Gozleme!! Crispy, golden Turkish flatbreads stuffed with all sorts of tasty fillings. Choose from Spinach and Feta, or spiced Beef or Lamb. I want them all!
Like everybody’s favourite Easy Flatbreads recipe, the Gozleme pastry requires no yeast, just 3 ingredients (no yogurt) and is very easy to work with. You’re going to fall in love with this recipe!
Gozleme recipe
Weekend markets wouldn’t be the same without Turkish Gozleme stands. Sturdy Turkish Mamas with powerful arms rolling out the dough, and pretty young ladies front of house, smiling charmingly at customers.
Total stereotype there. But it’s a very effective marketing strategy!! 😂
If you’re new to Gozleme, all you need to know is this: they are olive oil flavoured flatbreads stuffed with all sorts of fillings. The most popular ones are Spinach and Feta, spiced ground lamb / beef (mince), and potato (carb on carb 👌🏻).
Pan fried until golden and crispy, then cut into grabbable-size pieces with lemon wedges on the side, there’s a reason why Gozleme stands often have the longest lines at weekend markets – because everybody loves them!!!
The Gozleme dough
Gozleme pastry is possible the easiest flatbread in the world because:
it’s traditionally made without yeast;
only requires 4 ingredients: flour, olive oil, salt and water
“dump and mix” job using a stand mixer or food processor
the dough is very easy to work with – easy to roll out (unlike rock hard fridge-cold Quiche pastry!), to pull and stretch into the shape that you want, and patch up accidental tears. 🙂
“If you’re new to making your own flatbreads, this is a great one to start with! The gozleme dough is very forgiving and easy to handle when rolling out.”
I typically make 4 Gozlemes from each batch of dough, though it can easily stretch to 5.
Gozleme Fillings
I’m sharing two fillings today:
Spinach and Feta, and
Lamb or Beef spiced ground meat filling. Though chicken, pork and turkey could be used too.
Just a note: I stuff my Gozleme way more generously than the Turkish Mamas at the Gozleme stands. I figure if we’re going to the effort of making our own, we shouldn’t skimp on fillings!!
Spinach and Feta Filling for Gozleme
The Spinach and Feta filling has nothing ground breaking in it. Egg for binding, garlic for flavour and pepper. (Ignore the salt in the photo, it’s not required!!)
The one little trick I’ve adopted over the years is to scrunch the spinach to wilt it down slightly. It makes it much easier to stuff the flatbread when the spinach is compacted down. Trying to enclose a huge pile of green fluffage with thin pastry is not fun.
Lamb or Beef Gozleme Filling
I told you I like to be generous with my fillings….. so while the traditional minced meat Gozleme usually has just a very thin scattering of meat with little more than a bit of onion, I like to fill mine out with all sorts of extras.
Increase the volume, more texture, add colour and more flavour!
Wrapping & cooking
Don’t be intimidated by this part! It’s really not difficult – and as I said, we’re working with a friendly dough here. The step photos below are fairly self explanatory, but here are a few tips:
Don’t make them too big – just because the Turkish Mamas at the gozleme stand make theirs the size of extra large pizzas, doesn’t mean you should! Large gozleme = difficult to transfer to skillet and flip. Remember, they’ve been doing it for 40 years….
Press out air pockets = no trapped heat ballooning = flatter = crispier
Transfer to skillet – slide onto a pizza paddle or similar, then slide into the skillet. Once cooked, it’s crisp enough to scoop up with a spatula – you’ll see in the recipe video!
Make sure they fit comfortably in the skillet! I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve had half a gozleme hanging out of the pan…. 😂
Don’t skimp on oil – if you want the crispiest, most golden pastry, now is not the time to be counting calories! (Besides, remember that olive oil is better for you!)
Though traditionally served with lemon wedges, hand on heart, I have never used them. (And I’ve had my fair share of Gozleme in my life time!). They are great as they are, hot off the stove.
In my world, these are a summertime BBQ favourite. Terrific to cook these on the flat side of the BBQ – plus there’s more space than a skillet so you can cook multiple gozlemes at the same time.
And the extra bonus (because we all secretly love this part😈) – everyone is always so impressed. It’s just not something that most people think about making at home.
I’ve used the word “crisp” alot in this post. So I’m going to leave you with this image. Crispy crispy juicy stuffed Lamb Stuffed Gozleme.
Or – wait. Was it beef?? There’s been a lot of gozleme around here in recent weeks. So I’m not sure. But it doesn’t matter. BOTH are equally delicious!!~ Nagi x
Gozleme recipe
Watch how to make it
Note: I forgot to press record when putting water into the dough, oops! Follow written recipe below.
