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Garlic Yogurt Turkish Pasta

Garlic Yogurt Turkish Pasta

A quick and incredibly comforting weeknight dinner! Warm pasta is tossed in a savory garlic yogurt sauce and topped with a sizzling, fragrant chili-infused butter drizzle.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: turkish
Calories: 480

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound dry pasta like penne, fusilli, or farfalle
  • 2 cups plain whole milk Greek yogurt at room temperature
  • 3 cloves garlic finely grated or minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus a generous handful for the pasta water
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes mixed with 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons fresh mint or flat-leaf parsley finely chopped

Equipment

  • Large pasta pot
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Small skillet or saucepan (for the butter sauce)
  • Colander

Method
 

  1. Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Add the dry pasta and cook according to the package directions until it reaches a perfect al dente texture.
  2. Prepare the Yogurt Sauce: While the pasta is boiling, place the room-temperature Greek yogurt into a medium mixing bowl. Add the grated garlic and kosher salt. Whisk everything together until the sauce is completely smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  3. Make the Chili Butter: About two minutes before the pasta is done cooking, place a small skillet over medium heat. Add the unsalted butter and the olive oil. Once the butter has completely melted and begins to foam, stir in the Aleppo pepper. Let it sizzle for about 30 seconds until the butter turns a beautiful vibrant red and smells fragrant. Immediately remove the skillet from the heat so the pepper does not burn.
  4. Drain and Toss: Reserve 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta in a colander. Let the pasta cool for just one minute so it is not boiling hot. Transfer the warm pasta to a large serving bowl.
  5. Combine: Pour the garlic yogurt sauce over the warm pasta. Toss gently until every noodle is coated. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a splash of the reserved pasta water to thin it out into a silky glaze.
  6. Plate and Serve: Divide the creamy pasta into individual serving bowls. Use a spoon to drizzle the hot, red chili butter generously over the top of each portion. Garnish with fresh chopped mint or parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Room Temperature Yogurt: It is incredibly important that your yogurt is not ice-cold straight from the refrigerator. If you add boiling hot pasta to cold yogurt, the dairy will split and curdle. Take the yogurt out before you start boiling the water.
The Best Pasta Shapes: Short, textured pasta shapes with nooks and crannies are best for this recipe. Penne, fusilli, conchiglie (shells), or farfalle do a wonderful job of trapping the thick yogurt sauce and holding onto the spicy butter.
What is Aleppo Pepper: Aleppo pepper is a traditional Middle Eastern spice that is bright, slightly sweet, and has a mild heat level. If you cannot find it at your grocery store, mixing standard red pepper flakes with a little sweet or smoked paprika is a great substitute.