Meet your new weeknight favourite: the viral Anna Paul Turkish Pasta recipe! Easy ingredients, efficient cooking, and healthy flavors, for a comforting meal in under 30 minutes.

When I first saw the turkish pasta recipe by Anna Paul’s family go viral, I knew I had to try it! It immediately reminded me of manti, a Turkish dish I tasted briefly in Istanbul… right before I left the country at the airport lounge! I remembered wondering why this wasn’t on the menus at the places we ate in Istanbul! While it’s a shame my only experience of manti was at an airport, the flavours left such an impression that I’ve been craving it ever since.

This quick and easy pasta recipe brings those beloved flavours to life with minimal effort, and I fell in love with it for three reasons:

1. It cooks so fast.

2. It uses simple, accessible ingredients.

3. It’s healthy, packed with protein, and uses minimal oil.

Let me show you how to bring this comforting yet light dish to your table.

What Is This Turkish Pasta Dish?

This recipe is a simplified, modern take on Turkish manti. Instead of dumplings, pasta serves as the base, topped with spiced minced meat, a garlicky yogurt sauce, and a rich paprika butter drizzle. It’s a beautiful blend of creamy, savory, and spicy flavors, with fresh tomatoes and herbs adding brightness.

The result? A balanced, hearty meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or a cozy dinner!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy schedules!
Minimal Ingredients: Requires pantry staples and fresh ingredients you likely already have.
Healthy and Balanced: High in protein, moderate in carbs, and loaded with nutrients.
Customizable: Swap out proteins or adjust the spices to suit your taste.

Key Ingredients for Turkish Pasta

Pasta

Pasta: Any small or medium pasta works well (macaroni, bowtie, penne, or fusilli).

Meat Topping

Minced Meat: Choose between beef, lamb, or minced chicken—or any protein of your choice.

Onion

Paprika

Curry Powder: For the added warmth! I used my reliable Baba’s Curry Powder for amazing results.

Garlic Yoghurt

Yogurt: Viral recipes use Greek yogurt, but I always just use full-fat yogurt (much cheaper here!) for the added richness.

Garlic: 1-2 cloves of garlic for flavour!

Paprika Butter

Butter or Olive Oil: Creates the luxurious paprika butter sauce. Olive oil works as a great alternative.

Spices: Sweet paprika is all you need! Adjust to taste.

Toppings

Cherry Tomatoes and Parsley: Fresh tomatoes add juiciness, and good nutrition to the dish. Meanwhile parsley or cilantro brings brightness and a pop of color.

Key Steps to Making It

1. Prepare the Yogurt Sauce:

In a small bowl, mix the yogurt, minced garlic, and salt.

Set aside to let the flavors meld while cooking.

2. Cook the Beef:

Heat a skillet over medium heat. There is no need to add oil.

Add the minced meat, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until all the liquid is released and cooks off. Option to soak up excess grease with a paper towel.

Add chopped onions next and sauté with the beef until softened, about 3 minutes.

Stir in paprika, curry powder, and salt. Cook for another 2 minutes, or until fragrant and beef has browned. Set aside.

3. Cook the Pasta:

Boil the pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente.

Drain, reserving a small cup of pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.

PRO TIP! I actually cooked the beef and pasta at the same time and this was the way Anna Paul’s family does it as well. I love how incredibly efficient this was. However, if you’re not too confident you can cook this at the same time, I suggest to follow this recipe – cook the beef first, before the pasta.

4. Make the Paprika Butter Sauce:

In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat.

Stir in paprika and heat gently for 30 seconds until aromatic, or when butter starts bubbling and has taken on a reddish hue.

NOTE: Use a low heat to gently infuse the butter with the spice. Do not use too high a heat, as you might burn the paprika!

5. Assemble the Dish:

In serving bowls, layer the pasta as the base.

Top with yogurt sauce, spiced beef, and drizzle with the paprika butter sauce.

Garnish with cherry tomatoes and parsley or cilantro.

Before eating, mix everything and enjoy!

How to Serve

Serve this dish warm in shallow bowls for a comforting presentation.

Encourage mixing the components together before eating to enjoy the full spectrum of flavors in each bite.

Tips and Tricks

Spice Level: This is not a spicy dish, but if you like a bit of spice, add either freshly chopped chillies or chilli powder. This made the dish downright ADDICTIVE to me!
Fresh Is Best: Fresh parsley, cilantro, and tomatoes elevate the dish, so don’t skip them!
Make It Vegetarian: Swap minced meat with crumbled tofu or chickpeas.
Save Time: Prep the yogurt sauce and chop the herbs while the pasta and beef cook.

Storing and Reheating

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating

Warm the pasta and meat gently in a skillet over low heat. Add a splash of water to loosen the sauce if needed.

slot machislotStore yogurt sauce separately and add fresh toppings before serving.

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