Macaroni and cheese is undoubtedly a beloved and flavorful dish enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s a go-to choice for a convenient and swiftly prepared snack for kids. If you enjoy macaroni as much as we do, check out this dish, which is inspired by Indian cuisine. This masala macaroni dish combines ingredients like onions, tomatoes, herbs, and some crisp veggies with a pool of spices, resulting in a dish packed with bursting Indian flavors. The best thing is that it just takes 20 minutes to prepare in the Instant pot pressure cooker. In addition to eating it as a snack in the evening, you can also prepare it as a quick breakfast or kids’ school lunch box. All you need are a few staples from your kitchen cupboard to make this dish. So, let’s get started learning how to create it right now. See the ingredients and a step-by-step recipe breakdown below. The best part of cooking this pasta is, you dont need to have either marinara (tomato-based) sauce, herbs (Italian seasoning), or cheese. I am sure your kids will love this twist. I have also shared how to make this desi pasta on a stovetop pan below.
Ingredients
Pasta - I used macaroni pasta. But feel free to use your favorite pasta of your choice, like chickpea pasta, quinoa pasta, spaghetti, linguine, pasta shells, or any grain-free, gluten-free pasta. Ginger and garlic: use freshly minced or paste of ginger and garlic. Onion: Use finely chopped onions. Tomatoes: I used 2 Roma tomatoes. You may also use canned crushed tomatoes. Vegetables: I used mixed veggies like carrots, colored bell peppers, and sweet corn. You can also swap for other vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and green peas. Dry Spices: Used turmeric, red chili powder, and garam masala. Seasonings: Salt & Pepper Tomato Ketchup: For extra flavor and is optional. You may also use red chili sauce or schezwan sauce. Herbs: Coriander leaves for garnish. Cheese: Optional. I used mozzarella cheese.
How to Make Masala Macaroni Pasta in Instant Pot
Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add olive oil, and once it’s hot, add minced ginger and garlic. Saute for a few seconds. Then add onions and green chilies, and saute till the onions are soft and translucent. Then add finely chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft and mushy. Add spices like turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, salt and pepper. Give a quick stir. Then add mixed veggies and cook for another minute. Add some tomato ketchup and give a quick stir. Add macaroni pasta, water (or veggie broth), and de-glaze the pot. Make sure there are no brown bits stuck at the bottom. Close the lid on the pot, and turn the pressure valve to the SEALING position. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 4 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 2-3 minutes, and then quick release the pressure. I used macaroni Pasta in this recipe, which has 8 minutes for cooking on the stovetop. So to cook on Instant Pot – Divide the cooking time by half and minus one for al dente pasta. So it’s 3 minutes. For softer pasta, do 4 minutes. Then, quickly stir the pasta and garnish with cilantro (coriander leaves). You can also add some cheese on top. Indian Style Instant Pot Masala Pasta is ready to be served.
Stovetop Pot Method
Firstly, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add salt to the water and cook the pasta, according to the package instructions. I used Macaroni, but you can use your favorite pasta. Other good pasta options are penne, spaghetti, or even tortellini. Reserve some pasta water for later use. Add olive oil, and once it’s hot, add minced ginger and garlic. Saute for a few seconds. Then add onions and green chilies, and saute till the onions are soft and translucent. Then add finely chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft and mushy. Add spices like turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, salt and pepper. Give a quick stir. Then add the mixed vegetables and cook till they are tender. It takes about 1-2 minutes. Add some tomato ketchup and give a quick stir. You may also add hot sauce if needed. Add cooked pasta, and reserved pasta water, and mix well. Cook for another 1-2 minutes so that the pasta absorbs the flavor. Garnish with cilantro (coriander leaves). You can also add some cheese on top. Indian Style Masala Macaroni Pasta is ready to be served.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve masala macaroni as a main dish with some garlic bread. You may also pack it for kid’s lunch box, picnics, or potlucks.
Storage Suggestions
Make-Ahead: You can prep the veggies and boil the pasta, a day before and store them in an airtight container if you are making it on a stovetop. When you are ready to serve, toss everything well. Storage: You can store the leftovers for 1-2 days in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. Reheat: You can reheat it in the microwave or stovetop pan.
Variations
If you don’t have olive oil, you can also use butter or regular cooking oil. You can use any kind of pasta like penne, shell, or rigatoni. Try using Whole wheat, Lentils, or Veggie pasta for kids. You can also add sweet corn, and broccoli for this pasta. You can also use canned crushed tomatoes. You can add pav bhaji masala instead of garam masala to give it a twist.
Tips to Make the Best Masala Macaroni Pasta
You can also add cheese to the Pasta after cooking. Pasta sauce should not be too thick else after mixing pasta, it becomes dry when eaten later. The sauce will seem thin when you start to mix in the pasta. Don’t worry; keep tossing. The starches from the pasta will be mixed into the sauce to give a perfect consistency.
More Pasta Recipes
Avocado Pasta Mayonnaise Veggie Pasta Creamy Spinach Pasta Mac and Cheese (Instant Pot) Avocado Pasta White Sauce Pasta
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