Biberli Ekmek - Turkish Pepper Bread

No ratings yet

Biberli Ekmek, or Turkish Pepper Bread, is a traditional flatbread that comes straight from the heart of Hatay in southern Turkey.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Rising time1

Total Time1 30

Course: Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Turkish

Diet: Halal, Low Lactose, Vegetarian

Servings: pieces

Calories: 497kcal

In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt.
Gradually add warm milk and olive oil, mixing until a soft dough forms. You might need to add a tablespoon of milk if the dough feels a bit firm.
Knead for about 5 minutes until smooth. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise for 1 hour, until it doubles in size.

For the topping, combine grated onion, red pepper paste, olive oil, ground coriander, cumin, thyme, sesame seeds, crushed walnuts, and salt.
Mix well until it is easily spreadable. Set it aside.

Preheat the oven to 392°F (200°C).
Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. You can use a kitchen scale for precise measurement.
Turn them into balls, and cover them with a clean towel.
Let them rest for 15 minutes to make rolling out easier. Roll each dough ball into a thin circle, the size of 6" (15 cm).
Spread the pepper mixture evenly over each piece.
Bake for 13- 15 minutes until the edges are golden and the topping is set.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

Use high-quality pepper paste - Opt for acı biber salçası (hot red pepper paste) or tatlı biber salçası (sweet red pepper paste), depending on your heat preference. Homemade or Turkish store-bought versions have more flavor than generic ones.
Don’t skip the olive oil - Olive oil not only brings everything together but also helps prevent the topping from drying out while baking. Be generous, especially in the topping mix.
Let the dough rise fully - Give your dough enough time to rise until it doubles in size.
Spread the topping evenly - Make sure the topping covers the dough all the way to the edges to help the bread bake evenly and avoid dry edges.
Customize the heat level - Adjust the amount of chili flakes or hot pepper paste to suit your taste. You can make it milder or spicier without affecting the overall flavor.