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Middle Eastern Yogurt Pasta, Middle Eastern Macarona Bil Laban

Macarona Bil Laban

A Middle Eastern classic yogurt and spiced beef pasta. Creamy and garlicky yogurt sauce, spiced ground beef, and toasted nuts come together with pasta for a delicious comfort dish. Easy, flavorful, and perfect for any occasion!
5 from 6 Ratings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine Jordanian, Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Palestinian, Syrian
Servings 6
Calories 614 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound cavatappi pasta or elbow macaroni, prepared according to package instructions
  • 1 pound 80% lean ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons 7 spices
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon sumac
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • toasted pine nuts or almonds for topping

Yogurt Sauce

  • cups plain whole milk yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon sumac
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 6-8 garlic cloves minced. This makes it garlicky, so use as much or as little as you'd like.
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions
 

  • Start by boiling the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  • Add the olive oil to a pot on medium high heat. Add the chopped onions and saute until translucent.
  • Add the ground beef and saute until lightly browned, and most of the pinkness is gone.
  • Add the salt, black pepper, sumac, 7 spices and ground cinnamon.
  • Mix everything together well and cook for another few minutes, until completely browned and cooked through.

To Make the Yogurt Sauce

  • In a large bowl, combine the plain whole milk yogurt, sumac, and salt. Whisk everything together well.
  • Melt the butter on a pan on medium high heat. Once melted, add the minced garlic.
  • Saute the garlic until golden brown, making sure to moving it around every so often. This takes about 1-3 minutes.
  • Once golden, add the garlic and the butter to the yogurt. Whisk well.

To Assemble

  • Combine the cooked and drained pasta into the yogurt sauce. Mix well until everything is well incorporated.
  • Add the yogurt pasta to a serving dish, and top with the cooked ground beef mixture.
  • Finally, top it with some toasted pine nuts or almonds, and some chopped parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Most Macarona Bil Laban recipes call for raw grated garlic in the yogurt sauce. Personally, I love sauteeing the garlic in the butter first. This gives it the best flavor.
  • If you'd like to skip sauteing the garlic, just grate it and add it to the yogurt, raw. Skip the butter. 
  • Use more or less garlic if you prefer. 
  • You can prep the sauce ahead of time, and prep the cooked beef ahead of time and combine when you're ready to serve. 
  • Serving size (6) is for side dishes/appetizer sizing. 

Nutrition

Calories: 614kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 27gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 685mgPotassium: 545mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 218IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 162mgIron: 3mg
Keyword macarona bil laban, yogurt pasta
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