Herbed Cheese Pizza (lahmacun)

AZRT's Note:

Absolutely sublime light cheese pizza, wonderful with a salad and glass of wine. Kasseri cheese makes this pizza but can be hard to find, try smoked provolone or manchego cheese for substitution.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

Dough

• 2 cups bread flour , divided
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 (¼ ounce) packages dry yeast (about 4 1/2 teaspoons)
• 2 cups warm water , divided (100°, to 110°,)
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour , divided
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• cooking spray

Topping

• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon hot paprika
• ¾ teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper , divided
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 5 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes , undrained
• 10 ounces thinly sliced kasseri cheese
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Directions:

1. To prepare dough, lightly spoon bread flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 1 cup bread flour, sugar, yeast, and 1 cup warm water in a bowl; let stand 15 minutes.
2. Lightly spoon all-purpose flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup bread flour, and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Add yeast mixture, 1 cup warm water, and 2 teaspoons oil to flour mixture; stir well. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes); add enough of remaining all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands (dough will feel tacky).
3. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 45 minutes or until doubled in size. (Press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.) Punch dough down; divide dough into 8 equal portions. Cover and let rest 20 minutes.
4. To prepare topping, combine oregano, cumin, paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; set aside. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic, bay leaf, and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 15 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat; discard bay leaf.
5. Preheat oven to 450°.
6. Working with one portion at a time (cover remaining dough to keep from drying), roll each portion into a 6-inch circle on a lightly floured surface; place circle on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining dough portions.
7. Top each crust with 1/4 cup tomato mixture, 1 1/4 ounces cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon oregano mixture. Bake at 450° for 12 minutes or until crusts are lightly browned. Sprinkle evenly with minced parsley.

Reviews

[Harley Quinn]

Very tasty "pizza"! And I did some research--there IS a cheese version of this that I found on a Turkish website. So your description works for me! Thank you for a great recipe.

[Ozlem]

Lahmacun is Turkish and it does not have cheese at all. You cook the dough with spiced ground beef, onions and tomatoes. this recipe's explanation is so wrong.