Spicy masala pasta

Pasta is pretty much my favorite ingredient to cook with. Because pasta is so incredibly versatile, and it is a great base to just add anything to! I think of pasta like a blank state for all my culinary imaginations. We can all agree that there is a lot of passion for pasta around the world and we are all pasta lovers at heart! You don’t have to be a chef or a professional to make a deliciously elegant yet simple pasta dish. This dish was an experiment turned into success!

You can never go wrong with an easy pasta dish for your kids! My son loves pasta, so I end up making it for him at least twice a week. On those days, I try not to cook two different meals. I just get creative with pasta itself and create new fusion flavors to make a one pot meal. Kill two birds with one stone 😉 Therefore, expect a new version of pasta weekly, since its favorite in our home and I love to get creative with my meals. 

Pasta is also a great option for working parents! On the days I work, I love a good quick one pot meal that is an easy and lip-smacking tasty combination of spices and veggies. Life gets easier with quick meals so we can eat fresh hot meals daily and avoid eating out so much. In short, this dish is always a winner in my home. Why not make this for your loved ones? Would love to hear your feedback!

Instant pot – You can make this whole dish in instant pot. I will post the recipe in detail sometime this week.

Serves [4]

[Calories per serving 275, Fat 5g, Carbs 45g, Fiber 5g, Protein 9g]

• 

Ingredients

3-4 cups of cooked pasta of choice

1 medium onion finely chopped

1 medium tomato finely chopped

1-2 green chilies finely chopped

1 tsp finely chopped garlic

1 tsp finely chopped ginger

1 tbsp cumin-coriander powder

½ tbsp chili powder

½ tbsp turmeric powder

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

Salt per taste

1 tsp asafetida

1-2 tbsp of water

1 tbsp olive oil

1-2 tbsp of cilantro finely chopped

1 tsp of italian seasoning

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Method

Place a large pot of salted water over high flame. When it comes to the boil, add pasta. Cook for 8-10 minutes or al dente. Drain and set it aside.

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add cumin and mustard seeds, and allow to splutter. Add finely chillies, chopped onion and saute for 2-3 minutes or until soft and translucent. Add finely chopped tomatoes, garlic, ginger to the onions. Saute for another 2-3 minutes. Add turmeric, cumin-coriander, chili, and garam masala powder. Mix well and saute for couple minutes. Add 1-2 tbsp of water and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Add cooked pasta and Italian seasoning to the mixture and top if off with finely chopped cilantro. Mix well and transfer to serving bowls. Serve hot! This dish pairs well with cheesy garlic bread and salad.

P.S. If you are making it for your child, you can omit the green chilies and cut down the amount of chili powder and garam masala to make it less spicy for the little ones.