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Turkish Pasta

Delicious Turkish Pasta: Quick Comfort for Any Night

This quick Turkish Pasta with Spiced Beef and Garlicky Yogurt offers comfort and vibrant Middle Eastern flavors, perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Pasta
Cuisine: Turkish
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Yogurt Sauce
  • 1 cup Plain Yogurt Use full-fat for best consistency.
  • 2 cloves Garlic Fresh minced.
For the Pasta
  • 12 oz Lumache Pasta Can substitute with any short pasta.
For the Meat Sauce
  • 1 lb Ground Beef Can substitute with ground lamb or turkey.
  • 1 medium Sweet Onion Regular yellow onions are a fine alternative.
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 2 tsp Sweet Paprika Can use smoked paprika for a unique twist.
  • 1 tsp Aleppo Pepper Flakes Can substitute with regular red pepper flakes.
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Paste Turkish red pepper paste offers a more authentic taste.
For the Chili Butter Drizzle
  • 4 tbsp Butter Can substitute with olive oil.
For Garnish
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes Halve or quarter for garnish.
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley

Equipment

  • large pot
  • Large Skillet
  • Small bowl
  • Small saucepan

Method
 

Yogurt Sauce Preparation
  1. In a small bowl, combine plain yogurt with minced garlic and a pinch of salt. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate.
Cooking Pasta
  1. Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a boil. Add lumache pasta and cook according to package instructions, about 8-12 minutes.
  2. Reserve one cup of pasta water, then drain pasta.
Cooking Meat Sauce
  1. In a large, cold skillet, add ground beef and place over medium-high heat. Cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
  2. Add grated sweet onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes.
  3. Stir in minced garlic, cumin, paprika, Aleppo pepper, salt, and black pepper; cook for 30 seconds.
Incorporating Tomato Paste
  1. Mix in tomato paste and reserved pasta water; bring to simmer. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes.
Making Chili Butter
  1. Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add paprika and Aleppo pepper, cooking for 30 seconds.
Assembling The Dish
  1. Layer cooked pasta with meat sauce, dollop on garlicky yogurt, and garnish with cherry tomatoes and parsley.
  2. Drizzle with chili butter before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1plateCalories: 650kcalCarbohydrates: 75gProtein: 30gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 3mg

Notes

Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor and ensure pasta is cooked al dente.

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