Middle Eastern Spiced Beef & Lentil Flatbreads

Cook Time 45 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

Beef Topping

400g lean beef mince

1 small onion, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp ground cumin

½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 cup cooked lentils (canned is fine, rinsed)

1 tbsp pomegranate molasses (or balsamic + a pinch of sugar)

Salt & pepper

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

For the Toppings

½ cup Greek yoghurt 

Juice & zest of ½ lemon

2 tbsp fresh mint or parsley, chopped, plus extra for garnish

¼ small red onion, thinly sliced and or pickled in vinegar

¼ cup pomegranate seeds

Toasted pine nuts or dukkah, to garnish (optional)

Easy Homemade Yoghurt Flatbreads (makes 4-6 flatbreads)

1 cup (150g) wholemeal flour

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

½ cup (120g) plain Greek yoghurt

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (plus more for cooking)

Optional: 1 tsp za’atar, cumin seeds or nigella seeds in the dough

Method

Heat extra virgin olive oil in a pan. Add onion and garlic, cook until soft. Add beef mince and cook until browned. Stir in spices and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add lentils and pomegranate molasses. Cook for 5 more minutes. Season to taste.

Warm in the oven or in a dry pan until just crisp at the edges.

In another bowl, mix yoghurt with lemon zest, juice, and chopped herbs. Season if desired.

For the Easy Homemade Yoghurt Flatbreads, in a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in yoghurt and extra virgin olive oil. Mix to form a dough. Knead briefly on a floured surface (about 2 minutes) until smooth. Cover and rest for 15-30 minutes if time allows. This makes it softer but is not essential.

Divide dough into 4-6 pieces. Roll each piece into a thin round or oval (~2–3mm thick).

Heat a skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Brush with a little extra virgin olive oil. Cook each flatbread 1-2 minutes per side until golden, puffed, and lightly charred.

To assemble, spread herbed yoghurt over each flatbread. Top with warm spiced beef & lentil mix. Add pickled onion, pomegranate seeds, extra herbs and a sprinkle of dukkah or pine nuts if using.