What makes an Armenian Pizza (Lahmajoun) Unique and Different from an Italian Pizza?

The cuisine of Central Eurasia, though similar in a few aspects to Southern European and Italian cuisines, is unique in ingredients, spices, preparation, and toppings. The best example is an Armenian pizza. It is often referred to as Lahmajun by locals. The distinct crust, toppings, and flavors make it a culinary exception in comparison to traditional Mediterranean pizzas. This recipe features ground meat and vegetables as the main toppings, unlike the heavy toppings of cheese, sauces, and tomatoes in Italian pizzas. Let us understand the difference.

 

Difference in Crust Thickness: The uniqueness of an Armenian pizza is its special crust. The dough is thinly rolled, as it uses lavash dough, making it incredibly crispy, like a cracker. The thin flatbread features toppings of tomatoes, herbs, and minced meat with a mixture of spices.

 

Toppings are Different: Unlike an Italian pizza (Margherita or Neapolitan), an Armenian-style pizza features a mixture of ground meat (lamb or lean ground beef), sliced garlic, red onions, Aleppo pepper, and tomato paste. The baking process lasts until the meat naturally fuses with the thin dough. However, Italian counterparts feature a thicker crust or base, and have loads of melted cheese (mozzarella or parmesan) and sauces as toppings.

 

Cheeseless Lahmajoun: When you order an Armenian pizza in Glendale, downtown LA, New York, or its hometown, Yerevan, one aspect that catches your attention is the absence of cheese. Traditional Armenian pizzas are sauceless and cheeseless. The pizza crust obtains moisture from the ground meat and pureed tomatoes. They settle beautifully in the thin crust.

 

Similarity with a Turkish Pizza: A few popular multi-cuisine cafes in Glendale, CA, specialize in Turkish pizzas, which are a close cousin of the Armenian Lahmajoun. They taste similar, and the texture is identical. However, the Armenian-style pizzas are slightly sweeter and heavier on spices, especially the ground meat paste.

 

Unique Eating Style: A classic Lahmajoun or Armenian pizza is seldom eaten alone. Foodies enjoy savoring it with crispy Italian salads and fresh herbs as toppings. Finally, to finish it, pizza lovers add a squeeze of fresh lime to enhance the tanginess.

 

End Note

 

I live in Glendale East, and when I crave classic Italian, Georgian, or Armenian baked delights from a popular eatery in town, it is Art’s Bakery & Cafe from where I order my meals. They specialize in local and fusion cuisines, especially Italian, Mexican, and Central Asian delicacies that create an aromatic indulgence for your taste buds and olfactory senses.