Turkish Pasta Recipe
This Turkish Pasta is a hearty and flavorful dinner dish! Inspired by the traditional Turkish dumpling, manti, this recipe delivers rich flavor with a much simpler approach. Often referred to as a “cheat manti,” this dish features tender pasta, a rich minced meat sauce, garlic yogurt, and paprika butter sauce, making for a satisfying meal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Pasta Base
- 300 g Farfalle pasta or any chunky pasta
Meat Sauce
- 400 g ground lamb or beef
- 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp salt
Garlic Yogurt Sauce
- 250 g Greek yogurt or Turkish yogurt
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
Butter Sauce
- 50 g unsalted butter
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp Aleppo pepper optional, for mild heat
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
Garnishes
- 100 g cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- Cook the Farfalle pasta in salted boiling water according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Prepare the Meat Sauce
- Heat a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground lamb (or beef) and cook, breaking it up with a spoon.
- Stir in onion powder, paprika, black pepper, curry powder, and salt.
- Add the chopped onion and continue cooking for about 10 minutes, until the meat is browned and slightly crispy.
Make the Garlic Yogurt Sauce
- In a bowl, mix Greek yogurt, minced garlic, and salt until well combined.
Prepare the Butter Sauce
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Add paprika, Aleppo pepper, and cumin. Whisk to combine, then remove from heat.
Assemble the Dish
- Divide the cooked pasta into serving bowls.
- Spoon the meat sauce over the pasta.
- Drizzle generously with garlic yogurt sauce.
- Finish with the butter sauce.
- Garnish with cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley.
Notes
- Use Fresh Ingredients – Fresh garlic, quality yogurt, and aromatic spices elevate the dish.
- Adjust Spice Levels – Add extra Aleppo pepper for a bit more heat or dried mint for an authentic Turkish touch.
- Make it Vegetarian – Swap the ground meat for sautéed mushrooms or lentils.
- Use Olive Oil Instead of Butter – For a lighter version, replace butter with extra virgin olive oil.