Campfire Berber Pizza, aka Moroccan Lamb Pizza

Infuse global flavor into your next pizza with this campfire Berber pizza, Aka, Moroccan Lamb Pizza. A fun stuffed bread baked over a classic campfire.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The American Lamb Board. The opinions and text are all mine.

In the sands of the Sahara desert live a wonderful people called Berbers. One night, while exploring Morocco,  I was able to enjoy their version of a baked dough dinner, they playfully told me, was Berber Pizza.

What is Medfouna?

The more traditional version would be Medfouna, a stuffed bread dish baked, is similar to a stromboli or calzone, with a heaty meat filling. The flavors were so unexpectedly delicious I knew it was a recipe I would be recreating and sharing in my own kitchen.

Traditional medfouna’s can be stuffed with a variety of things, but I happen to love this playful spin on Berber Pizza with American ground lamb as the lead. I love the flavor of American ground lamb and it takes to North African spices perfectly!

Lamb kofta and tangines were a huge part of my daily food exploration while traveling through Morocco, and I took notes on the recipes. Back home and loving lamb, the fresh ground lamb I can get is perfect for infusing with traditional Moroccan herbs and spices.  

We tested this recipe with both browning the American ground lamb ahead of time and then leaving it raw to cook within the bread. I found the version of it steamed and cooking in the bread produced a less soggy, more crisp crust and perfectly seasoned lamb.

Wanting to spice things up for your own American spin on Moroccan Lamb Pizza?

Try additional spice combinations like harissa paste or Ras el Hanout to the mix in place of the paprika for more authentic Moroccan cooking. Or, as you build on your global adventure palette, stick to the paprika and work your way all the way to the North African lands of Morocco.

This is the perfect recipe to try out on your friends for any given Sunday Funday – but especially right now! Check out the cool campaign American Lamb Board has going on right now to celebrate the outdoor enthusiasts with prizes from Yeti, Sur La Table, and Magnolia (hello cutest tumbler ever!).

If you’ve tried my Moroccan Lamb Pizza, or any other recipe on GirlCarnivore.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below. I get inspired by your feedback and comments! You can also FOLLOW ME on Instagram @girlcarnivore as well as on  Twitter and Facebook.

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Berber pizza, Aka, Moroccan Lamb Pizza

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

45 mins

 

Infuse global flavor into your next pizza with this campfire Berber pizza, Aka, Moroccan Lamb Pizza. A fun stuffed bread baked over a classic campfire.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: North African

Keyword: lamb pizza

Servings: 8

Ingredients

For the Dough

• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tbsp active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 4 cups bread flour
• 1 tbsp EVOO
• 1 tsp coarse salt

For the Filling

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 onions
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 large bell pepper
• 1 Guadjillo chili pepper
• 24 oz ground lamb
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper

Instructions

1. First, make a fire and arrange your tri-pod according to the heat. You will want moderate heat for this cook and solid cast iron.

To make the dough:

1. Combine water, yeast, and sugar in a heavy bowl, mix thoroughly. Let sit until yeast bubbles, about 5 minutes.
2. Add 2 cups of flour and oil to the yeast mixture. Mix quickly with a sturdy spoon
3. Add salt and remaining flour, mixing until the dough becomes shaggy and loose.
4. Working with your hands, fold and shape together the dough until it forms a cohesive ball. Cover and set aside.

To make the filling:

1. Wipe out your Dutch oven and heat it over the fire for about 30 minutes.
2. Coat the inside of the pan with olive oil and add the onions and peppers and saute about 5 minutes, until soft. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. Carefully remove from the pan.
3. In a large bowl, add lamb and spices to the onion mix.

For the Berber pizza assembly:

1. On a clean lightly floured work surface, divide dough into two equal portions.
2. Shape one half of the dough into a ball.
3. With a pin or your hands, press and roll the ball of dough into a large flat circle, about 10” in diameter and ½” thick.
4. Dust a pizza peel or easily maneuvered cutting board with cornmeal or flour. Transfer the disk to the pizza peel.
5. Place the lamb filling onto dough, covering evenly, leaving a ¾” border from the edge.
6. Shape the remaining dough into a ball and roll out into a similar round to the first.
7. Wet the outer edge of the lower dough with a bit of water, then cover the dough and filling with the second half, pressing to seal, and slightly rolling the edge under, on itself.
8. Carefully slide the pizza into Dutch oven and cover.
9. Check at 20 minutes, then more frequently.  When the upper crust is dry and the bottom is crisp, it is done, raising or lowering from proximity to heat as your fire needs.
10. Carefully remove from heat and Dutch oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Recipe Notes

Alternatively, this dish can be baked in an oven pre-heated to 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Watch the dough carefully to make sure the bottom doesn't burn as the top crisps up.