Turkish Pasta with Crispy Tofu Mince

Ingredients

• 280 g extra firm tofu (crushed by hand into mince)
• 200 g pasta (cooked al dente)
• 1 cup Greek yogurt (mixed with garlic)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced for the yogurt)
• 3 tbsp butter (for the pul biber sauce)
• 2 tsp pul biber (Turkish red pepper flakes)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 0.5 onion (finely diced)
• fresh parsley (chopped for balance/garnish)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (for frying tofu)

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare the tofu by crushing the extra firm block in your hands until it resembles a fine mince.

2. 2

   Heat a skillet with a little oil and add the tofu mince. Cook until it starts turning golden brown and crispy.

3. 3

   Add spices and seasonings to the tofu. Cook them out for longer than you think to release their natural flavors, then set the savory tofu mince aside.

4. 4

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente.

5. 5

   In a small bowl, mix the Greek yogurt with minced garlic to create the garlicky yogurt base.

6. 6

   Prepare the flavored butter by melting butter in a small pan until it is browned and bubbling. Stir in the pul biber (Turkish red pepper flakes).

7. 7

   Assemble the dish by layering the cooked pasta, the garlicky yogurt, and the crispy tofu mince.

8. 8

   Top with the browned pul biber butter and garnish with fresh parsley, cherry tomatoes, and diced onion for balance.

Notes

The author emphasizes cooking the spices with the tofu for a long time to maximize flavor. This dish is intended to be a high-protein vegetarian alternative to traditional Turkish Manti flavors.

Nutrition per serving

• appetizer
• main
• vegetarian
• high-protein
• tofu
• pasta
• Turkish-inspired
• healthy