Try this viral TikTok recipe vegetarian-style! This Vegetarian Turkish Pasta, inspired by Anna Paul, is packed with delicious, Mediterranean flavor! It’s also an excellent source of vegetarian protein and fiber!
Another delicious food trend from TikTok! When I saw this recipe by @anna..paull, I knew I had to make my own spin on it. Well, technically this is Anna’s mom’s recipe, but it was Anna’s video that went super viral! The pasta is super simple, but with a big flavor payout. All you do is cook the pasta, cook the ground meat (or in this case, lentils) in a separate pan, and prep a few super simple accoutrements for a fast dinner! The recipe has a few components:
- Cooked Pasta
- Pan-Fried Lentils (or, in the original recipe, ground meat)
- Paprika Butter
- Garlic Yogurt
- Fresh Tomatoes and Parsley
And that’s it! The most labor intensive thing is cooking the lentils, which is really not much of a chore at all. I love adding in lentils instead of meat because they’re still hearty, and have protein PLUS fiber. People talk about protein on and on, but fiber is actually a critical nutrient that less than 10% of Americans get enough of. With rates of colon cancer on the rise in the US, epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between low fiber intake and colorectal cancers. So make sure to get your fiber in, folks! This pasta is a great way to start, with 13g of fiber per serving! (And don’t forget, 22g of vegetarian protein per serving as well!)
Enjoy!
For more delicious pasta recipes, try my Boursin Cheese Pasta or this Classic Macaroni Salad!
Vegetarian Turkish Pasta
Ingredients
Meaty Lentils
- 1 Cup Uncooked Green or Black Lentils rinsed
- 1/2 White Onion chopped
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/2 Tsp Cumin
- 1 Tsp Paprika
- 1/2 Tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 Tsp Soy Sauce
- 1/4 Tsp Salt or more, to taste
Garlicky Yogurt
- 2 Cups Plain, Unsweetened Yogurt
- 2 Cloves Garlic grated
- 2 Tbsp Freshly-Squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1/2 Tsp Salt or more, to taste
- 1/2 Tsp Dried Dill
- 1 Tsp Dried Parsley
- Black Pepper to taste
Paprika Butter
- 8 Tbsp Salted Butter
- 1 Tsp Hot Paprika
The Rest of the Pasta
- 1 Lb Pasta
- 2 Cups Cherry Tomatoes chopped
- 1 Bunch Parsley chopped
Instructions
- To begin, rinse your lentils thoroughly. Cook them in salted water according to your package's instructions. You should be left with about 2 1/2 – 3 cups cooked lentils.
- Bring the olive oil to medium heat in a large sauté pan. Add in the chopped white onion, and sauté for about 2-3 minutes. Then, add in the lentils and spices, and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until lentils have crisped a little in the oil.
- Next, cook the pasta of your choosing in salted water until al dente. If not serving immediately, rinse the pasta in cold water after draining to stop the cooking process.
- While the pasta is cooking, make the garlic yogurt. In a bowl, add in the yogurt, and grate 2 cloves of garlic directly into the yogurt. Add in the salt, lemon juice, and herbs, and mix. Taste, and adjust seasonings to your preference.
- To make the paprika butter, melt the salted butter in a small saucepan and add in the paprika. Once the butter is completely melted, turn off the heat and mix the paprika into the butter for about 1-2 minutes, to bloom the spice. Be careful not to brown your butter!
- Lastly, chop up your tomatoes and parsley.
- To assemble, have each person put a portion of pasta in their bowl. Top the pasta with a dollop of the yogurt sauce, then layer on the sautéed lentils, tomatoes, and parsley. Drizzle everything with the paprika butter. There are no set ratios – just add everything to your own preference!
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Feel free to use regular paprika instead of hot paprika if you don’t want the butter to be spicy.
- If prepping this dish ahead of time, keep all components separate until ready to serve. I recommend cooking the pasta just before serving for best results.
- If making this recipe with ground meat or sausage instead of lentils, use the same measurements except do NOT add any oil.
Nutrition
Vegetarian Turkish Pasta FAQs
Is this the same as the Anna Paul Turkish pasta recipe?
My Vegetarian Turkish Pasta is based on Anna’s viral TikTok recipe, but I have a few key differences! The biggest difference is using lentils instead of ground meat. I also added in a few herbs to the garlic yogurt to amp up the flavor!
Does yogurt taste weird in pasta?
Not at all! If you’re a shy eater, the thought of yogurt might sound weird in pasta. However, in this recipe, you add garlic, lemon, and herbs to the yogurt, which makes a creamy, almost ranch-like sauce!
What are the TikTok Turkish Pasta ingredients?
In Anna’s original recipe, the main ingredients are pasta, ground meat, yogurt, tomatoes, parsley, and butter (with some other aromatics and spices). In this version, I swap in lentils instead of ground meat for a hearty, vegetarian alternative.
Is this an authentic Turkish recipe?
Doing some research online, I found that Anna’s original recipe seems to be a similar thing to Cheat Manti, aka “Pasta with Turkish ragout sauce, garlicky yoghurt and Pul biber olive oil” (according to Ozlem’s Turkish Table). In Anna’s recipe, she uses butter sauce instead of olive oil. In my version, I make a ragout-esque sauce using lentils instead of ground meat. This makes the dish vegetarian, but it’s also a very cost-effective option! But no, this recipe is not an authentic Turkish dish.
P.S.
For more plant-forward recipes and New England lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok! If you make a recipe, please tag me in the photo and use the hashtag #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your creations!
Leave a Reply