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Gozleme!!
Ingredients
Gozleme pastry:
- 2.5 cups (375g) flour , plain/all purpose (GF Note 4)
- 1/3 cup (85ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup (185ml) water
- 1/2 tsp salt
Choose ONE Filling (Note 1)
Spinach & Feta:
- 300g / 10oz baby spinach
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 300g / 10 oz Danish feta (soft feta, Note 2)
- 2 cups (200g) shredded mozzarella cheese (Note 3)
Spiced Lamb or Beef:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 500g / 1 lb beef or lamb mince (ground)
- 1 capsicum / bell pepper , chopped
- 90g / 3 oz baby spinach
- 1.5 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne (adjust spiciness to taste)
- 3/4 tsp each salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp water
- 120g / 4 oz Danish feta (Note 2)
Cooking / Serving:
- 1 – 1.5 tbsp olive oil , per gozleme
- Lemon wedges (optional)
Instructions
Pastry:
- Fit stand mixer with dough hook. Combine flour, oil, salt and water in the stand mixer bowl. Mix for 2.5 minutes on medium high speed 7 until smooth (see video for before & after). (Note 4) Dough should be a pliable, smooth ball, not sticky.
- Cover and rest for 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle work surface with flour. Cut dough into 4 pieces.
- Roll out into 35cm/14″ x 20cm/8″ rectangle.
Filling:
- Make EITHER the lamb / beef Filling, or Spinach & Feta (or make 1/2 batch of both!).
Lamb or Beef Filling:
- Heat oil in large skillet over high heat.
- Cook garlic and onion for 1 minute. Add capsicum, cook for 2 minutes.
- Add beef and cook until it changes from pink to brown, breaking it up as you go.
- Add cumin, paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, pepper and water. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Add spinach, stir until wilted.
- Cool before using.
Spinach Feta Filling:
- Place spinach, garlic, egg and pepper in a bowl. Scrunch with hands to reduce volume and make spinach “floppy”.
- Add feta and stir through.
Making Gozleme:
- Spread Filling on half the pastry, pushing to the edge. Sprinkle Lamb/Beef Filling with crumbled feta. Sprinkle Spinach Feta with mozzarella cheese, if using.
- Fold other side of pastry over to cover Filling. Press down edges, pressing out excess air pockets trapped inside as you go. Use water if needed to seal well.
- Sprinkle flour on a round pizza paddle (or similar). Slide gozleme onto paddle.
Cooking:
- Heat 1.5 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. (I usually get 2 pans going)
- Slide gozleme into skillet. Cook, lightly pressing down (including edges), until deep golden and crispy – about 3 minutes. Flip and cook, pressing down lightly, until crispy.
Serving:
- Transfer to cutting board. Cut into 6 or 8 pieces.
- Serve immediately with lemon wedges, if desired.
Recipe Notes:
- Cooked gozleme should be eaten asap while hot and crispy!
- Dough can be kept for 3 to 4 days in fridge
- Do not keep filled uncooked gozleme in fridge – inside sweats and makes underside of dough soggy
- Best way to keep warm while you keep cooking is in 120C/250F oven ON A RACK not on a baking tray (hot gozleme sweats and underside gets soggy)
- Cooked gozleme can be frozen or kept in fridge – cool, wrap, put in container
- Reheat either by pan frying or on tray in oven at 180C/350F for 7 minutes or so
Nutrition Information:
More tasty things stuffed between crispy bread
Life of Dozer
Dog treat. Everybody say together – “That’s sooooooo Asian!”
Definitely going to try these Nagi but as it seems pie makers are all the go now, when I get my piemaker I’m going to try doing the gozleme in it.
Love you site & your Mum’s and have made many of the recipes. Many thanks for your great site.
Sandi
I’d love to know if it works Sandi!
I have just finished making these. Oh my gosh, they’re delicious and so easy!!! Thank you Nagi for such a simplistic dish that packs a punch.
Woot! I’m so glad you loved them Chantal!
I’m very keen to make these but my daughter and myself can’t have gluten. Will these work just as well with gluten free flour?
Hi Bec, I have tried with gluten free flour, they came out very crispy and just as delicious – I hope you enjoy them!
I would like to take this for my bookclub. should I wait until I get there to cook it, or will it travel well?
I prefer it cooked fresh so it’s nice and crisp. But it’s also great cooked I advanced and heated up in the oven!
