to the top rack and bake 3–5 minutes until golden brown.
10. Step 10: For spinach filling: heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet. Sauté the diced onion until translucent. Add spinach, dill, parsley, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook until spinach is wilted, then stir in feta cheese and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
11. Step 11: For meat filling: in a skillet over medium heat, sauté onion until golden. Add ground meat, pine nuts, cumin, optional Turkish spice blend, kosher salt, black pepper, sweet paprika, and cayenne. Cook 8–10 minutes, breaking up meat, until browned. Remove from heat and cool.

Tips & Variations

• Use pomegranate molasses instead of regular molasses for a tangier flavor.
• Swap the Turkish kasar cheese for mozzarella for a milder, stretchy cheese topping.
• Try different fillings such as sautéed mushrooms, roasted vegetables, or spiced chicken.
• For a richer crust, brush the edges with the beaten egg before baking.
• Optional nigella seeds add a subtle nutty flavor and attractive appearance when sprinkled on top.

Storage

Store leftover pide in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F for 5–7 minutes to keep the crust crisp. Avoid microwaving to prevent sogginess.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it overnight. Before using, let it come to room temperature and rise until doubled in size.

What can I substitute for Turkish cheese if I can’t find it?

Mozzarella or a mild white cheese are good substitutes that melt well and provide a similar texture.

Turkish Pide (Flatbread Pizza) with Cheese, Spinach, and Ground Meat Fillings Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 150 reviews

Pide, often called Turkish flatbread pizza, is a versatile and flavorful dish featuring a soft, yeasted dough topped with various fillings such as cheese, spinach, or spiced meat. This recipe offers three popular fillings—cheese, spinach, and ground meat—folded into oval-shaped doughs, sprinkled with sesame seeds, and baked to golden perfection. Perfect as a shared appetizer or a satisfying meal, this pide captures authentic Turkish flavors with options to customize according to your taste.

• Author: Sophie
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 pide servings 1x
• Category: Bread
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Turkish

Ingredients

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Dough

• 3/4 cup water + 2 tbsp water, lukewarm (207 ml)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon instant yeast
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (300 g)
• 3 tbsp powdered milk or 1 tbsp dough conditioner (optional)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 tbsp molasses or pomegranate molasses
• 1 cup toasted sesame seeds (optional)
• 1 egg (beaten)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp nigella seeds (optional)

Cheese Filling

• 2 cups Turkish kasar cheese or mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp Turkish Spice Blend (optional)
• Green and red hot chiles, diced or sliced

Spinach Filling

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium white onion, diced
• 6 cups baby spinach leaves
• 1 tbsp dill, chopped
• 1 tbsp parsley, chopped
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Meat Filling

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium white onion, diced
• 1 lb ground lamb or beef
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp Turkish Spice Blend (optional)
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground cayenne

Instructions

1. Activate yeast. In a small bowl, mix the lukewarm water, sugar, and instant yeast. Let it sit for about 3 minutes until the yeast becomes foamy, indicating it is active.
2. Mix dough ingredients. In a large bowl or mixer, combine all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and optional powdered milk or dough conditioner. Make a well in the center and pour in the activated yeast mixture.
3. Knead the dough. Stir and knead the dough for about 6-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Cover it with a linen towel and let it rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
4. Prepare molasses and sesame seeds. Whisk together molasses with 3 tablespoons of water in a shallow dish. Place toasted sesame seeds in another shallow dish. Set both aside for later use.
5. Make cheese filling. Combine shredded kasar or mozzarella cheese with cream cheese, Turkish Spice Blend (if using), and diced hot chiles. Mix thoroughly to combine flavors.
6. Preheat oven and prepare baking tray. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
7. Shape dough and fill with cheese. Divide the risen dough into 6 equal balls. Roll each ball into a long oval shape about 1/2 inch thick. Place cheese filling in the center leaving a 3/4 inch border on all sides. Fold the edges up and pinch tightly to seal, forming a long oval with raised sides. Flip over carefully and gently flatten slightly.
8. Coat pide in molasses and seeds. Dip each folded pide into the molasses water mixture, ensuring full coverage, then coat all over with sesame seeds from the shallow dish.
9. Score and add toppings. Place each pide on the prepared tray. Using a sharp knife, make a deep slit down the center of each pide’s top dough leaving 1/2 inch uncut on either end. Open the slit slightly to expose the cheese filling and add extra cheese, Turkish seasoning, or chiles if desired.
10. Bake cheese pides. Bake on the bottom oven rack for 10-12 minutes until the bottom is golden and cooked. Then move pides to the top rack and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes, until the pide surface is golden brown.
11. Prepare spinach filling. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onion until translucent. Add baby spinach leaves, dill, parsley, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook until spinach wilts. Stir in crumbled feta cheese and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
12. Prepare meat filling. In a skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil and sauté diced onion until golden, about 4-5 minutes. Add ground lamb or beef, pine nuts, cumin, Turkish Spice Blend (optional), kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne. Cook for 8-10 minutes until meat is browned, stirring to break up clumps. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Notes

• Powdered milk or dough conditioner help improve the dough’s texture but are optional.
• Molasses or pomegranate molasses add a subtle sweetness and unique flavor to the crust.
• Turkish Spice Blend typically contains spices like cumin, paprika, sumac, and black pepper; it can be omitted or substituted with similar spices.
• Feel free to use mozzarella cheese as a substitute if Turkish kasar cheese is unavailable.
• If you prefer a vegetarian version, omit the meat filling and add more vegetables or cheese.
• Ensure the water used for activating yeast is lukewarm to maximize yeast activity but not too hot to kill it.

Keywords: Turkish pide, flatbread pizza, Turkish bread, cheese pide, spinach pide, lamb pide, Turkish recipe