Turkish Beef Pasta (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ To make the meat mixture

01 - 1 lb lean minced beef (90% lean)—swap it out for ground turkey, chicken, or lamb if you prefer!
02 - 1/2 medium white onion, chopped finely
03 - 1 tsp kosher salt
04 - Freshly cracked black pepper
05 - 1 tsp sweet paprika
06 - 1 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
08 - 1/4 tsp gentle curry powder

→ For your pasta base

09 - 1 lb of your favorite pasta (shellbow shapes work great!)

→ For the tangy garlic yogurt sauce

10 - 2 cups plain Greek yogurt (use 2% or whole-milk kind)
11 - 2 grated garlic cloves
12 - 1/4 tsp kosher salt—adjust to suit your taste

→ For the buttery paprika drizzle

13 - 4 tbsp salted butter
14 - 1/2 tsp sweet paprika

→ Toppings and extras

15 - 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes
16 - Fresh parsley and dill, finely chopped

# Instructions:

01 - Warm a large pan over medium-high heat and add your minced meat. Break it apart using a wooden spoon or meat tool. Stir in kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, sweet paprika, onion powder, curry powder, and chopped onion. Mix it thoroughly while cooking. Let it brown up nicely and absorb the grease—it should take about 15 minutes. Cover and put aside to keep warm.
02 - As the beef cooks, boil up a pot of salted water. Toss in your pasta and cook until it's just soft but still has a tiny bite left. Strain, then return it to the pot to stay warm.
03 - In a bowl, combine yogurt, garlic, and salt. Stir until smooth and everything's blended together. Adjust salt if needed after tasting it.
04 - Take a small saucepan and set it over medium heat to melt the butter. Once melted, whisk in the sweet paprika until smooth and evenly combined. Let it bubble slightly for 20–30 seconds, then remove from the burner.
05 - Dish out the pasta into shallow bowls and spread the garlic yogurt sauce over it. Lay the browned beef on top and sprinkle halved tomatoes all over. Garnish with parsley and dill. Drizzle the melted paprika butter extravagantly over everything as the finishing touch.

# Notes:

01 - This Turkish pasta-inspired dish is a simple, filling weeknight option that's ready to eat in under 30 minutes.
02 - If you're swapping beef for ground turkey, chicken, or lamb, ensure you add about a tablespoon of olive oil before cooking.
03 - Inspired by Anna Paul's version.