Pide – Turkish Flat Bread / Pizza

This post contains links to affiliate websites, such as Amazon, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you using these links. We appreciate your support!

Share it with your friends!

Turkish pide is a delicious flatbread that’s like a pizza but with a unique twist. It’s soft and fluffy inside, with a crispy crust that’s oh-so-satisfying. Topped with savoury ingredients like minced meat, cheese, and veggies, it’s a flavour explosion in every bite. Perfect for sharing with friends and family or enjoying on your own, Turkish pide is a must-try dish that will leave you craving more!

Turkish Pide

For a delicious and satisfying meal, Turkish pide is a great option. Known as Turkish flatbread, it’s often filled with a variety of ingredients to create a flavorful dish. If you’re interested in exploring Turkish recipes, check out my easy homemade Turkish borek or Turkish meatballs with buttery hasselback potatoes.

Another great recipe is saksuka, a flavorful Turkish vegetable dish, and this bulgur recipe, a fantastic side dish that pairs wonderfully with this creamy chicken. You can also try oven-roasted cauliflower and hummus for a light and tasty addition or my finger-licking kefta tacos.

For more ideas, dive into my Turkish recipes collection or give my homemade sweetcorn, tuna pizza a try for something a little more unique!

What is Pide?

Turkish Pide, a traditional flatbread from Turkey, resembles a type of Turkish pizza with its oval shape and thick crust. Made from flour, water, yeast, and salt, the dough is hand-shaped and topped with various ingredients like ground lamb, cheese, tomatoes, onions, and spices.

Baked until golden brown and crispy, it’s often served with yoghurt or salad. Loved in Turkey and beyond, Turkish Pide is a delightful dish enjoyed by many.

Looking for more? Check out these Dinner Recipes!

Expert Tips

  • Knead the Dough: Ensure your dough is smooth and stretchy by kneading it well and letting it rest.
  • Don’t Overdo the Toppings: Use a balanced amount of toppings to avoid overloading and ensure even baking.
  • Preheat the Oven: Heat your oven to a high temperature for a crispy crust and evenly cooked toppings.

Ingredients

For the Dough

Ingredient shot for making Turkish Pide /Pizza.

Step-by-step Instructions

Craving homemade Turkish flatbread? Try making pide, a traditional Turkish pizza with a crispy crust and delicious fillings like ground meat, spinach, or mixed cheese. This step-by-step guide will show you how to make the perfect pide dough, shape it into its signature boat shape, and bake it until golden.

Check out our step-by-step photos and tips for making the best homemade Turkish pide at home!

Dough mixture in a glass bowl, then being portioned for Turkish pide pizza.
  1. Mix warm water, sugar, and olive oil in a bowl. Sprinkle yeast over the mixture, add a little flour, and let it sit to activate. Add the remaining flour and salt, then knead until smooth.
Dough balls on a wooden board left to rise, then fully risen and ready to shape.
  1. Divide the dough into portions, shape them into balls, and let them rest again until doubled in size.
Oval-shaped dough on a floured surface, topped with grated mozzarella, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes.
  1. Roll each ball into an oval shape, add your desired filling, and sprinkle with cheese. Fold the edges, pinch the ends, and let them sit before baking.
Turkish pide with meat filling and spinach in one image, and a mix of cheeses in another.
  1. Towards the end of baking, crack an egg on top of the pide for a richer taste. Brush with egg wash, sprinkle sesame seeds, and bake until golden.
Baked Turkish pide with meat, spinach, and cheese in one image; a sliced meat-filled pide in another.

A full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Variations

Turkish Pide/Pizza is a delicious flatbread that can be topped with various ingredients to create different flavours. Here are a few recipe variations for :

  • Kiymali Pide (Ground Meat Pide) – Sauté ground beef or lamb with finely chopped onions, tomatoes, and spices like paprika and cumin. Spread the mixture over the rolled-out dough before shaping and baking.
  • Peynirli Pide (Cheese Pide) – Use a mix of cheeses like feta, mozzarella, or kasar cheese. Crumble or grate them, then evenly distribute over the dough. Optionally, add a drizzle of olive oil before baking.
  • Sebzeli Pide (Vegetable Pide) – Lightly sauté diced bell peppers, onions, zucchini, and tomatoes in olive oil. Spread the mixture over the dough and bake until golden.
  • Sucuklu Pide (Sucuk and Cheese Pide) – Slice Turkish sucuk (spicy beef sausage) and place it over a layer of grated mozzarella or kasar cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Kusbasili Pide (Diced Meat Pide) – Cook small cubes of lamb or beef with onions, tomatoes, and green peppers. Let the mixture cool slightly before spreading it onto the dough, then bake.
  • Egg Pide – Prepare any of the above fillings and bake the pide until almost done. Crack an egg on top and return it to the oven for a few minutes until the egg is just set.

Looking for more? Check out +20 Dinner Recipes

The best kind of drinks that go well with Pide

Pide is a delicious Turkish dish that is often described as a type of flatbread or pizza topped with various ingredients. When it comes to selecting the best drinks to pair with Pide, you’ll want to consider the flavours and spices in the dish.

  • Ayran: Ayran is a traditional Turkish yoghurt-based drink that goes exceptionally well with Pide.
  • Turkish Tea: Turkish tea is a popular choice to accompany meals in Turkey.
  • Raki: Raki is an anise-flavoured alcoholic beverage that is often considered the national drink of Turkey.
  • Pomegranate Juice: Pomegranate juice is a refreshing and fruity option that pairs well with many Turkish dishes.
  • Sparkling Water: If you prefer a non-alcoholic option, sparkling water can be a great choice to cleanse the palate and refresh your taste buds.

Storage and leftovers

Store any leftover Turkish pide in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in foil or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for a few minutes until warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat slices in a toaster oven or microwave for a quick snack.

