Viral TikTok Turkish Pasta Recipe – Yalanci Manti

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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. 

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!

Turkish Pasta Step-by-Step Recipe Tutorial Video:

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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.

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What is Yalancı Mantı? A Cultural Twist

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.

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What You Need to Make Anna Paul’s Turkish Pasta

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 

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Tips for Perfecting Turkish Pasta

• 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. 

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Recipe: How To Make Viral Turkish Pasta – Yalancı Mantı

This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes! After a few iterations, I’ve made some minor tweaks to Anna Paul’s recipe, but cooking instructions can be found in the recipe card below:

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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.

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