Homemade Turkish Gozleme: A Family Favorite That’s Always a Hit

If you’re looking for a fun, interactive recipe that the whole family can get involved in, homemade Turkish gozleme is the way to go! In my household, it’s one of our favorite meals to make, especially with the kids. They love helping roll out the dough and sneaking bites of the filling as we cook it. Not to mention, the excitement of flipping those crispy golden parcels gets them every time! Homemade Turkish gozleme is also a fantastic option when entertaining guests—trust me, they’ll be coming back for seconds (and thirds!).

How to Make Homemade Turkish Gozleme

To make life easier, I usually prepare the dough in the morning. I wrap it in cling film and store it in the fridge until we're ready to cook later in the day. This way, when it's time to get cooking, we can jump straight into the fun part!

What’s great about this recipe is that the filling is totally customizable. While I tend to stick with lean beef mince, you can easily swap it out for lamb, turkey, chicken, or go meat-free with Quorn mince or tofu. It’s the same story with the veggies—whatever's in the fridge works! I usually make one with spinach for the guests (who seem to love it) and a more kid-friendly version without.

The Filling Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need for my go-to homemade Turkish gozleme filling:

• 500g lean beef mince (or your preferred protein)

• ½ red capsicum and ½ yellow capsicum, diced

• 5 mushrooms, sliced

• ½ onion, finely chopped

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

• 1 tbsp ground coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 1 cup beef (or vegan) stock

• Crumbled feta, to taste

  
  

The Dough Recipe

This dough is super simple and comes together in no time:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free with ¼ tsp xanthan gum per cup)

• ½ cup Greek or plain yogurt

• ½ cup water

• A dash of olive oil

• A sprinkle of garlic powder

• Pinch of salt and pepper

  
  

Method

1. Preparing the Dough:

I like to use my immersion (stick) blender to mix the dough—it’s a game changer! The dough comes together in seconds. Once it’s smooth, I transfer it to floured cling film, wrap it up, and pop it in the fridge until we’re ready to cook.

2. Making the Filling:

• Start by heating a bit of olive oil in a pan and sautéing the onion and garlic for a couple of minutes.

• Add in the diced capsicum, mushrooms, and any other veggies you like. Cook for about 3 minutes.

• Next, add the mince and cook until browned. Stir in the seasonings, then pour in the stock and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.

  
  

3. Assembling the Gozleme:

• Flour your bench and rolling pin, then divide the dough into four equal portions.

• Roll out each portion into your desired shape, making sure they’re all the same size.

• Spoon the filling onto two of the rolled-out dough pieces, sprinkle with crumbled feta (and spinach, mint, or parsley if you like), then cover with the top layer of dough and seal the edges.

  
  

4. Cooking:

• Transfer the gozleme to a lightly sprayed pan and cook on one side until golden, then flip and cook the other side. But here’s a little secret: after some experimenting, we’ve found that using a sandwich press is actually the best method! Just place baking paper on both sides, close the lid, and it cooks to crispy perfection without the need for oil or flipping.

  
  

Toppings and Serving Suggestions

Homemade Turkish gozleme is delicious as is, but the toppings really take it to the next level. In our house, we like to add:

• Sliced black olives

• Lemon wedges

• Crumbled feta

• Cubed cucumber

We also serve it alongside some fresh beetroot dip and hummus for a Mediterranean twist.

This homemade Turkish Gozleme recipe is a family favorite in our kitchen, and it’s sure to become one in yours too! Whether you’re making it with the kids on a cozy weekend or serving it at your next gathering, it’s always a crowd-pleaser. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out—trust me, you’ll be hooked!