Pasta Sauce With Beef Eggplant and Yogurt

Pasta may be from Italy but pasta sauce is not! I share  a Turkish pasta sauce recipe which you may even just eat this pasta sauce exclusively. Here is the recipe:  

Pasta Sauce With Beef Eggplant and Yogurt 

Pasta Sauce With Beef Eggplant and Yogurt 
Origin: Turkish
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Ingredients:
-(Must) 1 large eggplant, about 1 pound, in 1/2 -inch cubes

-(Must) 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt, more to taste
-(Must) 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

-(Optional) 3 fat garlic cloves, minced

-(Optional) 1 large shallot, minced

-(Must) Ground lamb (1/2 kg or equivalently 1 lbs)

-(Optional) 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, preferably Turkish or Aleppo (see note), more to taste

-(Optional) Freshly ground black pepper to taste

-(Optional) 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint or dill, more to taste

-(Must) 2 to 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, to taste

-(Must) 2/3 cup plain Greek yogurt.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Bring a pot of water to boil for pasta.

Toss eggplant with 4 tablespoons oil and a large pinch of salt. Spread on a baking sheet, making sure there is room between pieces, and roast until crisp and brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

In a large skillet, heat remaining tablespoon oil. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and the shallot and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add lamb, 1/2 teaspoon salt, red pepper flakes and black pepper to taste. Sauté until lamb is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in mint or dill and cook for another 2 minutes. Stir eggplant into lamb. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter: the amount is to your taste. Let cook until it turns golden brown and smells nutty, about 5 minutes. 

In a small bowl, stir together yogurt, remaining garlic and a pinch of salt.

Drain pasta and spread on a serving platter. Top with lamb-eggplant mixture, then with yogurt sauce. Pour melted butter over top. Sprinkle on additional red pepper and more mint or dill. Serve immediately.

Note: Turkish or Aleppo (Syrian) red pepper flakes are sold at specialty markets. You may also substitute ground chili powder. Do not use crushed red pepper flakes; they will be too hot for this dish.

Estimetad Nutrition Values  (by myfitnesspal.com)
Serves:3-4	Calorie	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sugar
Per Serving	488 kcal	9 gr	34 gr	36 gr	6 gr