Lahmajun Food

ARMENIAN PIZZA (AKA LAHMAJOON)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pulse the garlic in a food processor to mince it. Add the onion and pulse to chop, then add the green pepper and pulse to chop. Add the lamb, tomato paste, tomatoes, parsley, cumin, cayenne, and salt and pepper; process until everything is very well chopped. The consistency should be wet and pasty, like hummus. Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture onto flour tortillas all the way to the edge. Bake directly on the oven rack for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are browned and the meat is cooked through. If the tortilla begins to inflate in the oven, pop it with a fork from the top. To serve, squeeze some lemon over the top, fold the pizza into quarters, and eat out of hand.

LAHMAJOON (ARMENIAN PIZZA)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 11 ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. , Place tortillas on greased baking sheets. Spread 1/4 cup of meat mixture onto each tortilla to within 1/2 in. of edges (tortillas will not be completely covered). Bake at 425° for 9-12 minutes or until meat is no longer pink and edges of tortillas begin to brown.

LAHMACUN

Steps:

• Combine the yeast and sugar with a little of the warm water, and set aside until mixture is frothy. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl, and make a well in the center. Add the yeast mixture, along with the remaining warm water. Using your hands, work the mixture into a dough, adding more water if necessary. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until pliable and springy, about 5 minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl, turning to coat, cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
• Punch down risen dough and knead on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a log and cut into 2 to 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, place on floured surface and let rest 30 minutes under a towel.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F, and preheat baking sheets, tiles, or a baking stone.
• Prepare the filling: Melt the butter in a skillet, add the onion and saute until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and saute another minute. Transfer onion mixture to a large bowl, add remaining ingredients, and mix thoroughly with your fingertips. If mixture seems too dry, add a teaspoon of water.
• Place a ball of dough on a floured surface and roll into a round, flat circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Place the round on the oiled, preheated baking sheets or tiles. Brush the top with olive oil and spread with a thin, even layer of the meat filling, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. The dough should still be soft enough to roll up.
• Squeeze a little lemon juice over each of the hot lahmacuns, and serve immediately either flat or rolled up into cones.
• For the alternative filling: Mix all the filling ingredients in a bowl and blend thoroughly. Spread a thin layer on each circle of dough. Proceed with recipe, but bake for only 6 to 8 minutes.

MAMA'S LAHMAJOON (LAGH-MA-JUN)

Steps:

• For the dough: Bloom the yeast in the warm water for 5 minutes until foam appears. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, then add the sugar and salt, mix with a spatula. Create a well in the center and pour in the oil and the bloomed yeast. Fold together all ingredients until combined.
• Rub hands with a little vegetable oil and knead the dough thoroughly for about 10 minutes the dough should be smooth and thick. Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough proof for 2 1/2 hours.
• Once risen, punch it down, divide the dough into 13 egg-sized balls, and roll each by hand. Roll each ball with a rolling pin into 7 or 8-inch diameter cakes, about 1/8 of an inch thick. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• For the meat topping: combine meat, tomato paste, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, paprika, mint, and allspice in a bowl.
• In a food processor, pulse onion and fresh garlic until it has a thick-chunky texture, then add to meat mixture. Next add the bell pepper, jalapeno, and parsley to the food processor and pulse just until fine, then add to meat and onion mixture.
• Lastly, add the tomatoes to the food processor, puree, and then add to meat mixture. Mix well by hand or spatula. Let mixture marinate in the refrigerator, covered, for 2 hours.
• Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture, about 2 ounces, on to each cake and place on a lightly oiled sheet pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until meat is cooked through and edges of dough start to brown. To serve, stack the cakes on top of each other in a tower. Squeeze a bit of lemon juice on top, followed by a dollop of plain yogurt, roll up like a wrap and eat. Repeat with remaining cakes.

LAHMAJUN

Steps:

• For the dough: Mix the flour, yeast, oil, salt and sugar in a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. With the mixer on low, slowly add 1/2 cup warm water and mix to combine. Only add more water if not coming together. Mix until the dough comes together and is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead a few times and then divide into 5 balls, each weighing about 100g (3.5 ounces) each. Set on a baking sheet, spray the tops lightly with oil spray and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside while you make the topping. (Can also be refrigerated up to 24 hours.)
• For the topping: Add the bell pepper, onion, parsley, garlic, tomato paste, paprika, salt, allspice, cumin, Aleppo pepper and mint to a food processor and buzz until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the lamb and pulse until it comes together. Transfer to a bowl.
• For the salad: Toss the arugula together with the lemon juice, salt and pepper and a hefty sprinkle of sumac in a large bowl. Taste for seasoning. Set aside.
• When you're ready to make the lahmajun, place a pizza stone in the oven on a rack about 5 inches away from the broiler element. Heat to 500 degrees F.
• Place 1 dough ball on a generously floured surface and press into a 5-inch circle with your fingers. Then, using a rolling pin, roll into an even thin circle, rotating the circle often. (Circle will be 9-to-10-inches wide.)
• Lightly flour a pizza peel or an upside-down baking sheet. Transfer the rolled crust onto it.
• Place 1/3 cup of the topping in the center of the dough round. Cover with a large piece of plastic wrap and, using your fingers, spread the meat mixture over the surface of the round in a thin, even layer, leaving a very thin border. Peel away the plastic and set aside to reuse for the remaining dough and topping.
• Carefully shimmy the lahmajun onto the hot pizza stone. Bake until the bottom of the crust and its edges are lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Remove from the oven.
• Place a handful of the dressed arugula on the cooked lahmajun. Top with sliced radish, roll the cooked lahmajun into a log and slice into pieces. Serve immediately and go make some more!

ARMENIAN PIZZA - LAHMAJOUN

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients except tortillas together in a large bowl.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Spread meat mixture thinly on each tortilla.
• Bake on large cookie sheets at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.