Meatballs on tomato spaghetti

Meatballs on tomato spaghetti

Main dishes

Golden, spiced meatballs, served over buttered spaghetti, topped with tomato sauce and yogurt. A hearty, family-style Turkish dish.

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Spiced meatballs, served over spaghetti with butter and tomato sauce.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time25 min
  • Cook time25 min
  • Total50 min
  • DifficultyEasy
  • CostBudget
  • Cooking methodDeep-fried in a pan and then cooked in water.
  • Estimated cost$9.70 $2.43 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 15, 2026.

Ingredients

4 people
  • $4.76
  • $0.21
  • $0.40
  • $0.13
  • $0.53
  • $0.48
  • $0.54
  • $0.04
  • $0.32
  • $0.13
  • $0.04
  • $0.53
  • $1.31
  • $0.28

Prices from US supermarkets for 11 of 14 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. Grate the onion using the fine side of the grater. ≈ 8 min
  2. In a large bowl, combine the meat, onion, egg, breadcrumbs, pepper, cumin, parsley, and salt. Mix until well combined. ≈ 4 min
  3. Cut pieces about the size of a walnut, roll them into balls, and then flatten them with the palm of your hand. ≈ 10 min
  4. In a large frying pan, heat enough oil to cover the bottom, then brown the meatballs.
  5. While the meatballs are cooking, cook the spaghetti in boiling water, then drain them.
  6. For the sauce, heat the oil and brown the tomato paste until it releases its aroma.
  7. Add the water and salt, bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
  8. Melt the butter in a small saucepan.
  9. Divide the spaghetti among serving dishes, drizzle with melted butter, and arrange the meatballs on top. ≈ 2 min
  10. Pour serve, add the yogurt on top and serve. ≈ 2 min

The bill

Meatballs on tomato spaghetti

  • 500 g of ground meat$4.76
  • 1 large onion$0.21
  • 1 egg$0.40
  • 3 tablespoons of bread crumbs$0.13
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper$0.53
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin$0.48
  • 1 handful of chopped parsley$0.54
  • 1 teaspoon of salt$0.04
  • 2 tablespoons of tomato paste$0.32
  • 2 tablespoons of oil$0.13
  • 1 teaspoon of salt (for seasoning)$0.04
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper (sauce)$0.53
  • 1 package of spaghetti (approximately 500g)$1.31
  • 2 tablespoons of butter, packed$0.28

Total$9.70

that's $2.43 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Before you start

Ingredients

  • 500 g of ground meat
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoons of bread crumbs
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 handful of chopped parsley
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
  • 100 ml of hot water
  • 2 tablespoons of oil
  • 1 teaspoon of salt (for seasoning)
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper (sauce)
  • 1 package of spaghetti (approximately 500g)
  • 2 tablespoons of butter, packed
  • 200 g of yogurt

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