Best Turkish Pide Bread Recipe!

Life is complicated. Turkish pide bread is not. So, if you’re intimidated by baking bread, this soft, no-knead, easy Turkish bread recipe is right up your alley.

WHAT IS PIDE BREAD?

Turkish pide bread, often simply referred to as "pide" or Ramazan pidesi or Ramazan pide, is a type of flatbread that is popular in traditional Turkish cuisine.

Think of it as Pita’s cousin.

Pronounced pee-dae or pee-deh, the leavened bread (i.e., it uses yeast to help the dough rise) is stretched by hand or rolled out into its unique shape.

You’ll frequently see it in two avatars: with or without filling. The first one is often topped with cheese, which is why it’s also known by the moniker Turkish pide pizza. 

The second is the one I made (without filling). It’s a round, fluffy bread with a diamond pattern on top that you’ll love to snack on.

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How To Make

Recipe Notes

Serving Suggestions

Ingredient Swaps

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WHY TRY THIS RECIPE FOR PIDE?

Easy no-knead bread

Beautiful and super soft

Very moreish and so flavorful 

HOW TO MAKE TURKISH PIDE BREAD RECIPE?

Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast.

Step 2: Add lukewarm water and milk, along with oil. Combine until you have a shaggy mass of pide Turkish bread dough.

Step 3: Lightly transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover it, and then let it proof for 1 to 1.30 hours in a draft-free corner of your kitchen.

Step 4: When the flatbread dough is doubled in volume, take it out of the bowl and gently deflate it (don’t punch).

Step 5: Divide it into 2 portions and roll each into a tight ball.

SHAPE THE PIDE

Step 6: Pat each ball with your hands and flatten it into a 7- or 8-inch circle.

Step 7: Transfer each disc to a parchment-lined baking tray.

Step 8: Go around the dough to make a smaller circle, using three of your fingertips to press down. When you finish, the pide dough will have a 2-cm circular border. (Watch the video)

Step 9: Next, make the characteristic diamond pattern. Start by pressing down gently along the centerline of the dough, dividing it lengthwise.

Step 10: Continue using your fingers to make diagonal lines starting from the top of the dough to create a series of diamonds.

BAKE THE FLATBREAD

Step 11: Brush the Turkish bread liberally with a mixture of egg and a tablespoon of yogurt.

Step 12: Sprinkle seeds and bake till you have a glistening golden-brown crust and the bottom is lightly golden.

Final step: Slice or wedge and serve.

NOTES ON THIS NO-KNEAD BREAD

• Your milk and water need to be lukewarm to help the yeast bloom—neither cold nor scorching hot.
• I kneaded this bread for a minute or two simply out of habit. You don’t need to knead. The dough will come together automatically.
• How long it takes to proof the Turkish flatbread depends on the ambient temperature. The colder it is, the longer it needs. So just a bit of patience is required while the yeast does its job.
• Don’t let the pide rise too much. You want it to double in size, and that’s it.
• I always cover my bread with a slightly damp kitchen towel after it's baked, so it stays softer for longer.

MY TIP ON MAKING TRADITIONAL TURKISH BREAD PATTERN

I’ve goofed up enough times when making the pattern on a Turkish loaf to know that a few tricks really help.

• My ace card is to use wet hands, so the dough doesn’t stick to the fingers.
• Also, go deep when making the indentations because, remember, the flatbread will rise as it bakes. If your pattern is too shallow, it’ll disappear in the oven.
• I still can't make the beautiful diamond / square patterns, but the bread is yet super delicious!

SERVING PIDE BREAD

The Turkish flatbread is "eyes rolling in bliss" delicious as-is. You can enjoy it on its own, with butter, or as part of a meal.

• Mop up soups and stews with it:

• Roasted carrot lentil soup
• Sweet potato and pumpkin soup
• Barley soup with beans and mustard greens
• Moroccan vegetable stew

• Dip in cheese, chutney, and co
• Add it to salads
• Match it with kebabs

HOW TO REHEAT RAMAZAN PIDESI?

Pide is great at room temperature, but if you love hot bread, it’s easy to reheat. Sprinkle the flatbread with water (the steam makes the crumb soft) and:

• Slide it into a hot oven for a couple of minutes.
• Or use a stovetop. Just place it in a pan and cover.

TURKISH PIDE BREAD SUBS & SWAPS

Flour: I used all-purpose for this soft pide recipe. You can substitute it with whole wheat, but I’d recommend only using half a portion of it. Otherwise, the bread will be too dense.

And yes, the dough is supposed to be soft and sticky. Don’t be tempted to add more flour. You want that tackiness.

Sugar: Caster, cane, raw, or regular plain sugar—everything works in this easy no-knead flatbread recipe.

Salt: Let your palate be the guide between sea salt (what I used) and table salt.

Oil: I used extra virgin olive oil.

Yeast: I’ve not tried pide with fresh yeast, but dry active or instant both gave equally delicious results.

Milk: I used regular-toned milk. If you’re more familiar with full-fat or plant-based milk, add those.

Egg: gives pide bread that lovely sheen and shine. A different route to the same place would be to brush the dough with butter, milk, or oil right before you sprinkle the seeds.

Seeds: It’s traditional to use white sesame and nigella seeds, and I’d recommend both, as they lend pide bread a nutty and peppery dose. But you can omit them.

MORE FLATBREAD RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

Khachapuri – Georgian Cheese Bread

Super Easy No-Knead Focaccia

Easy Stovetop No Yeast Naan

Cheese Stuffed Flatbread

Homemade Pita Bread

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Half the joy of cooking is sharing it with others, which is why I’m always eager to hear from you. So go right ahead and drop a comment or reach out on Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, or Facebook. I hope you love this Turkish pide bread recipe as much as we do!

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