Turkish Pide with Ground Beef

Turkish cuisine is one of the most appetizing and rich cuisines of the world, and Turkish people are known to be quite passionate about food. Turkish Pide with Ground Beef is one of the best Turkish fast foods. Upon visiting many Turkish restaurants in The Netherlands, I decided give this a try. After so many trials and errors, finally I came up with this recipe which is really a bomb!!

(makes 4)

Ingredients

For the Pide bread

2 cups all purpose flour (250g)
1 cup warm water (approximately)
1 tsp instant dry yeast
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp greek style yoghurt
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil

For the meat filling

250g ground beef (minced beef)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 medium sized onions (finely, chopped)
1 green chili (finely chopped)
1 medium size tomato (finely, chopped)
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp parsley (optional)
1/4 tsp oregano (optional)
1 tsp tomato sauce
1/2 tsp chili powder/ paprika
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp pepper powder
1 tsp salt (or as per taste)

Directions

Prepare the Filling

1. Heat olive oil in a pan. Then add the minced garlic, saute for few seconds and gradually add the chopped onion and green chili. Saute until raw onions becomes transparent. 
2. Then add the chopped tomatoes along with the ground beef. To this add the rest of the ingredients. Stir well. 
3. Turn down the heat to medium and cook the beef stirring occasionally. (Do not close. This should be cooked open)
4. Cook until the water in the beef filling come to a simmer. Once simmered, switch off the heat and transfer into a dish. 

Prepare the Pide bread 

1. In a mug dissolve yeast and sugar with 1/2 cup warm water. Let it stand for about 5-10 minutes until it rises. 
2. In a large bowl combine flour and salt. To this add the yeast mixture, 1 tbsp olive oil, and enough warm water and knead it into a smooth dough. (This dough should not be hard nor too soft.)
3. Knead in another 1 tablespoon olive oil and continue to knead until it is smooth and elastic. 
4. Cover the dough with a wet kitchen towel or plastic wrap, let it stand for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size. (Don't keep for too long)
5. Punch the dough to deflate the air and put it on lightly floured surface and form a dough ball.
6. Divide the dough ball into 4 equal parts. Shape each part into smaller balls. Keep them covered until use. 
7. Working one ball at a time. Using rolling pin, roll the dough into long oval shape. 
8. Roll it thinner (6 mm thickness). Move the rolled dough over baking paper sheet. This will help you easier to move it to the baking pan. 
9. Divide meat filling into 4 equal parts. 
10. Brush the the centre of the Pide with olive oil leaving 3 cm gap from the edges towards the centre. 
    
11. Put grated mozzarella cheese with any other cheese you like in the place you brushed olive oil. (Make sure you don't put anything in that gap which is kept for folding)
12. Take one part of the meat filling and spread over the mozzarella cheese on the Pide. ( if you like you can add any other toppings like olives, tomatoes etc.)
13. Brush a little water inside the edges of the Pide to help it seal.
14. Fold each side the dough like a small boat push and attach each sides. (After folding pinch around the Pide with your index finger to seal it tight. This sealing will give you beautiful Pides)
15. Remove the sheet onto baking pan. Do same procedure to all dough and topping. Let them rest about 15 minutes uncovered.
16. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. 
17. Brush each Pide with olive oil. 
18. Bake the Pides for about 20-25 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius or until golden in colour. 
19. Serve hot with any sauce or hummus. Enjoy!