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Ishlekli
Işlekli: Turkmen meat pie traditionally baked in hot desert sand
TurkmenIshlekli is the shepherds' pie of the Karakum desert: a large round of dough filled with chopped lamb and onion, sealed, and buried in sand heated by a fire, so it bakes slowly into a thick, golden crust filled with juicy meat. Turkmen families still make it on camping trips and at holidays in the countryside around Ashgabat. This version bakes it in a hot oven on a preheated tray. A common mistake is using lean meat, which makes the filling dry; the lamb fat bastes the inside as it bakes. Chef's tip: chop the lamb by hand rather than mincing it; small chunks stay juicy and give the pie its rustic texture. The filling should reach 71 °C.
- Total time
- 100 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the dough
- 1 ⅓ lb plain flour
- 1 ¼ cups warm water
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
For the filling
- 1 ¾ lb lamb shoulderfinely chopped by hand, with its fat
- 3 onionsfinely chopped
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 oz buttermelted
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ⅓ lb plain flour, 1 ½ tsp salt, 1 ¼ cups warm water and 2 tbsp sunflower oil and knead for 8 minutes until smooth. Rest 30 minutes.
8 minStep 2: Mix 1 ¾ lb lamb shoulder, 3 onions, 1 ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper and ½ tsp ground cumin.
Step 3: Heat the oven to 425°F (fan 400°F) with a large tray inside.
Step 4: Divide dough in two. Roll each into a 30 cm circle. Spread the filling on one, leaving a 3 cm border, cover with the other and pinch and roll the edges to seal well. Prick the top a few times.
Step 5: Slide onto the hot tray and bake for 15 minutes, then reduce to 350°F (fan 325°F) and bake 40–45 minutes, until deep golden and the filling reads 160°F. Common mistake: lean meat; it dries out.
60 minStep 6: Brush with 1 oz butter, rest 10 minutes and cut into wedges.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 590 kcal
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ishlekli take?
- About 100 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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