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This week, as part of our unit on Turkey, we prepared one of the country’s most popular fast foods – Turkish Pide – and it was a hit among my middle-school students!

In this blog post, I’ll demonstrate how to make this Turkish recipe using readily available ingredients from your local grocery store. The best part? You don’t even need to make the dough from scratch!

FIRST, INTRODUCE TURKEY TO YOUR STUDENTS USING A COUNTRY BOARD

Using the Turkey Country Board I created (and will have for sale next week in my Etsy Shop, Countries on Board), you can easily teach the key country facts about Turkey, a transcontinental country located between Europe and Asia, known for its rich history, cultural diversity, and stunning natural beauty.

Country boards feature a particular country and serve as a visual aid to enhance students’ understanding of that country’s culture. I have been using them for 12 years!

With colorful images, interesting facts, and hands-on activities, students can learn about geography, history, culture, language, music, dance, literature, art, cuisine, and more. They can also be introduced to key historical events or figures that shaped the country’s past and present.

I encourage you to use a country board for your next country unit!

Also, be sure to read my blog post, All Hands on Turkey! How to Paint a Turkish Eye That Does Not Overwhelm the Young Artist, to incorporate art and additional learning into your Turkey Unit.

LET’S MAKE PIDE!

Pide is a traditional Turkish flatbread that is often compared to pizza due to its similar shape and toppings. The word “pide” comes from the Persian word “pida” which means “to open”.

The reason it’s considered “fast food” is because it is a popular street food in Turkey, often sold from small kiosks or mobile carts. You can find it everywhere!

SIMPLE INGREDIENTS FOR PIDE

To make pide, you will need:

One package of frozen Puff Pastry dough (this makes 4 individual pides)

Olive oil

Grated mozzarella cheese

Grated parmesan cheese

1 container of Feta Cheese (I recommend using Athenos Garlic & Herb crumbled Feta)

Ground lamb (this is an optional topping). Sauté in a pan with olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano to taste.

Parchment paper

Salt/pepper

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

To start, open your puff pastry sheets and divide them in half with a knife. You can roll out the dough a bit if you like, but this is not necessary.

Using a knife, cut an almond (eye) shape out of the puff pastry sheet.

Pinch the ends together tightly and then roll and pinch the edges of the almond shape to make a “boat” for the ingredients.

Lightly brush the bottom with olive oil and then season with salt and pepper.

Add a layer of mozzarella cheese followed by a mixture of feta and parmesan, which can be made by combining both containers of cheese with a small amount of olive oil.

Next, top with the ground lamb mixture (see the ingredient list for how to prepare the lamb).

Transfer your uncooked pide to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10-15 minutes at 400 degrees, or until the sides turn a light brown.

Let cool a bit and serve warm. Enjoy Turkey’s most popular “fast food”!

AN ADDITIONAL SWEET TREAT FROM TURKEY

To offer my students a taste of Turkey’s national dessert, I served a sweet treat alongside the Pide, which I found at a local Middle Eastern Market. It can also be purchased on Amazon or at Trader Joe’s, according to my students.