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kiymali makarna ground beef with yoghurt turkish pasta which conchiglie instead of manti

Turkish Pasta (Kiymali Makarna)

This simplified yet satisfying version of Kiymali Makarna, also called "cheat manti," delivers all the flavors of traditional Turkish dumplings with minimal effort.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Turkish
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

Pasta:

  • 1 pack of conchiglie shell pasta farfalle, or Turkish manti
  • Salt for boiling water
  • A drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking

Minced Meat Sauce:

  • 250 g minced meat
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic minced
  • 4 tablespoons of oil
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper powder or paste
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili pepper optional
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tea glass of water 100 ml
  • Salt to taste

Yogurt Sauce:

  • 400 g Greek yogurt
  • 1 clove of garlic minced
  • Salt to taste

Garnish (Optional):

  • A handful of cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 tablespoon dried mint or fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sumac

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prepare the Yogurt Sauce

  • Take the yogurt out of the fridge about 1 hour before serving to bring it to room temperature.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, mix the yogurt with the minced garlic and salt to taste.
  • Combine well and set aside.

Step 2: Cook the Pasta

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Add the pasta and cook al dente according to the package instructions (approximately 10 minutes for conchiglie pasta).
  • Drain the pasta and drizzle a little olive oil over it to prevent sticking.

Step 3: Make the Minced Meat Sauce

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened.
  • Add the minced meat and cook for about 4-5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until no longer pink.
  • Stir in the red pepper powder or paste, tomato paste, cumin, chili pepper (if using), and black pepper.
  • Add the tea glass of water, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens.
  • Check the seasoning and adjust with additional salt or pepper if needed.

Step 4: Assemble the Dish

  • Place the cooked pasta in a serving bowl or individual plates.
  • Top each portion with 4 tablespoons of the yogurt sauce and approximately 2/3 cup of the cooked minced meat sauce.
  • Drizzle with 1 tablespoon (or more) of melted butter if desired.
  • Garnish with cherry tomatoes, dried mint or parsley, and sumac if using.