Lahmahjoon Pizza

Spiced ground lamb, feta and pine nuts top this Armenian-flavored pizza. Beer pairing: Break out the stout—the rich, sweet flavors from the lamb and pomegranate molasses yearn for an equally rich, sweet beer.
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings
Total Time: 45 minutes
Prep Time: 45 minutes

Recipe Ingredients:

1. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2. 1/2 cup chopped shallots
3. 8 ounces ground lamb
4. 4 medium plum tomatoes, chopped
5. 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
6. 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses (see Shopping Tip)
7. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8. 1/2 teaspoon salt
9. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
10. Yellow cornmeal for dusting
11. 1 pound Easy Whole-Wheat Pizza Dough or other prepared dough
12. 1/3 cup crumbled feta
13. 1 tablespoon pine nuts

Recipe Steps:

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add shallots; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add lamb and cook, stirring and breaking up with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a colander and drain fat. Wipe out the pan; return the meat and shallots to the pan and stir in tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes begin to break down, about 3 minutes. Add parsley, pomegranate molasses, cinnamon, salt and pepper and stir to coat; remove from the heat.
2. Preheat grill to low. (For charcoal grilling or an oven variation, see below.)
3. Sprinkle cornmeal onto a pizza peel or large baking sheet. Roll out the dough (see Tip) and transfer it to the prepared peel or baking sheet, making sure the underside of the dough is completely coated with cornmeal.
4. Slide the crust onto the grill rack; close the lid. Cook until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes.
5. Using a large spatula, flip the crust. Spread the lamb mixture on the crust, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle with feta and pine nuts.
6. Close the lid again and grill until the toppings are hot and the bottom of the crust has browned, about 8 minutes. Variations: Pizza on a charcoal grill: Light 6 quarts (about 1 large chimney starter full) of charcoal and burn until the coals are mostly white, about 20 minutes. Spread the coals in an even layer. Place a grate over the coals. Let the coals burn until they are about medium-low. (Grill any toppings for the pizza while the coals are burning down.) To test the heat, hold your palm about 5 inches above the grill rack; if you can hold it there for about 8 seconds before you need to move it away, the fire is medium-low. Transfer the crust to the grill rack, cover the grill and cook the crust, checking once or twice, until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the crust, quickly add the toppings, cover the grill and cook until the toppings are hot and the bottom of the crust has browned, 5 to 8 minutes. If your crust browns faster than your toppings are cooking, slide a baking sheet under the pizza to keep the crust from burning while the toppings finish. Pizza in the oven: Place a pizza stone on the lowest rack; preheat oven to 450°F for at least 20 minutes. Roll out the dough and place on a cornmeal-dusted pizza peel or inverted baking sheet, using enough cornmeal so that the dough slides easily. Slide the dough onto the preheated stone and cook until the bottom begins to crisp, about 3 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven using a large spatula and place it uncooked-side down on the peel or baking sheet, making sure the underside of the crust is completely coated with cornmeal. Quickly add the toppings and slide the pizza back onto the stone. Continue baking until the toppings are hot and the bottom of the crust has browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Individual variation: The dough can be turned into 4 or 6 personal-size pizzas. After kneading, divide the dough into 4 or 6 equal balls. Brush with oil and place 3 inches apart on a baking sheet. Cover and set aside until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Roll each portion into a 6-to-8-inch circle.