Nazareth’s Baba Bakery came onto the scene in February, serving up a mix of traditional Turkish and Egyptian pastries and desserts. Their Turkish pida (often referred to as Turkish pizza) is a traditional Turkish baked good that’s very popular among customers who love that they can customize the order to their liking. “There are not many places in the Lehigh Valley that serve authentic Turkish pida. It is kind of hard to find a good Turkish pida in the area. If anyone is looking for a pida, they would have to drive to New Jersey or New York City to get a good pida,” explains owner Mohamed Hagag.
Hagag says it’s the dough that makes a Turkish pida special. “It is different than the Italian pizza or any other pizza. It is softer and it tastes like bread,” says Hagag. “It is like making a sandwich and baking the dough and the filling together at the same time.” Using dough that is flat, Baba Bakery adds the filling or topping and closes both sides so it looks like a boat or a football before baking for 15–20 minutes. Then, it’s ready to be cut into slices and enjoyed.
According to Hagag, the customizations are almost endless. The traditional varieties include ground beef with onions and mozzarella cheese or meat cubes with vegetables and mozzarella cheese. Meat lovers like the meat cubes, beef sausage and beef pastrami variations, but there are also vegetarian options with spinach, onions and fresh mozzarella. Guests can also enjoy a sweeter variety made with hazelnut spread.
Hagag says the dish is traditionally enjoyed with a cold, savory yogurt drink called ayran.
49 N. Broad St., Nazareth | 610.984.3108 | bababakerys.com
Published as “Eat This” in the December 2024 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
