Turkish Manti AKA Tatar Böregi

This Turkish pasta dish features the flavors of red meat, garlic, paprika, mint, butter, and yogurt. Yummm ...

I first had this dish when my husband and I discovered our restaurant in our area that served Greek, Turkish, and Italian food. Sadly, it has since closed down.  :(

Our first time there they had manti as an appetizer and we instantly loved it!  Unfortunately, the next time we ate there, it had been marked off the menu - so I started making it at home.

While this recipe is obviously not going to be the "real-deal" (which would involve making the pasta yourself), it's certainly a less labor intensive option and pretty darn close!  There are several versions of this dish throughout Central Asia.  This is an adaptation of the Turkish.



Ingredients
1 package frozen organic beef ravioli (about 10 oz)
1 cup organic Greek yogurt
3 large cloves of garlic, crushed witth a garlic press or minced very finely
1/4 cup organic butter
1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped in ribbins
1 Tbs. smoked sweet paprika

Directions
1. Prepare the ravioli according to the manufacturer's directions.
2. Meanwhile, stir the garlic into the yogurt. Cover it and set it aside to give the flavors time to mingle.
3. Melt the butter in the microwave (this should only take about 30 seconds) or in a small pot and stir in the paprika.
4. Toss the mint into the ravioli pot when it's just about done. Then remove from heat and drain, keeping the mint.
5. To serve, transfer the ravioli onto a serving plate and top with the yogurt sauce. Drizzle the paprika butter over it and garnish with extra mint for added flavor and color.
6. Enjoy!