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SAMSUN PDE
PIDE WITH FOUR CHEESES
Samsun is a city on the Black Sea famous for its pide (a thick form of flatbread that's not the
same as pita or pizza). The defining qualities of a Samsun pide are: the dough contains the
highest quality butter, flour and eggs; it is rolled out by hand, not with a rolling pin; it is
pulled into a boat shape that can hold a stuffing; and it is baked in a wood-fire oven. In this
case, the passengers on the boat are cheeses, tomatoes and a fried egg, but don't get hung up
on finding four different cheesesthree or even two will do, as long as they contrast in
texture and flavour. And by the way, we do not agree with the claim by some bold Turks that
our pide gave birth to Italy's pizza.
When eggs and cheese combine ... Somer Sivrioglu's Samsun pide. Photo: Supplied
SERVES 4
DOUGH
1 tbsp dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
300 g (2 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour, plus extra for dusting
150 g (1 cup) strong flour
50 ml milk
1 teaspoon salt
FOUR-CHEESE FILLING
4 tbsp each four different cheesessuch as feta, kaar (or provolone or mozzarella or any
semi-hard yellow cheese), tulum (or aged ricotta or any sharp crumbly white cheese) and
gorgonzola (or any piquant mouldy cheese)
1 egg
Somer runs Efendy restaurant in Sydney's Balmain. He will be on stage at the Growers'
Market Pyrmont on Saturday April 4 at 8.30am and 10am demonstrating two other
recipes from his new cookbook.