This mint yogurt pasta is the perfect combination of flavors. Minty freshness, a slight tang from the yogurt on a background of pasta. Top that with some minced meat and toasted almonds and you’ve got my favorite summer pasta dish.

This is so quick and easy to prepare that it hardly counts as cooking , you can prepare the yogurt dressing and brown the meat ahead of time and then all you have to do is cook your pasta and heat the meat and your mint yogurt pasta is ready.

You can do this without the garlic but mint, yogurt and garlic make a killer combo that you should try at least once.

To give the yogurt dressing richness and body I drain some yogurt untill it is thick and creamy(you can do that by using some clean kitchen towels, coffee filter or cheese cloth) or you can use some sour cream instead.

Mint yogurt pasta

250 grams Pasta

1 to 1 1/2Yogurt (depending on how much yogurt the pasta will absorb)

2 tablespoonsSour cream or some drained yogurt (optional)

1 1/2 teaspoons dried mint (or 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh)

1 glove  garlic (or a 1/4 teaspoon powdered garlic)

200 grams ground meat (optional)

silvered almonds for decoration

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt to taste

1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon (optional)

1/4 teaspoon Cardamom(optional)

1 teaspoon all spice

Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the box (I sometimes add a cube of chicken stock to the boiling water and that adds a depth of flavor), drain, set aside.

In a bowl mix the yogurt, sour cream, mint, garlic (do this ahead of time if you can. The more time you give it, the better flavor you get )

Toss the pasta with the yogurt untill it is coated, refrigerate.

In a pan heat the olive oil then add the almonds to it and stir till golden brown,drain reserving the oil.

Use the oil to brown the ground meat (season with cinnamon,cardamom and all spice)

To assemble arrange the pasta in your serving bowl, top with meat and almonds.

ENJOY

Notes:

Some brands of pasta tend to absorb a good part of the liquid in the yogurt as they cool, if that happens add more yogurt to your yogurt mint pasta and toss it before topping with meat and almonds