Fantastic Nagi. I just finished making and eating the Feta and spinach version. Easy and so tasty. I love the pastry recipe and I’m thinking I could use the same dough to try to make a calzone pizza. I’ve never had one before but really fancy it. What do ya recon??
Hi Michele, I’m so glad you loved it! Calzone dough is slightly different to this one – something to add to my recipe to do list!
Hi Nagi,
I stumbled across your page a few weeks ago and I’m obsessed! I’ve made about 6 of your recipes so far, and each one has been incredible!!
I’m planning on making these Gozleme tomorrow, however I don’t have a mixer, would it be ok to make the dough in a food processor?
Thanks again
Bec 🙂
Hi Bec, either food processor or by hand will be fine! Love to know how you go!
They were amazing! I ended up hand kneading the dough. So delish, was a hit with the kids. Thank you 🙂
Perfect Bec, that’s awesome to hear!
Wow! Such a great recipe Nagi and easy to follow!! I can’t wait to make it for my family in few days!! Thanks for sharing!
how many people does it serve?
I hope you love it Ester!
What is feta
Hi Inelda, feta is a brined salty cheese – N x
Could I use frozen spinach if I really squeeze all the liquid out & then dry on paper towels
Hi Linda, I find frozen spinach too watery unfortunately!
Took your gozlemes to the family Easter lunch. They were so disappointed that more people turned up than expected because it meant they only got one piece each.
😂 That’s the best compliment!
This was absolutely delicious. The dough was a dream to work with, the filling had the perfect spice, my family of four loved it and there was quite a bit leftover for lunches. I have 5 of your recipes on my meal plan this week – I am confident we will all enjoy all of them. Thank you!
Another delicious recipe. Your Gozleme are just so tasty and great to make.Thank you so much Nagi.
Thanks so much Alison!
Thankyou Nagi , my’ husband & my children love it so now I don’t need buy outside anymore 😜👍
I have mushrooms leftover so no meat just vegetables yummy yummy 😋
Thanks again NAGI , love u & have a wonderful & peaceful on your live .🍀💐
Made these last night with the lamb filling and added fresh spinach and mint. They were fabulous and I have been requested to add them to our Friday night dinner rotation. I made the dough in my Thermomix and it was beautiful, soft and silky and rolled perfectly. Thankyou for such a yummy treat.
I’m so happy you loved them Karen!
I loved making these. Easy, simple ingredients and easy to make. The dough didn’t spread as wide as I wanted but fried so nicely. The dough was a little thicker than pictured but delicious and you can mix and add any filling you want. The combinations are endless for foodies.
Hi Missie, it is a little hard, but the thinner you can roll it the better! I love that you could add almost anything into these!
Hi Navi, I went rogue and combined both spinach and lamb. Super good. Thank you for the inspiration.
I bet it was AMAZING though?!
It was. Left out the egg and added fresh mint! Thanks again! 😃
Oops. Sorry Nagi, auto correct.
Can you make gozleme dough by hand if you don’t have a stand mixer and dough hook?
The nutrition info has the sodium at 78%! Is this for 1 gozelme (1/4 of recipe) or are the percentages for the entire recipe? I am going to try to make them without any added salt because it looks delicious .
HI Tricia! I had a look at it again to double check, it’s slightly lower now because I have reduced salt in the dough with no noticeable difference in flavour. 1 tsp was a bit unecessarily generous! So – most of the sodium is coming from the feta, then mozzarella cheese. Feta is quite high in sodium. To reduce the sodium, drastically, I would a) only use 1/4 tsp salt in dough b) cut feta in half. This will reduce sodium by about 500mg down to 1073 mg which is about half the daily recommended allowance. Mozzarella has far less sodium by weight than feta so keep that for the cheesiness! N xx
Hi Jenny, yes of course! You’ll just need to bring your muscles for kneading 💪🏻
I’ve been watching Recipe Tin on Instagram ang gave this one a try when my friend came over. It was a lot of fun making together and I really enjoyed eating them.
That’s awesome Shannan!
These were fantastic! My family loved them. I divided my pastry into six portions instead of four. That way, I could cook two at a time in my skillet. Also, I sealed the pastry with an egg wash. I made the meat mixture, but I’m sure the other filling is equally delicious.
Thanks so much for a fun and unique recipe.
I’m so glad you loved them Jocelyn!
Nagi! You are heaven sent. I am absolutely addicted to your recipes! I have tried a few already, and for me you have excellent tastebuds. You’re website is difinitely a labor of love and the photos look mouth watering as they are for real.
This gozleme is delish! Thank you and keep cooking.
Thanks so much for the awesome feedback Rochelle ❤️