Turkish Pasta Anna Paul (Printer-Friendly Version)

Turkish-inspired pasta with spiced meat, garlic yogurt, and paprika butter—comforting, colorful, and packed with flavor.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 300 g short pasta (such as penne or farfalle)
02 - 2 L water
03 - 1 tablespoon fine sea salt

→ Spiced Meat Sauce

04 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
05 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 300 g ground beef (or lamb or turkey)
08 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
13 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
14 - 2 tablespoons reserved pasta cooking water

→ Garlic Yogurt Sauce

15 - 250 g Greek yogurt
16 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
17 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Spiced Butter Drizzle

18 - 40 g unsalted butter
19 - 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
20 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

→ Finishing Touches

21 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried mint

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the cooking water. Drain and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until translucent. Stir in minced garlic, then add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned. Incorporate tomato paste, cumin, paprika, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and salt. Add reserved pasta water and simmer until thickened.
03 - In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt with finely minced garlic and salt. Stir well, then let it rest for five minutes for flavors to develop.
04 - Melt butter gently in a small pan over low heat. Add paprika and red pepper flakes, stirring constantly until fragrant. Remove from heat to prevent burning the spices.
05 - Arrange the cooked pasta on serving plates. Spoon the spiced meat sauce over the pasta. Top generously with garlic yogurt sauce. Drizzle spicy butter mixture over the top. Garnish with chopped parsley or dried mint.
06 - Serve immediately while warm to enjoy the dynamic contrast of creamy, spicy, and savory flavors.

# Handy Cooking Tips:

01 - Use ground lamb for a richer, more traditional flavor, or substitute ground turkey for a leaner, lighter option.
02 - Greek yogurt delivers a thick, creamy consistency; other strained yogurts may be used if desired.
03 - Pasta water is essential for achieving a luscious meat sauce texture.
04 - For added richness, serve with a poached egg or warm Turkish bread.