Lahmatzoun Food

LAHMATZOUN

Steps:

• Saute the beef, onions and spices in the olive oil until browned and cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Season to taste.
• Stir in parsley.
• Mix the butter together with the egg to make a spread.
• Spread the 4 pites with this mixture.
• Distribute the meat mixture evenly amongst the 4 pites and press down well with palm of hand so that it adheres to the pites.
• Don't make the layer too thick.
• Preheat oven to 420°F.
• Bake pites for 5-8 minutes.
• Remove, top with 2 slices of tomato each and roll each pita up (use a sheet of aluminum foil to wrap around outside).
• Enjoy!
• Note. To freeze whole: Cool. Freeze whole between layers of waxed paper or foil. Omit tomatoes. To reheat: place in a single layer and heat at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. top with tomatoes and serve. OR Freeze meat mixture in a freezer bag. Thaw in fridge. Proceed with recipe.

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.

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.

LAHMACUN

Steps:

• For tomato sauce:
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, and serrano chile and cook, stirring often, until beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes, breaking them up with your hands, piquillo peppers, brown sugar, vinegar, and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring often and mashing with a potato masher (or a spoon), until thickened, 15-20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then purée in a blender until smooth; season with salt and pepper to taste.
• For meat:
• Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, 5-8 minutes. Add lamb, beef, Aleppo pepper, ras-el-hanout, and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned, 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool.
• For assembly:
• Place a rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 500°F. Cut dough into 4 pieces. Working with 1 piece at a time and keeping remaining pieces covered, gently stretch dough into 12" rounds and transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. (If dough springs back, let rest 10 minutes, then stretch again, resting as needed, until dough is thin).
• Spread each round of dough with a layer of tomato sauce; season with salt and pepper and top with a thin layer of meat mixture. Working in batches, cook lahmacun until crusts are browned and crisp, 10-12 minutes.
• Toss parsley and lemon juice in a small bowl. Top each lahmacun with parsley mixture and drizzle with oil.
• DO AHEAD: Sauce and meat mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and keep chilled.