FAQs

Turkish Pide is a traditional flatbread, often referred to as “Turkish pizza.” It’s typically boat-shaped, with a crispy crust and a variety of savoury toppings such as cheese, minced meat, or vegetables. The dough is soft and chewy, providing a delightful base for the toppings.

To make the dough, mix flour, water, yeast, sugar, salt, and olive oil. Knead until smooth and elastic, then let it rise until doubled in size. Once risen, divide the dough into portions, roll them out, and add your desired toppings before baking.

Common toppings include:

  • Cheese: Feta or mozzarella.
  • Meat: Ground beef or lamb, often seasoned with spices.
  • Vegetables: Spinach, onions, tomatoes, and peppers.
  • Sausage: Turkish sucuk (spicy sausage).

These ingredients are spread over the dough before baking.

After rolling out the dough, fold the edges over the filling to form a boat-like shape. Pinch or twist the ends to seal them, leaving the center open. This shape helps contain the toppings and gives the pide its distinctive look.

Yes, Turkish Pide can be made vegetarian by using toppings like cheese, spinach, mushrooms, and peppers. This variation is both delicious and suitable for those avoiding meat.

Related Recipes

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on FacebookPinterest, and Instagram for the latest updates.

Turkish Pide

Turkish Pide

Claudia
Turkish pide is a delicious flatbread topped with various ingredients like cheese, meat, or vegetables. It is a popular dish in Turkish cuisine, known for its crispy crust and soft center. Enjoy it hot from the oven for a satisfying meal or snack.
5 from 11 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Turkish
Servings 4
Calories 886 kcal

Equipment

  • Baking Tray
  • Rolling Pin
  • Cling Film
  • Brush
  • Grater
  • Measuring Spoons

Ingredients
  

For the dough

  • 300 g flour 2 1/3 cups
  • 195 ml warm water 3/4 cup
  • 4 g dry yeast 1 teaspoon
  • 5 g sugar 1 teaspoon
  • 4 g salt 3/4 teaspoon
  • 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin

Egg wash

  • 1 egg 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp milk

Extra

  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds

Filling with meat:

  • 200 g pork leftovers or any other meat
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 50 ml tomato juice
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the cheese topping

  • 50 g Feta cheese crumbled
  • 50 g Mozzarella cheese grated

Filling with Spinach:

  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
  • 300 g fresh spinach
  • 1 egg lightly beated

For the cheese topping

  • 50 g feta cheese crumble
  • 50 g Mozzarella cheese grated

Instructions
 

Making the Dough:

  • In a bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and olive oil. Sprinkle the dry yeast over the mixture and add 1 tbsp of flour. Mix well and set aside for 10 minutes to activate the yeast.
    195 ml warm water, 4 g dry yeast, 5 g sugar, 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Add the flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Knead for about 5 minutes until a smooth and elastic dough forms.
    300 g flour, 4 g salt
  • Cover the bowl with cling film and let the dough rise for 60 minutes in a warm place.
  • Once the dough has doubled in size, divide it into two equal parts.
  • On a greased surface, roll out each portion of dough into an oval shape.
  • Place the desired filling in the middle of each dough oval, leaving a 2 cm border around the edges.
  • Sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese and crumbled feta cheese over the filling.
  • Fold the sides of the pide inwards, then brush the edges with water.
  • Pinch the ends together to seal the pide.
  • Let the pide rise for an additional 20 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 200°C/390°F.
  • Brush the edges of the pide with the egg wash and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
  • Bake the pide in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the crust turns golden brown.

Making the Pork Leftovers Filling:

  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
    3 tbsp olive oil
  • Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes.
    1 large onion
  • Stir in the chopped red bell pepper and cook for an additional minute.
    1 red bell pepper
  • Add the pork leftovers (or any other meat), tomato juice, paprika, salt, and pepper.
    200 g pork leftovers, 50 ml tomato juice, 1 tbsp paprika, Salt and pepper
  • Cook the mixture over medium heat for 5 minutes.
  • Set the filling aside and let it cool before using it as a pide filling.

Making the Spinach Filling:

  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
    2 tbsp olive oil
  • Cook the chopped onion until translucent, about 3 minutes.
    1 small onion
  • Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and cook until it wilts. If necessary, add the spinach in batches.
    300 g fresh spinach
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Allow the spinach filling to cool before using it for the pide.

Video

Notes

Dough Consistency: Aim for a soft and slightly sticky dough. Adjust the amount of flour or water as needed to achieve the right consistency.
Resting Time: Allow the dough to rest and rise properly to develop flavor and texture. Cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place.
Toppings: Get creative with your toppings! Traditional options include ground lamb or beef, cheese, tomatoes, onions, and herbs. Customize your pide with your favourite ingredients.
Baking Temperature: Preheat your oven well and bake the Pide at a high temperature to ensure a crispy crust and properly cooked toppings.
Serve Fresh: Pide is best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. Serve it hot with a side of yoghurt or a fresh salad for a delicious meal.

Nutrition

Calories: 886kcalCarbohydrates: 74gProtein: 40gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 25gTrans Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 336mgSodium: 1054mgPotassium: 1058mgFiber: 7gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 9536IUVitamin C: 66mgCalcium: 495mgIron: 9mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Share it with your friends!

5 from 11 votes

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




11 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Ohhhh! I used to have turkish pide when going to the city in Germany and loved it, but never made it myself until your recipe popped up. This is amazing. Particularly loved all the filling options you gave!

  2. 5 stars
    The crispy crust and soft, fluffy inside make Turkish pide irresistible. The savory toppings take it to the next level—so flavorful and satisfying!

  3. 5 stars
    I love everything about this recipe. The crust is just perfect, the filling is flavorful and the mozzarella feta combo is genius!