Turkish Pasta Recipe

5 from 2 votes
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Looking for a delicious and easy dinner idea? This viral Turkish pasta recipe is packed with bold spices, rich meat sauce, creamy garlic yogurt, and a buttery pepper drizzle. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect meal for any weeknight!


A bowl of Turkish pasta topped with spiced ground beef, creamy garlic yogurt, and a drizzle of buttery paprika sauce.


 

If you love the rich flavors of Turkish manti, you will adore this easy Turkish pasta! While absolutely delicious, making manti from scratch can be time-consuming. That’s where this Turkish pasta comes in! It captures all the comforting flavors of manti but in a much simpler, quicker way. With tender pasta, spiced meat sauce, and the signature yogurt and butter drizzle, this dish is like a simpler version of manti you can whip up in 30 minutes!

For more delicious pasta dishes, you can check out my creamy roasted red pepper pasta, Mediterranean pasta with artichokes and creamy pesto pasta. Each recipe is packed with bold flavors and easy-to-follow steps, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.


What is Turkish Pasta (Yalancı Mantı)?

Yalancı Mantı translates to “Fake Manti” in Turkish. Traditional manti are small dumplings filled with spiced meat, typically served with yogurt and a spiced butter sauce. While delicious, making manti from scratch can be time-consuming. This easier version uses pasta as a convenient substitute, capturing the essence of the classic dish without the lengthy preparation.

Variations of this recipe have gained popularity among TikTok users in the last few months and everyone’s been raving about it! As your bestie with the best Turkish recipes, I just find it fit to share my version that’s so tasty and flavorful!

Turkish pasta is made of 4 components:

  • Pasta: This would be your base, you can use regular pasta, gluten free, or any other variation of choice.
  • Meat sauce: Rich and easy to make, I like to add this to the pasta first so it goes into all nooks and crannies of the pasta.
  • Yogurt sauce: Garlicky yogurt sauce that’ll bring the dish together.
  • Spice butter: Melted butter infused with Aleppo pepper and dried mint, the signature finish to many Turkish dishes including manti.

Ingredients for Turkish pasta, including dry pasta, ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato paste, Aleppo pepper, cumin, black pepper, salt, olive oil, Greek yogurt, butter, dried mint, paprika, and cherry tomatoes, arranged on a blue surface.

Turkish Pasta Ingredients

Pasta: You can use any type of pasta for this recipe, but small varieties work best as they hold onto the sauce well.

Olive oil: Used to sauté the onions and garlic, olive oil adds richness to the dish.

Onion and garlic: Key ingredient that build a flavorful base. Yellow or white onion work best. You are going to use the garlic in the meat sauce and well as the yogurt sauce.

Ground beef: Adds a hearty, savory element to the dish. You can substitute it with ground lamb or make a mixture of both.

Tomato paste: Provides depth and richness to the sauce.

Aleppo pepper: A staple in Turkish cuisine, Aleppo pepper has a mild heat and a slightly fruity, earthy flavor. If you don’t have it, you can substitute it with a mix of paprika and a pinch of cayenne.

Cumin: Adds warmth and depth to the meat sauce.

Yogurt: Thick and creamy yogurt such as Greek yogurt gives the dish its signature tangy contrast to the savory meat sauce. If using regular yogurt, drain excess liquid for a thicker consistency.

Butter: I recommend using unsalted butter. If using salted butter, adjust the salt in the rest of the dish accordingly.

Paprika: Gives the butter sauce its warm, smoky flavor. Use sweet paprika for a milder taste or smoked paprika for a deeper, more intense flavor.

Aleppo pepper: Adds gentle heat and a fruity depth. If unavailable, substitute with a blend of red pepper flakes and sweet paprika.

Dried mint: A signature Turkish ingredient that enhances the dish with a fresh touch. Gently crushing the mint before adding it to the butter releases more of its aroma.

Cherry tomatoes and parsley: Used as garnish to finish the dish.


How To Make Turkish Pasta

Step 1: Prepare the Meat Sauce

In a large skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.

Mix in the tomato paste, salt, Aleppo pepper, cumin, and black pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the spices to become fragrant.

Pour in the ½ cup of water, stir to combine, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover the skillet and let the sauce cook for about 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Begin by cooking the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente or bit more tender if you like. Once cooked, drain and toss with one tablespoon of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside as your prepare the rest of the dish.

Step 3: Prepare the Yogurt Sauce

In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, salt, and minced garlic. Stir until smooth and set aside.

Step 4: Make the Butter Sauce

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.

Add the olive oil, paprika, Aleppo pepper, and dried mint. Stir and cook for about 30 seconds until aromatic. Remove from heat.

