Masala Macaroni / Indian Style Pasta Recipe

                                                                  

Masala Macaroni is a deliciously spicy, one-pot pasta dish cooked in Indian style with lots of veggies and spice powders (masala). What's more? Here, i have added dry elbow macaroni directly into a pressure cooker along with vegetables and spiced broth and pressure cooked for just 1 whistle to make a flavorful pasta that is ready in a jiffy and with just 1 vessel to clean up ! The recipe is vegan if you do not top the pasta with cheese. Masala Pasta can be served as a breakfast , evening snack or a light lunch. 

                                  

What is Pasta?

Pasta is a food made from starch and water and is usually cooked in hot water before being eaten. Pasta is the national dish of Italy and is also popular in many parts of Asia. Basically, pasta is a type of food made from an unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or eggs, and formed into thin sheets or other shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking. Pasta is generally boiled and then dressed up in a complimentary sauce before serving. Vegetarian version of pasta is cooked in salted water and then tossed with seasoned or boiled veggies and a complimentary sauce. Pasta is cooked in a broth with meat in non-vegetarian version.

                         

What goes into my version of Masala Macaroni?

 

I have been making masala macaroni from many years, even before i started blogging in 2015. Masala macaroni made in pressure cooker along with masala powders and lots of vegetables was one of the flavorful ways in which i could feed my little one with veggies.  Let's have a look at the ingredients

• Pasta : I have used elbow macaroni made from Durum Wheat Semolina. If you use the firm varieties of pasta like pene pasta or rigatoni, cooking for 1 whistle in a pressure cooker with little water makes a perfectly cooked pasta (al dente) without becoming mushy.
• Vegetables: Use firm vegetables like carrots, green peas , sweet corn which do not become mushy on pressure cooking. Apart from that Onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green chilies are used in this recipe. 
• Spices: I have used only cumin seeds, red chili powder, garam masala and turmeric powder in this pasta dish. You may add any spice powder of your choice.
• Herbs: I have used fresh coriander leaves. You may use fresh or dried mint instead.
• Cheese: topping the pasta with grated cheese is optional. I simple add some to see a spark in the eyes of my little one.
• Oil : You may use any neutral cooking oil of your choice.                       

                         

Short Video for Masala Macaroni

                     

Related Event: Pasta Please @ Foodie Monday Blog Hop

Pasta was the theme for the 303rd week on Foodie Monday Blog Hop, a Facebook gourmet group, where a bunch of passionate food bloggers share their culinary skills every Monday depending upon a pre-determined theme. Priya was our hostess for the week and she proposed that we share any pasta dish. This flavorful masala macaroni is my humble contribution towards the theme. Priya, is a passionate food and travel blogger and you can find authentic South Indian and Gujarati recipes on her space along with easily doable recipes from world Cuisine. I am in love with her recipes from Thai Cuisine. You might want to check out her, Basil Cream Sauce Pasta which she posted for the pasta theme or the Pasta Arrabiatta that is next on my to-do list.

                                                              

                                

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Elbow Macaroni ( you may use any firm variety of pasta)
• 2 tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 green chili
• 1/2 inch ginger
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala or any curry powder
• 2 tablespoon neutral cooking oil
• A small bunch of fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped
• Salt to taste
• Cheese for topping (optional)

Method:

1. In a grinder jar, blend roughly chopped tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green chili to a lump free puree without adding any water.
2. Heat oil in pressure cooker and add cumin seeds to it. Once the seeds, crackle, add finely chopped onion and saute until it turns translucent.
3. Next, add the tomato puree and cook for around 2-3 minutes on medium flame or until the raw smell of garlic and tomatoes goes off.  
4. Lower the flame and add spice powders and salt to the tomato puree when you see oil ozzing from the sides of the pan.
5. Stir fry the spices for few seconds before adding the veggies, carrots, green peas and sweet corn.
6. Stir fry the onion tomato masala base for around a minute before adding the dry elbow macaroni.
7. Give a quick mix and add 1/2 cup of water or vegetable broth and pressure cook for just 1 minute and put off the flame. 
8. Open the lid of the pressure cooker and serve the Masala Macaroni immediately ! You may garnish the pasta with finely chopped coriander and some grated cheese.
9. Enjoy the flavorful pasta with your loved ones !

                          

                        

Recipe Notes:

• Use any firm variety of pasta to make this masala pasta dish like spirals or rigatoni which does not become overcooked and mushy upon cooking in a pressure cooker.
• Use any veggies of your choice which hold shape on pressure cooking.
• Use any neutral cooking oil to make this pasta.
• Skip use of green chili if you intend to serve it to small kids. Also adjust the amount of spice powders used as per your spice tolerance and taste.
• Garam masala can be replaced with any curry powder.
• Use very little water to cook the pasta in pressure cooker and cook it for just 1 whistle. I have added 1/2 cup water for 1 cup pasta + 1 cup veggies.
• I have used frozen green peas and sweet corn. You may fresh or frozen as per availability.
• Topping the pasta with grated cheese is optional.

Would love to hear from you !

I hope you would love trying out this healthy and delicious Masala Macaroni. If you do so, feel free to share your feedback with use in the form of likes and comments in the section below this post.

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See you soon with yet another healthy and delicious creation from my Kitchen. Until then Stay safe and eat right !

 

Happy Cooking !

Happy Eating !

 

Regards

Poonam Bachhav 

If you are looking for  more pasta recipe, do check ou the following from this blog

• Zesty Baked Macaroni and Cheese
  

• Pasta Spirals with Pesto Sauce

• Pasta with Grilled Bell Peppers and Cream

• Pene Pasta in creamy White Sauce

• Vegetable pasta in Red Sauce

• Elbow macaroni with Garlic Crumbs

• Summer Macaroni Salad