Say hello to pide - Turkey’s answer to pizza. These boat-shaped flatbreads are baked to golden perfection with delicious toppings like cured beef, spicy sausage, ground meat, and gooey cheese. Whether you’re serving one or all three, they’re guaranteed to impress.

Pair your pide party with Zina’s Edamame Salad or Tabbouleh Salad for a refreshing side that balances the richness of the dough and meat.

Option 1: Pide with Cured Beef (Pastirma)

Ingredients

• Pide dough (store-bought or homemade)
• 1/2 cup mozzarella or kashkaval cheese
• 8–10 slices pastirma (or cured beef)

Directions

1. Roll out dough into an oval and shape the edges to form a boat.
2. Add cheese, then layer with pastirma.
3. Bake at 220°C (430°F) for 12–15 min until golden and bubbly.

Option 2: Mixed Meat Pide

Ingredients

• Pide dough
• 1/2 cup ground beef or lamb
• 1/4 onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 green pepper, chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• Spices: cumin, paprika, black pepper
• Optional: cheese and extra pastirma

Directions

1. Sauté meat with onion, pepper, tomato paste, and spices.
2. Spread on dough, top with cheese or cured meat if desired.
3. Bake until edges are golden and filling is cooked through.

Option 3: Sucuk & Cheese Pide

Ingredients

• Pide dough
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• 1/3 cup sliced Turkish sucuk (or spicy sausage)

Directions

1. Place cheese and sucuk over shaped dough.
2. Bake until crispy and melty.
3. Serve hot, optionally with a lemon wedge or chili flakes.

Chef’s Tip: Want to keep it traditional? Crack a raw egg on top of the pide in the last 2 minutes of baking for that authentic Turkish touch.

Pair with Zina’s  Edamame Salad & Tabbouleh Salad for the full spread!