Sumac-spiced lamb pides


Ingredients

For the dough
500 g strong white bread flour
1½ tsp fast-action dried yeast
1 tsp caster sugar
2 tbsp (6 Teaspoons) olive oil
semolina, for rolling
For the topping
1 tbsp (3 Teaspoons) olive oil, plus extra for brushing
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
300 g lamb mince
1 tbsp (3 Teaspoons) cumin
2 tsp sumac, plus extra to serve
½ tsp allspice
1 tbsp (3 Teaspoons) tomato purée
2 tomatoes, finely chopped
2 tbsp (6 Teaspoons) pomegranate molasses
100 g feta cheese, crumbled
1 tbsp (3 Teaspoons) sesame seeds
salad and pickled turkish chillies, to serve (optional)

Method

  1. First make the dough. In a large bowl, mix the flour, yeast, sugar, olive oil, a pinch of salt and 300ml warm water. Bring together with your hands or in a tabletop mixer, then knead for 10 mins by hand or 5 mins in a mixer, until soft and elastic. Put the dough in a clean, oiled bowl, cover with a sheet of oiled cling film and leave to rise for 2 hrs or until doubled in size. You can also pop the dough in the fridge and leave to rise overnight. (Take out of the fridge and leave for 1-2 hrs to bring back to room temperature to use.) - If you don't have time to make the dough you can use store bought puff pastry.
  2. For the topping. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add onion and cook for a few mins until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 min more. Add the lamb, increase the heat and fry until starting to brown, about 8 mins. Sprinkle in spices and stir for 1 min, then add purée, tomatoes, pomegranate molasses and seasoning, along with 50ml water. Simmer for 10 mins, stirring now and then – the mince should be sticky rather than saucy. Leave to cool.
  3. Dust 2 large baking sheets and the work surface with semolina. Knock any air bubbles out of the dough, then tip onto work surface and divide into 4. Working with 1 piece at a time – keeping remaining dough covered with the oiled cling film – roll into a thin oval shape, roughly 30cm long. Place the rolled dough on baking sheets. Divide mince mixture between the 4 pides, leaving a 1cm border around the edges. Roll the edges over the filling and pinch the ends together to form a pointy boat shape. Cover with the oiled cling film and leave to prove for 20 mins.
  4. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Uncover pides and brush the edges with a little oil. Sprinkle the feta, sesame seeds and a good pinch of sumac over each pide and bake for 15 mins until puffed up and golden. Serve with salad and pickled Turkish chillies, if you like.