This Indo-Italian dish is a perfect family favorite and finds its way to a breakfast, lunch, or dinner menu.
This Italian delight is not high on spiciness but is undoubtedly packed with flavors and nutrients from sauces and veggies. It is indeed a comfort food for those hectic days when you look out for something really quick, easy, and super tasty. This gorgeously delicious Masala Macaroni is a super easy recipe that contains the scrumptiousness of onions, bell peppers, and carrots, and the exquisite flavors from Marinara sauce and the Italian seasonings! Loaded with fun and flavors, this Indo-Italian savory is undeniably every family’s first choice.
Packed with the goodness of veggies. A yummy alternative to regular macaroni. Wholesome and filling.
The best part is, Veg masala pasta is kid-friendly and can also be relished as a snack or even packed in a lunch box to be enjoyed later with friends during the lunch break.
Carrots — Add a crunch and more nutrition to the macaroni. Bell peppers — Red and green bell peppers lend nutrition, crunch, and contrasting colors that can entice any eye. Onions — Diced onions add a crunch and earthy flavor to the dish. Macaroni — This is the star ingredient of our scrumptious veg masala macaroni recipe. Red chili flakes — Bring hotness and an appealing red gleam to the recipe. Italian seasoning — Can we miss this out from an Italian dish? Well, this is one of the essential flavorings to our recipe. Cumin powder — Adds a warm and subtle flavor. Chilli sauce — Added after cooking the macaroni to render the dish its deserved hotness. Marinara sauce — An awesome Italian pasta sauce, Marinara sauce is a must in this recipe as it adds the Italian pasta vibes with its authentic Italian flavors and hue! Cilantro — Adds charm to the dish when served. Cook the Pasta — Use the guidelines on the box and cook macaroni according to package instructions. Rinse well with cold water after straining. Protip — Do not overcook the pasta — Cooking pasta until al dente is the key to a perfectly prepared dish. Al dente macaroni holds its shape better during sautéing and finishes up perfectly to an appealing dish. An overcooked and squishy macaroni makes the dish look unappetizing.
Sauté Vegetables — Add oil to a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Stir in carrots and cook until the carrots are soft and tender. Stir in red bell peppers and sauté for a minute. Stir in Italian seasoning, chili flakes, and salt.
Garnish with chopped scallions, cilantro leaves, and serve the delicious veg masala macaroni.
Tip for a non-sticky macaroni — Boiled macaroni tends to get sticky once drained. Adding oil will prevent it from sticking and also render a nice glaze to it. Pasta Options — Confused between kinds of pasta? You can use Penne Pasta or any pasta of your liking. After Macaroni, Penne or Farfalle are my preferences as their ridges hold the sauces better, making it more flavorsome. You can also opt for Cavatappi or Fusilli or even Rotini pasta. Add health and nutrition to the max — This veg masala macaroni is a very versatile recipe, and you can easily add any veggies of your choice to pack it with maximum health and nutrition. I have added carrots and bells peppers to this recipe, but you can feel free to add —
Sweet corn, Mushrooms, Peas, Fresh spinach leaves, Broccoli and other veggies of your choice.
However, ensure to sauté them well before adding them to the sauce. Prepare your sauce — You may prefer to prepare the sauce with crushed tomatoes for your Masala Pasta recipe. Make sure to season the tomatoes well and cook the sauce enough to let the raw taste go away. For an Indian twist — To entice the Indian taste buds, you may give this recipe a more Indian flavor by adding Maggie masala magic instead of the Italian seasonings. Experimenting with flavors — Though Pasta is an Italian dish, you may customize it and introduce an Indo-Chinese flavor by replacing the Italian seasonings with soy sauce and tomato ketchup. Make it veg or non-veg — This veg masala macaroni is a purely veg recipe. However, you can add grilled chicken pieces for a non-veg variant. You can also add sautéed tofu for an extra punch of protein. For creamier pasta — For those who love to relish luscious dishes, you may add fresh cream or cashew cream to the macaroni for an enhanced creaminess. Increase the spice level — You can easily increase the spiciness of your macaroni dish by adding cayenne pepper, green chilies, or sriracha sauce. Likewise, you can skip adding any of these for a more child-friendly and less spicy Masala Macaroni. If yes, then keep reading for the detailed recipe below and let your palate sway in the yumminess of this quick and easy Macaroni dish! Should you make this veg Masala macaroni, please let me know your thoughts by sharing your comment below. And don’t forget to share it with your family and friends.
MORE COMFORTING ONE-POT RECIPES THAT YOU’LL LOVE!