Step 5: Assemble the Dish

Place the cooked pasta on a serving platter or individual plates. Spoon the meat sauce over the pasta. Then, generously drizzle the garlicky yogurt sauce over the meat layer.

Drizzle the spiced butter sauce over the top.

Top with halved cherry tomatoes and chopped fresh parsley for a burst of color and freshness.


What to Serve with Turkish Pasta

With Warm Pita or Lavash: Serve this Turkish pasta with a side of pita bread or lavash to scoop up every bit of the flavorful yogurt and spiced butter sauce.

Fresh Salad: Balance out the richness with a refreshing coban salatasi (Shepherd’s salad) or Middle Eastern chopped salad.


A serving of Turkish pasta in a white bowl with layers of beef, yogurt sauce, and spiced butter.

Tips For Turkish Pasta

Yogurt consistency: If the yogurt is too thick, you can thin it with a tablespoon or two of water to achieve a pourable consistency.

Layer the flavors properly: Serve everything separately and let everyone assemble their own bowls. I find adding the meat sauce on top of the pasta to be more flavorful!

Let the meat sauce simmer: The longer the ground beef simmers with spices, the richer and more developed the flavors will be.

Don’t skip the spiced butter: The buttery paprika and Aleppo pepper sauce make this dish stand out. Be sure to cook the spices until fragrant (about 30 seconds) to avoid burning.

two plates of pasta with ground beef and yogurt sauce, ready to be mixed for the perfect bite.

Storage

Refrigeration: Store the pasta, meat sauce, yogurt sauce, and spiced butter sauce separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days.

Freezing: Only the meat sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months. The yogurt sauce and butter sauce don’t freeze well due to texture changes, and pasta tends to get mushy when thawed.

Reheating: Warm the meat sauce in a pan over low heat, adding a splash of water if needed. Heat the butter sauce just until melted. Reheat the pasta with a little olive oil or butter to prevent sticking. The yogurt sauce should be served cold and fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use instead of Aleppo pepper?

Paprika mixed with a pinch of cayenne works well, or you can use red pepper flakes for extra heat. Smoked paprika adds a deeper flavor.

Is this dish similar to Turkish manti?

Yes, this pasta dish is inspired by manti, but instead of dumplings, it uses pasta for a quicker and easier version with the same delicious flavors.

Two plates of Turkish pasta served on a white ceramic plate, topped with spiced ground beef, a generous drizzle of creamy garlic yogurt, and a golden paprika butter sauce, garnished with fresh parsley and cherry tomatoes.

More Turkish Recipes to try

A plate of Turkish pasta topped with yogurt.
5 from 2 votes

Turkish Pasta Recipe

This Turkish pasta recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender pasta, seasoned ground beef, creamy garlic yogurt sauce, and a buttery spiced drizzle. Inspired by Turkish manti, it has all the delicious flavors in an easy, deconstructed version. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect comforting meal for any night of the week!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Servings: 6
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Ingredients 

Yogurt Sauce Ingredients

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 clove Garlic, grated

Spiced butter sauce

Topping

  • Cherry tomatoes and chopped parsley

Instructions 

  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the ground beef and garlic. Cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks.
  • Mix in the tomato paste, salt, Aleppo pepper,cumin, and black pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the spices to become fragrant.
  • Pour in the ½ cup of water, stir to combine, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover the skillet and let the sauce cook for about 15 to 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
  • Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente or a bit more tender if you prefer. Once cooked, drain and toss the pasta with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent sticking and set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, salt, and minced garlic. Stir until smooth and set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the olive oil, paprika, Aleppo pepper, anddried mint. Stir and cook for about 1 minute until aromatic. Remove from heat.
  • Divide the pasta among serving bowls. Spoon the meat sauce over the pasta. Drizzle the garlicky yogurt sauce over the meat layer.
    Drizzle the spiced butter sauce over the top.
    Top with halved cherry tomatoes and chopped fresh parsley for a burst of color and freshness.

Video

Notes

  • Choosing the Right Pasta: Opt for short pasta shapes as they hold the sauces well and provide a satisfying bite.
  • Yogurt Consistency: If your Greek yogurt is too thick, you can thin it with a tablespoon or two of water to achieve a pourable consistency.

Nutrition

Calories: 468kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 703mg | Potassium: 460mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 573IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Shadi HasanzadeNemati

I'm here to show you how to make delicious Persian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food at home. My easy to follow recipes will bring exciting new flavors to your table!

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5 from 2 votes

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this recipe last night. It was absolutely delicious. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it because it was that good! Having it for breakfast too. Thank you so much.