Masala Macaroni
Masala Macaroni is a pasta dish with a desi twist. This Indian-style pasta is spicy, loaded with cheese, and is perfect for serving for breakfast, lunch, or evening snacks. Make it using my easy recipe (vegetarian).
Here are some more Indian snack recipes you may like- Paniyaram, Rava Appe, Cheesy Tadka Maggi, Moong Dal Pakoda, and Egg Idli.
About Masala Macaroni
Masala Macaroni Pasta is an Indian twist to the classic Macaroni Pasta. It is an Italian dish with Indian flavors.
It is a fusion pasta recipe where cooked macaroni pasta is tossed in a spicy onion, tomato, and cheese-based masala.
This dish comes together in under 30 minutes and is great for breakfast, light brunch, quick dinner, or evening snacks. Packing it for school or office lunch boxes is also a great option.
Ingredients
Macaroni – I make this recipe using macaroni pasta but you can replace macaroni with other pasta like fusilli, farfalle, penne, etc.
You can use gluten-free pasta to make this dish gluten-free.
Oil – Use any neutral flavored oil to make this recipe. Light olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, etc, work great. You can replace oil with butter too.
Veggies – This Masala Macaroni is loaded with veggies, and that’s what I love about this easy and simple recipe. Add some tomatoes, onions, green bell peppers (capsicum), carrots, green peas, and green beans.
You can also add other vegetables like spinach, sweet corn, broccoli, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, mushrooms, etc.
Spice Powders – You will need some everyday Indian spices such as Kashmiri red chili powder, turmeric powder, and salt.
Garam masala powder, coriander powder, or cumin powder can also be added.
You can also add some black pepper powder for a spicy kick.
Italian Seasoning – Add some mixed Italian seasoning for added flavor. If you do not have Italian seasoning, then use a mix of dried oregano, red pepper flakes, thyme, etc.
You can adjust spice powders as per your taste.
Sauce – You will need hot sauce and tomato ketchup.
Cheese is optional, but I like the gooey and creamy texture cheese adds to the macaroni.
You can use cheddar cheese or Amul processed cheese.
Green Chillies – Adjust the green chilies as per your taste. If making for kids, you can completely skip it too.
Others – You will also need fresh ginger, garlic, lime juice (or lemon juice), and cilantro (fresh coriander leaves).
You can add cooked chickpeas, cooked chicken, shrimp, tofu, etc to this macaroni masala pasta recipe.
How To Make Macaroni Masala
Cook The Macaroni
Heat 4-5 cups of water in a large pot over high heat.
When the water starts to boil, add 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup of dried macaroni and stir well.
Cook until the macaroni is Al Dente (just cooked).
Do not overcook otherwise the pasta will become mushy.
Drain the water (reserve 1 cup), toss the cooked macaroni with 1 tablespoon of oil, and keep it aside.
Make The Pasta
Heat 2 tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium flame.
Once the oil is hot, add the following ingredients and saute for a minute.
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
- 2 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon chopped green chilies
Add ½ cup of finely chopped tomatoes and fry for a minute, stirring frequently.
Now add the following ingredients to the pan and stir well.
- ¼ cup of chopped green bell pepper
- ¼ cup of chopped carrots
- ¼ cup green beans (cut into small pieces)
- ¼ cup of green peas
Reduce the heat to low.
Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring a few times in between.
Now add the following ingredients and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup of shredded cheddar cheese
Add 2 teaspoon hot sauce and 2 tablespoon tomato ketchup and mix well.
Now add the following ingredients and mix well.
- boiled macaroni
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
If the pasta is looking very dry, then add some reserved water from cooking the pasta.
Check for salt and add some more if required.
Cook for a minute and serve hot.
You can garnish it with chopped green onions, cilantro, or red chili flakes.
Storage Suggestions
This desi macaroni pasta tastes the best when served right out of the pan. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Reheat in a microwave or a pan over the stovetop. Add some water if the pasta has thickened.
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Masala Macaroni Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry macaroni pasta
- 1 tablespoon salt (plus 1 tsp, or to taste)
- 2 tablespoons oil (plus 1 tbsp)
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped green chilies
- ½ cup finely chopped tomatoes
- ¼ cup chopped green bell pepper (capsicum)
- ¼ cup chopped carrots
- ¼ cup green beans (cut into small pieces)
- ¼ cup green peas
- ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
- ¼ cup grated cheddar cheese (or Amul processed cheese)
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (fresh coriander leaves)
Instructions
Cook The Macaroni
- Heat 4-5 cups of water in a large pot over high heat.
- When the water starts to boil, add 1 tablespoon salt, and macaroni and stir well.
- Cook until the macaroni is Al Dente (just cooked).
- Do not overcook otherwise the pasta will become mushy.
- Drain the water (reserve 1 cup) and toss the cooked macaroni with 1 tablespoon of oil and keep it aside.
Make The Pasta
- Heat 2 tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium flame.
- Once the oil is hot, add onions, ginger, garlic, and green chilies, and saute for a minute.
- Add tomatoes and fry for a minute, stirring frequently.
- Now add green bell pepper, carrots, beans, and peas to the pan and stir well.
- Reduce the heat to low.
- Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring a few times in between.
- Now add chili powder, turmeric powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and cheddar cheese and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add hot sauce, and tomato ketchup and mix well.
- Now add the boiled macaroni, lime juice, and cilantro and mix well.
- If the pasta is looking very dry, then add some reserved water from cooking the pasta.
- Check for salt and add some more if required.
- Cook for a minute and serve hot.
- You can garnish it with chopped green onions, cilantro, or red chili flakes.
Thank you
thanks for sharing this amazing recipe.
Yummy happy for tummy… My kid liked it…
Good to know!
Yummy happy for tummy…
Instead of Italian seasoning is there another option?
You can use any herb.
MAsala macaroni looks incredibly yummy