The first step in making Gözleme is the dough. A good quality wheat flour dough is essential. The dough is usually made with just flour, water, and a pinch of salt. However, you can also add a little yoghurt to your dough for some added flavour. Once done, the dough is left to rest for 30 minutes.
After the dough has rested, it's time to stretch it. Grab a small piece of dough and roll it out as thinly as you possibly can. If you're not confident in your abilities, it's best to get some help from a local, as the process requires patience and technique.
Now comes the fun part- adding the ingredients. Spread your chosen filling over half of the rolled-out dough, leaving some space at the edges. Fold over the other half of the dough and press the edges together firmly to seal the filling inside.
Gözleme can be cooked in various ways, but the most common and traditional method is on a sac- which is a domed griddle. If you don't have access to a traditional sac, no worries- you can use a grill or stove-top griddle pan. Preheat the sac or griddle on a medium heat and brush some oil onto it. Then lay the stuffed dough on the griddle and cook for a few minutes until light brown. Once the bottom side is cooked, flip it over and continue cooking the other side until it's golden brown.
Once it's cooked, remove the Gözleme from the heat and place it on a cutting board. Cut it into bite-size pieces using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, and serve it while it's still hot with a side of salad or pickles to add zing.
In conclusion, Gözleme is a simple and delicious Turkish pancake that you can easily make at home. Once you get the hang of the dough-stretching process, adding fillings inside and cooking them becomes a breeze. So if you're in Turkey, don't miss the opportunity to learn how to prepare Gözleme from a local lady, while enjoying the calm of our Garden House. And who knows, maybe you'll even discover your own unique Gözleme recipe. So, what are you waiting for? Try it out today, and treat your taste buds to an authentic Turkish culinary experience.
