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Turkish Pasta with Spiced Beef and Yogurt Sauce Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 99 reviews

This Turkish Pasta recipe showcases a flavorful fusion of tender pasta, spiced ground beef, a creamy garlic yogurt sauce, and a fragrant paprika butter drizzle. It’s an easy-to-make, comforting dish with vibrant Turkish flavors like sumac and mint that bring a unique twist to a classic pasta meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 8 ounces pasta (farfalle or any preferred shape)
  • Kosher salt, for pasta water

Meat Sauce

  • 1 lb ground beef (93% lean)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 tablespoon red pepper paste (or tomato paste)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Yogurt Sauce

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt (unsweetened plain, full fat or skim)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Butter Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more, e.g., Aleppo Pepper or Urfa Chili)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Garnish

  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 4 tablespoons dried mint (or fresh parsley)
  • 2 tablespoons sumac (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with kosher salt so it tastes like the ocean. Add the pasta and cook al dente, following package instructions (about 9-10 minutes). Save ½ cup of the pasta cooking liquid before draining. Set pasta aside.
  2. Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook 1 lb ground beef for 4-5 minutes, breaking up large chunks until no longer pink. Add the chopped onion, red pepper paste, onion powder, ground cumin, sweet paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onion softens and meat is fully cooked (5-6 minutes). Use reserved pasta water if the mixture gets dry to keep it moist. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. Make Yogurt Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, and kosher salt. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Set aside.
  4. Prepare Butter Sauce: Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until melted and bubbly. Stir in sweet paprika, red pepper flakes, and kosher salt and cook briefly until fragrant.
  5. Assemble: Place cooked pasta into serving bowls. Top each with a generous portion of yogurt sauce and about ⅔ cup of the meat sauce. Drizzle with the paprika-infused butter sauce. Repeat for remaining bowls.
  6. Garnish and Serve: Optionally, garnish with halved cherry tomatoes, dried mint or fresh parsley, and sumac for added flavor and color. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Use pasta water to adjust the consistency of the meat sauce, keeping it moist and luscious.
  • Red pepper paste can be substituted with tomato paste if unavailable, but the flavor will slightly differ.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes in the butter sauce to control spice level based on preference.
  • Sumac adds a tangy, lemony flavor but is optional; parsley can be used as a fresh alternative to dried mint for garnish.
  • This dish works well with various pasta shapes, farfalle being a preferred choice for its ability to hold sauce.

Keywords: Turkish pasta, ground beef pasta, yogurt sauce pasta, Turkish cuisine, paprika butter sauce, sumac garnish

Find it online: https://dishedbydana.com/turkish-pasta-with-spiced-beef-and-yogurt-sauce-recipe/