If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok lately, you’ve probably come across the viral “Turkish Pasta Recipe” from social media star Anna Paul. After diving more into the history of this dish, I learned that some from Turkey refer to this dish as “Yalancı Mantı”, or “fake dumplings”. This savory dish combines a creamy garlic yogurt sauce, tomato paste, sweet paprika, ground lamb or beef, and a buttery chili oil drizzle layered on top of pasta that’s both comforting and bursting with flavor.
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But what made this Turkish pasta dish go absolutely viral on TikTok? Beyond its simplicity and incredible taste, yalancı mantı is a modern deconstructed twist on a beloved Turkish dumpling classic called mantı. These Turkish dumplings are traditionally filled with spiced meat and served with a yogurt-based sauce. Anna Paul’s version is a “cheat manti” and simplifies this dish without compromising on flavor, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want something quick, affordable, and absolutely delicious!
WATCH: Viral Turkish Pasta Recipe Video
I’ve made this tasty dish 3 times now tweaking this recipe along the way. In this blog, I will not only show you how to recreate this viral TikTok recipe step-by-step, but I will also share the cultural roots of yalancı mantı and why this is one of many Turkish recipes that deserves to be in regular rotation for dinner.
What is Turkish Pasta?
To appreciate yalancı mantı, let’s start with the history of the traditional Turkish mantı. Mantı is a small homemade dumpling, which reminds me of an Italian ravioli or Asian dumpling. Once the pasta for the dumpling is made, it is filled with spiced ground meat and meticulously folded by hand. These delicate dumplings are cooked briefly in boiling water and served with a tangy garlicky yoghurt sauce, finished with a drizzle of spiced butter and chili oil (which is a delicious Turkish style meat sauce).
In Turkish, yalancı means “fake” or “faux,” and mantı refers to these delicious dumplings. Since this recipe does not call for homemade dumplings and just the simple use of pasta, Yalancı mantı is a creative nickname for this TikTok – make of a dish. The recipe shown on TikTok by Anna’s mom is still paying homage to its rich heritage, bridging the gap between authentic Turkish flavors and modern kitchen convenience.
Turkish Pasta Recipe Ingredients
Before we dive in, here’s what you’ll need to make this creamy, garlicky, and spicy dish. Most of these ingredients are pantry staples, making it easy to try today!
Turkish Pasta Main Ingredients:
- Pasta (penne, bowtie, shells, or any small short pasta shape)
- 16 oz of ground meat (ground beef or ground lamb)
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 onion, shredded
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1.5 teaspoon salt
- Fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
Garlic Yogurt Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (or plain regular yogurt)
- 2-4 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt, to taste (I used about 1/2 teaspoon)
- Pasta Water
Butter Sauce Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes, red pepper flakes, or sweet paprika
Viral Turkish Pasta Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: You want your pasta to have a little bit of bite! Therefore, al dente pasta holds up better when mixed with the meat mixture, tangy yogurt sauce.
- Bring the Yogurt to Room Temperature: Cold yogurt can curdle when mixed with warm pasta. Be sure to prep the garlic yogurt sauce first and let it sit out for a bit before combining with warm ingredients.
- Don’t Worry if You Do Not Have Sweet Paprika: I tried this recipe with sweet paprika and without. Don’t worry if about having sweet paprika on hand for this recipe. Anna Paul’s mother added it to her butter sauce, however I learned from other cooks and from my own experimentation that adding tomato paste to the butter adds way more flavor than sweet paprika.
- Customize the Spice: Adjust the chili flakes or use smoked paprika for a milder kick to your liking for the paprika butter sauce.
- Use Fresh Herbs: Please avoid dry parsley or mint for this dish. Use fresh veggies and herbs for this dish. The bright flavors of chopped parsley and/or mint make this dish stand out.
- Have Fun With Your Toppings: If you enjoy brine type flavors, I recommend adding tangy feta on top of your Turkish pasta dish as well!
- Make it Protein-Packed: Add ground beef, shredded chicken, or chickpeas for extra protein and a gluten-free pasta to add this to your list of healthy recipes. I also shredded my onions vs adding a diced onion so the onion flavors could blend seamlessly into the meat.
- Don’t Overcook the Meat – I also recommend avoiding the “crunchy meat” recommendation from Anna Paul. Once the meat is a dark brown color, remove and turn off the heat. The meat will continue cooking and overcooking the ground meat will kill the flavors in this dish.
More Favorites from Elicit Folio
Viral Turkish Pasta Recipe – Yalanci Manti
Ingredients
Main Dish
- 16 oz ground meat (ground beef or ground lamb)
- 12 oz Pasta (penne, bowtie, shells, or any small short pasta shape)
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes diced small
- 1 onion shredded
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tbsp onion powder
- 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tbsp paprika
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- fresh parsley chopped for garnish
Yogurt Sauce
- 1 cup greek yogurt
- 2-4 cloves garlic minced
- salt to taste around 1/2 tsp
- pasta water
Butter Sauce
- 4 tbsp butter, salted
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/3 tsp red pepper
Instructions
- Start off by making your garlic yogurt sauce first so it has time to come to room temperature. To make, simply combine 1 cup of greek yogurt, 2-4 cloves of minced garlic, and a dash of salt to taste. Mix and set aside at room temperature.
