Trying the first time to cook Turkish Cuisine.
Pide is somewhat like a Turkish pizza, but it isn't pizza at all. It's oval-shaped, with the edges folded over, and the base is made with flavorful cheese rather than tomato sauce. The dough also differs a bit from pizza, and overall, it is much easier and faster to prepare than pizza. After exploring Refika's Kitchen YouTube channel, I was inspired to try a few dishes on my own. Pide was the first one I decided to attempt, so I invited friends over and started cooking.
I have to admit that Refika's instructions are clear and easy to understand, but what is cooking without a bit of experimentation, right? For the dough, I stuck with Refika's recipe, but I changed the toppings to include Swedish ingredients (or at least typical products you can find in any Swedish supermarket). I began by mixing good olive oil with garlic, pepper, and chili. As a cheese base layer, we used Präst cheese and grated Gouda. Additionally, we included Ölkorv, small tomatoes, olives, small chilis, red onions, and parsley—nothing more.
We started by rolling out the dough, spreading a light layer of spicy olive oil on it, and then adding the cheese and other ingredients on top. After sealing the edges, I lightly brushed them with melted salted butter. It was time for the oven and to enjoy the meal with a good glass of Ayran. By the way, food tastes even better when you share it with good friends. 😊
