Description
Yogurt Pasta (Macarona bi Laban) is a creamy Middle Eastern-inspired dish featuring tender pasta tossed in a garlicky Balkan-style yogurt sauce, topped with spiced ground beef, buttery pine nuts, and fresh parsley. A comforting fusion that blends Levantine and Turkish flavors, perfect for a flavorful weeknight meal. #HomemadeRecipes
Ingredients
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- 1.5 cups plain Balkan yogurt
- 4–6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried mint
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup pasta water
- 3 cups pasta (uncooked)
- 1 tbsp ghee (if needed)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp Middle Eastern 7 spice
- 1 tsp curry powder
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until slightly past al dente. Reserve some pasta water before draining. Toss pasta in 1-2 tbsp olive oil to prevent sticking.
- In a large bowl, mix yogurt, minced garlic, dried mint, dried parsley, salt, and cooled pasta water.
- Toss the cooked pasta in the yogurt sauce and set aside.
- Heat a large pan on medium-high. Add 1 tbsp ghee if using lean beef. Add ground beef and season with 7 spice, curry powder, salt, and pepper.
- Once beef is browned, add finely chopped onion and cook for another 8–10 minutes until slightly charred and onions are softened.
- In a small pan, heat olive oil over medium. Add pine nuts and toast until golden. Remove from heat and stir in red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and butter one tbsp at a time, whisking to melt.
- Layer the spiced beef over the yogurt pasta, drizzle with pine nut butter, and garnish with fresh parsley. Optionally, sprinkle with more smoked paprika.
Notes
- Use full-fat Balkan-style yogurt for a creamier texture.
- Adjust spice level by omitting or increasing red pepper flakes.
- To make it vegetarian, omit the beef or replace with sautéed mushrooms.
- Yogurt sauce is best mixed with pasta when pasta is slightly cooled to prevent curdling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 95mg