- Take a medium pot, bring salted water to boil over medium heat. As water comes to a boil, clean, and chop all herbs and vegetables – 1.5 cups of cherry tomatoes, 1 onion shredded, 4 cloves of garlic, and fresh parsley chopped. Set aside all prepped fresh ingredients.
- Take a pan, warm over medium heat. Add 16 oz ground meat, minced onions, 1/2 tablespoon onion powder, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/2 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook and combine until dark brown. Do not overcook the ground meat until it is "crunchy" as Anna Paul suggested, this causes the meat to lose flavor. As beef is browning, add 12 oz of pasta to water. Cook until al dente. Take a few spoonfuls of pasta water and add this to your greek mixture to loosen up the garlic yogurt sauce.
- Remove cooked ground meat from heat, and drain al dente pasta. Now you're ready to make the savory butter sauce – In a small sauce pan, melt 4 tbsp of butter, mix in 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, and 1/3 tsp of red pepper for extra spice. If you do not like spicy dishes, you can substitute the red pepper for paprika or smoked paprika. Your dish is now ready to assemble and serve.
- To assemble your dish, take a large bowl, layer on – (1) Cooked Pasta, (2) Savory Garlic Yogurt Sauce (3) Ground Meat and Onions (4) Drizzle on Butter Sauce (5) Garnish with Tomatoes and Parsley. Serve and Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Give this Turkish Pasta Recipe a Try For Lunch or Dinner!
Have you tried this viral recipe yet? If so, let me know how it turned out for you in the comments below! And if you think this is one of your favorite new best dinner recipes, don’t forget to share this blog with a friend who’s always looking for their next go-to dish. I truly enjoyed making this recipe countless times, and I look forward to adding more Turkish cuisine to Elicit Folio. If you need additional dinner inspo, be sure to visit our dinner page here on the blog.
This Turkish pasta recipe sounds so good! I like how simple it seems to make, and the flavors look amazing. Definitely saving this for a cozy dinner idea.
I have seen this one online and have been wanting to make it for my family!! thanks for sharing the recipe for us to try.
I’ve heard so many people talking about this yummy pasta on TikTok and Instagram! I have to give it a try one of these days, now that I have some time off.
Am I wrong to assume that it’s like tacos but pasta? It looks incredibly divine, though. I’d love to eat this!
Haha! Sort of! Never thought of that!
This Turkish pasta recipe looks really tasty. It’s great how you broke down the steps, making it easy to follow. I’ll definitely keep this in mind for my next meal!
This looks like something I need in my life. I can’t believe I’m just seeing this now. Looks healthy, easy to make, and so so yummy. Thank you for sharing this. I can’t wait to try it out!
This Turkish pasta recipe sounds delicious and packed with unique flavors! I can’t wait to give it a try and explore the cultural roots of Yalancı Mantı.
This Turkish pasta looks absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try making Yalancı Mantı at home. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I don’t have TikTok so I have not seen this but I’m glad you posted this pasta recipe because this looks so delicious and yes, I am going to give this one a try. Thanks
I love this food that is always in my fyp in my TikTok. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe, I can now make one of it and try it at home.
Just looking at this is making me hungry! I can’t wait to make it!
Oh, yes! I love all the bold flavors in this dish, and it’s so meaty. Looks like a winner to me!
Oh wow this dish sounds amazing. I do really love Turkish food but as I’m not really on TikTok completely missed it. Cooking pasta al dente is a basic requisite for me. Looking forward to making this myself x
I don’t use TikTok, but I love your recipe. I never considered adding fresh juice, tomatoes, and herbs to pasta. Definitely, I`ll cook it next week!
I absolutely love how you broke down this viral recipe! The combination of garlic yogurt sauce, chili oil, and the hearty meat really does make this dish a comforting meal.
Ooo now as someone who likes their food this looks lovely. Very fresh and delicious I cannot wait to give this a try myself x
I love how it takes the traditional Turkish recipe and makes it quick, easy and perfect for weeknights. The combination of pasta, yogurt sauce and butter drizzle is heaven sent.
Sounds very interesting. I haven’t made a tiktok recipe in a while, but the ones we have tried have been good. This looks delicious, and sounds a bit similar to our taco salads.
This Turkish pasta recipe sounds absolutely delicious! I’ve never had Turkish food before, but this might just be the perfect dish to start with. The flavors sound so unique and comforting, and I can’t wait to try making it.
Such amazing ingredients and recipe that blend in our mouth,so tasty and flavorful, delicious