How to make
Start with the bread that will be served with the meatballs, so that it has time to rise, and it has cooled down when it's time to serve the dish.
Dissolve the yeast and sugar in 2/5 cup (100 ml) of slightly warmed water. Wait 15 minutes for the mixture to activate.
Pour the milk and yogurt with the remaining water and oil, then sift the flour and salt into the liquid mixture.
Knead a smooth dough and leave it to rise for an hour and a half.
During this time, start preparing the meatballs by finely chopping the onion, parsley and garlic and add them to the ground beef.
Add the egg, the breadcrumbs, salt and spices and knead well. Leave it aside for a few hours or until you are done with the bread.
Divide 4 or 6 separate pieces from the risen dough. Stretch each one out with your fingers and palms to thin it out and give it a square or oval shape.
Arrange them in trays onto baking paper and leave them to rise again for 30 minutes.
In the center of each pide, form squares by pressing a wooden skewer onto it. Spread them with the beaten egg yolk and sprinkle them with sesame seeds and poppy seeds.
Wait for the bread to rise a little, about 20 minutes or more, depending on the heat in the room.
Bake them in an oven preheated to 410°F (210°C) until they aquire a golden color.
When the minced meat has stood long enough, shape it into beef meatballs of standard size or elliptical.
Peel and coarsely chop the potatoes, then season them with salt and roll them in oil.
Mix the tomato sauce with water and a pinch of salt and pour a thin layer on the bottom of the baking pan.
Arrange the Turkish meatballs slightly diagonally and put potatoes between them. Drizzle with remaining tomato sauce and water and drizzle with oil.
Bake at 370°F (190°C) under foil or lid for a little over an hour or until the potatoes have softened.
Remove the foil and bake the dish, until it is nicely browned and the liquid evaporates.
Serve the pideli köfte on pide bread, spread with butter (from sheep's milk, preferably)
Optionally, you can garnish the meatballs with hot peppers and homemade yogurt.
Enjoy your meal!
