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

Introduction

Pide is a delicious Turkish flatbread pizza that offers a perfect balance of a soft, chewy crust and rich, flavorful fillings. Whether you prefer cheese, spinach, or savory meat, this recipe will guide you through creating an authentic and satisfying dish at home.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup water + 2 tbsp lukewarm water (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 (plus extra as needed)
• 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, divided)
• 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 kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground cayenne

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, mix the 3/4 cup water, sugar, and yeast. Let it activate and become foamy, about 3 minutes.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl or mixer, combine the flour, salt, and optional powdered milk or dough conditioner. Make a well in the center and add 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 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. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
6. Step 6: Divide dough into 6 equal balls. Roll each into a 1/2-inch thick, long oval shape. Fill centers with shredded cheese, 3 tablespoons cream cheese, and seasoning, leaving a 3/4-inch border.
7. Step 7: Fold up the sides and pinch to seal, forming a long oval. Turn over, press slightly flat. Dip in molasses water, then coat with sesame seeds.
8. Step 8: Place pide on the tray. Using a sharp knife, cut a deep, long slice down the center dough only, leaving 1/2 inch at both ends. Open the slice and add more cheese, seasoning, or chiles on top.
9. Step 9: Bake on the bottom rack for 10-12 minutes, then move to the top rack for 3-5 minutes until golden brown.
10. Step 10: For spinach filling: heat olive oil over medium heat, sauté diced onion until translucent. Add spinach, dill, parsley, salt, and red pepper flakes; cook until spinach wilts.
11. Step 11: Stir in feta cheese, cook 2 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool.
12. Step 12: For meat filling: sauté diced onion in olive oil for 4-5 minutes until golden.
13. Step 13: Add ground meat, pine nuts, cumin, Turkish spice, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne. Cook 8-10 minutes until browned, breaking up meat as you stir. Remove from heat and cool.

Tips & Variations

• For a softer crust, add dough conditioner or powdered milk to the flour mixture.
• Use pomegranate molasses instead of regular molasses for a tangier, fruitier flavor.
• Try different fillings like spinach-feta, spicy minced meat, or a simple cheese blend with chopped chiles.
• Brush the baked pide with a bit of olive oil before serving for extra shine and flavor.
• If you can’t find Turkish kasar cheese, mozzarella works well as a substitute.

Storage

Store leftover pide in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm in a preheated oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes to restore crispness. Avoid microwaving to keep the crust from becoming soggy.

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 a day in advance and refrigerate it after the first rise. Allow it to come to room temperature before shaping and baking.

What’s the best way to shape pide?

Roll the dough into a long oval about 1/2 inch thick. Fold the edges inward and pinch to create a boat shape, then fill the center before baking.

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

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★★★★★

4.8 from 68 reviews

• Author: Charlotte
• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

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Description

Pide is a traditional Turkish flatbread pizza known for its soft, chewy dough and deliciously varied fillings such as cheese, spinach, or spiced meat. This recipe features three classic fillings—cheese, spinach with feta, and a flavorful ground meat mixture—wrapped in a molasses-coated dough sprinkled with sesame and nigella seeds. Baked until golden and crispy, this pide makes a perfect savory meal for any occasion.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dough Ingredients

• 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp lukewarm water (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)
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Spinach Filling

• 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 tbsp olive oil

Meat Filling

• 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

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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 activates and becomes foamy.
2. Prepare Dough: In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the flour, kosher salt, and optional powdered milk or dough conditioner. Make a well in the center and pour in the activated yeast mixture. Mix and knead the dough for 6-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. First Rise: Cover the dough with a linen towel and allow it to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
4. Prepare Molasses and Seeds: In a shallow dish, whisk together the molasses with 3 tablespoons of water. In another shallow dish, place the toasted sesame seeds. Set both dishes aside for coating later.
5. Preheat Oven and Prepare Tray: Line a large baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C).
6. Divide and Roll Dough: Divide the risen dough into 6 equal balls. Roll each ball into a long oval shape about 1/2 inch thick on a lightly floured surface.
7. Fill Cheese Pide: Place shredded kasar or mozzarella cheese and 3 tablespoons of softened cream cheese mixed with Turkish spice blend and chopped hot chiles in the center of each oval, leaving a 3/4 inch border. Fold the sides of the dough up and pinch to seal, creating a boat shape. Turn the pide over and gently press to flatten slightly.
8. Coat with Molasses and Seeds: Dip the top of each pide in the molasses water mixture, then coat generously with sesame seeds.
9. Score and Top: Place the ovals on the prepared baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to make a deep long cut down the center of the dough top, leaving about 1/2 inch at each end. Open the cut slightly to expose the cheese filling and top with additional cheese, Turkish seasoning, or chiles as desired.
10. Bake Pide: Bake on the bottom rack of the oven for 10-12 minutes, then move the tray to the top rack and bake another 3-5 minutes until the dough is golden brown and crisp.
11. Make Spinach Filling: While the pide bakes, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onion until translucent. Add spinach, dill, parsley, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook until spinach wilts, then add crumbled feta cheese, tossing to mix. Cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
12. Make Meat Filling: Heat a skillet over medium heat 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, stirring and breaking up meat, for 8-10 minutes until browned. Remove from heat and cool.

Notes

• Note 1: Powdered milk or dough conditioner helps improve dough softness and rise but is optional.
• Note 2: Pomegranate molasses adds a tangy sweetness alternative to regular molasses for coating.
• Use Turkish kasar cheese for authentic flavor or substitute with mozzarella if unavailable.
• Adjust spiciness by varying the amount and type of hot chiles used.
• Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area for best results.
• Ensure oven is fully preheated for crispier pide crust.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Flatbread, Pizza
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Turkish

Keywords: Pide, Turkish flatbread pizza, Turkish pide recipe, Turkish bread with cheese, Turkish meat flatbread, Turkish spinach pide, Turkish cuisine