MASALA INDIAN STYLE PASTA

Hi all, I made this recipe out of compulsion coz both my son and husband did not want cheese in their pasta, and I am a big lover of cheese. So I had seen this recipe on social media from a famous chef and decided to make it for weekend dinner. They both loved it so for those who do not like cheese in your pasta, this is for you. 

MASALA PASTA

INGREDIENTS

Elbow Pasta: 1 Box

Onion: 1 medium chopped

Tomato: 1 medium chopped

Green Pepper (Capsicum): 1 Medium diced

Green Chilli: 1-2 finely chopped

Ginger-Garlic: 1-2 Tbsp Chopped

Cumin Seeds: 1 Tsp

Turmeric Powder: 1/4th Tsp

Red Chilli Powder: 1 Tsp

Jeera-Dhania Powder: 1 Tsp

Kasuri Methi: 1 Tsp crushed

Tomato Ketchup: 1 Tbsp

Salt as required

Oil 1 Tbsp

MASALA INDIAN STYLE PASTA

MAKING

In a Pan, add oil, once heated, add cumin seeds. When it turns aromatic, add in the chopped ginger-garlic, onion and saute for a few minutes until the onion turns golden brown. Now add in the chopped tomatoes, saute for a couple of minutes before adding in the Turmeric powder, Red chilli powder, jeera-dhania powder. Saute again for a few minutes until the tomato becomes soft and mushy. Add in the chopped green peppers, Kasuri Methi, tomato ketchup and allow it to cook for a few minutes on low flame. Keep adding 1 Tbsp of water if needed just to make sure the does not get burnt. 

Add in the required salt and once you see oil leaving the sides in the pan and the gravy is well mixed. 

Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water with salt as per box instructions. Drain the water and add the pasta to the gravy. Mix it well. Take it off the gas. Garnish it with freshly chopped cilantro and shredded Mozarella cheese.

Delicious Masala Pasta is ready to eat. Serve it hot.

TIPS/VARIATIONS

You can add fresh mozzarella as garnish. Again you can increase or decrease the quantity if needed.

You could also add Yellow and Red Bell Peppers to the gravy.

I first made the masala gravy then cooked the pasta to keep it fresh. 

You could use the water used for boiling the pasta while making the gravy as when it turns dry or starts sticking to the bottom.

Mac N Cheese

So, hey all. The recipe coming up today is is the traditional and everyones favorite Mac N cheese. Its very simple and can be made with simple ingredients.

MAC N CHEESE

INGREDIENTS

TUBE PASTA : SMALL ONES

FOR THE SAUCE

MILK : 1-2 CUPS
ALL PURPOSE FLOUR OR MAIDA : 2 TBSP
UNSALTED BUTTER : 1/2 STICK OR 2 TBSP
CHEESE : SHARP CHEDDAR OR LIGHT CHEDDAR, MOZZARELLA, AMERICAN, MIX OF ALL
SEASONINGS: ONIONS, GARLIC etc

MAKING

Take a vessel and boil water in it with a sprinkle of salt. Once the water has started boiling, add the pasta and cook for 10 minutes. Drain the water and keep the pasta aside.

For the sauce, take a pan, add butter and allow it to melt ( don't melt it too much that it becomes ghee). Add the 2 tbsp all purpose flour and mix it for a few seconds before adding the milk. The reason the all purpose flour/ maida is added is, to thicken the sauce. After the milk is added wait till it starts boiling. Don't let it boil too much. Just when the milk starts boiling, you will see it thickening, add the cheeses. You can combine a little bit of everything. You will see a nice smooth paste like consistency. Make sure the cheese doesn't become sticky or stringy so  keep the gas in low flame and switch off the gas once the cheeses have melted.

Add the pasta, add salt and sprinkle pepper powder on top. Yummy Mac N Cheese is ready.

Now for some variation and Tips;

Mozzarella cheese tends to be sticky so avoid it if  possible. You can also add garlic and onions to it. light fry them both before adding them to the sauce. Add them after the milk . You can also bake them by adding breadcrumbs as the top layer in a greased oven pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Lastly, the gas should always be in low flame and make sure the sauce doesnt become too burnt.

Enjoy !