The Story of Masala Macaroni

During the era of the ’90s, while I was growing up, masala macaroni was the only pasta my mother used to make. And we (me and my brother) used to love it. Her version of desi macaroni pasta was inspired by Indian Chinese Cuisine, with a truckload of vegetables (probably her way of sneaking veggies into our diet), a few sauces like green chilli and ketchup, spices, and of course, the elbow pasta (macaroni). Even to date, it is one of my favourite pasta dishes. I love anything with macaroni – whether it is creamy macaroni salad or spicy stir fry, I have a soft spot in my heart for macaroni pasta. Over the years in India, masala macaroni has become a widely popular comfort food. It is part of the street food fair and restaurant menu and is commonly made for breakfast or lunch in many households.

Ingredients Required

When it comes to ingredients, this masala macaroni recipe is very flexible. Pasta: As the recipe’s name suggests, elbow pasta or macaroni is a key ingredient. Many versions of masala pasta use penne as well. Vegetables: I like to add onion, green peas, carrots, bell peppers, and cabbage to my masala pasta. Other vegetables like mushrooms, broccoli, baby corn, sweet corn, and zucchini can also be added. Spiciness: The spicy flavour in this masala pasta comes from green chilli, green chilli sauce, black pepper, and my secret tomato chilli sauce. Fresh Herbs: A mix of green or spring onion and coriander gives this pasta the right notes of freshness. Other Ingredients: Refined or Vegetable Oil, Garlic, Salt Optional Ingredients: Grated Cheese, Cream, Red Chili Flakes or Oregano, Fresh Basil

The Secret Sauce

The masala macaroni has a sweet, spicy, garlicky taste with a hint of tomato sourness. And you get it right with my secret sauce. It is an easy blend of – fresh tomatoes, dry red chilli, garlic, ginger, tomato ketchup, and water. Trust me; once you try this secret sauce, you will not need an array of readymade sauces to make the BEST masala macaroni. This secret sauce is easy to make, vegan, gluten-free, and meal-prep-friendly.

Watch Masala Macaroni Video

Storage Suggestion

It is very easy to store pasta dishes. Transfer the leftover masala macaroni to a container with the lid. Store in the refrigerator for 3 – 5 days. As the days pass, the macaroni pasta becomes a bit dry. While reheating, add more of my secret sauce or cream to freshen it up. You can easily reheat this masala macaroni in a microwave or stovetop. Hence it is perfect for lunch boxes, potlucks, or picnic meals.

More Pasta Recipes

Basil Pesto PastaTomato Sauce PastaMakhani Sauce PastaPink Sauce SpaghettiSummer Pasta SaladChicken Pasta SaladCreamy White Sauce Pasta

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