Name: Süslü Pide: The Ultimate Turkish Comfort Food That'll Win Your Heart 🥰
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients: 625g all-purpose flour (5 cups); 200ml lukewarm water (1 cup); 200ml lukewarm milk (1 cup); 50ml vegetable oil (5 tablespoons); 10g granulated sugar (1 tablespoon, leveled); 15g salt (1.5 teaspoons); 10g active dry yeast (1 packet); 500g ground meat; 2 medium onions; 2 green peppers; 1 red bell pepper; 1 medium tomato; Black pepper to taste; Salt to taste; Red pepper flakes to taste; 4 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1/2 tea cup water; Fresh parsley; 5 tablespoons tomato sauce; Grated kashar cheese for topping

Jump to Recipe

There’s something magical about the aroma of freshly baked Süslü Pide wafting through your kitchen. This fancy Turkish flatbread isn’t just food – it’s a warm hug on a plate, a conversation starter, and honestly, one of those recipes that’ll make you feel like a culinary superstar! 😊

If you’ve never tried making Süslü Pide at home, you’re in for such a treat. This isn’t your ordinary flatbread – it’s loaded with savory ground meat filling, topped with melted cheese, and baked to golden perfection. Trust me, once you make this, your family will be asking for it every week!

What Makes Süslü Pide So Special?

Süslü Pide translates to “fancy pide,” and boy, does it live up to its name! Unlike regular pide, this version is generously stuffed with a flavorful meat mixture and crowned with cheese. It’s like the Turkish cousin of pizza, but so much more satisfying and hearty.

The beauty of Süslü Pide lies in its versatility. You can serve it as a main dish, cut it into smaller pieces for appetizers, or even pack it for a delicious lunch. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about making the dough from scratch – it’s therapeutic!

The Perfect Süslü Pide Dough Recipe

Let me share this amazing Süslü Pide recipe that yields 16 perfect portions. The measurements are based on a 200ml cup, so keep that in mind!

For the Dough:

625g all-purpose flour (5 cups)
200ml lukewarm water (1 cup)
200ml lukewarm milk (1 cup)
50ml vegetable oil (5 tablespoons)
10g granulated sugar (1 tablespoon, leveled)
15g salt (1.5 teaspoons)
10g active dry yeast (1 packet)

The Magic Meat Filling:

500g ground meat
2 medium onions
2 green peppers
1 red bell pepper
1 medium tomato
Black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes to taste
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 tea cup water
Fresh parsley
5 tablespoons tomato sauce
Grated kashar cheese for topping

Making Your Süslü Pide: Step by Step

Preparing the Dough

Making Süslü Pide dough is easier than you might think! Start by placing the flour in a large bowl and creating a well in the center. Add your lukewarm water, milk, yeast, and sugar to this well. Let it sit for about 5 minutes – you’ll see the mixture getting slightly foamy, which means your yeast is happy and active! 🎉

Next, add the salt around the edges of the flour (never directly on the yeast), and start kneading. Once the dough begins to come together, add the vegetable oil and continue kneading until you have a smooth, elastic dough. Cover it well so no air gets in, and let it rise until it doubles in size.

When your dough has risen beautifully, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead it briefly to redistribute the air, then roll it out with a rolling pin – not too thin, not too thick, just right! Use a large lid (about 20cm) to cut perfect circles. Don’t worry about the scraps – just gather them up, form another ball, and roll it out again.

Creating the Flavorful Filling

While your Süslü Pide dough is rising, let’s prepare that incredible filling! Finely chop all your vegetables – the onions, peppers, and tomato. If you have a food processor, even better! The finer the chop, the better the flavors will meld together.

Mix the chopped vegetables directly with the raw ground meat, along with your seasonings, oil, water, and tomato sauce. This might seem unusual if you’re used to cooking the meat first, but trust the process – this method keeps everything incredibly moist and flavorful.

Assembling Your Süslü Pide Masterpiece

Now comes the fun part! Take each dough circle and add a generous spoonful of your meat mixture. Spread it gently with your fingertips, leaving a border around the edges. Top with grated kashar cheese – don’t be shy with it!

The beauty of Süslü Pide is that each one becomes a little individual pizza, perfect for sharing or enjoying all to yourself (no judgment here! 😉).

Baking to Golden Perfection

Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) with the fan on. No need for additional rising time – these beauties go straight into the oven! Place them on the middle rack and bake until they’re gorgeously golden and the cheese is bubbly.

The smell alone will have everyone gathering in the kitchen, wondering what amazing thing you’re creating!

Serving Your Süslü Pide

Süslü Pide is best enjoyed hot from the oven, and here’s a little Turkish secret – serve it with cold ayran (Turkish yogurt drink) on the side. The cool, tangy drink perfectly complements the rich, savory flavors of the pide.

You can cut your Süslü Pide into wedges for easy eating, or keep them whole if you’re feeling particularly hungry. They’re perfect for a cozy family dinner, weekend lunch, or even as party food that’ll definitely impress your guests.

Why This Süslü Pide Recipe Works

What makes this Süslü Pide recipe so special is the balance of flavors and textures. The soft, pillowy dough provides the perfect base for the savory meat mixture, while the cheese adds that irresistible golden top that we all love to see.

The combination of fresh vegetables with the ground meat creates a filling that’s both hearty and fresh. Plus, by mixing everything raw and letting it cook together, all those flavors have time to mingle and create something truly delicious.

Tips for Perfect Süslü Pide Every Time

Making Süslü Pide is pretty straightforward, but here are a few tips to make yours absolutely perfect:

Make sure your water and milk are lukewarm, not hot – you don’t want to kill the yeast!
Don’t skip the rising time for the dough – it’s what gives you that wonderful, soft texture
Chop your vegetables finely for the best distribution of flavors
Don’t overload each pide with filling – you want to be able to eat it without everything falling out

The Joy of Homemade Süslü Pide

There’s something incredibly satisfying about making Süslü Pide from scratch. Maybe it’s the therapeutic kneading of the dough, or perhaps it’s watching everyone’s faces light up when they take that first bite. Either way, this recipe is definitely going to become a regular in your household!

So grab your apron, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to fall in love with Süslü Pide. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll understand why it’s such a beloved dish in Turkish cuisine.

Happy cooking, and afiyet olsun! 🇹🇷✨

Süslü Pide: The Ultimate Turkish Comfort Food That’ll Win Your Heart

What Makes Süslü Pide So Special?