Masala pasta recipe – Indian style flavorful & delicious masala pasta that will be your new favorite! This simple & quick pasta is super easy to make & just needs 25 mins. It is kids’ friendly & can be packed even in lunch box or served as an after school snack. It also makes for a quick dinner for your entire family.
This pasta recipe is made in Indian style using spices & herbs used in Indian cooking. But it is made in onion tomato base just like any other pasta. I have shared the basic masala pasta recipe here along with some tips.
You can tweak the recipe easily to suit your taste buds. This recipe is vegan and however you can also make it with butter for added flavor.
Pasta, sandwiches, noodles & burger are much loved by my kids. This masala pasta is one of their favorite & love to serve them with cheese sandwich or roasted eggs.
Tips to make masala pasta
- I have used penne but you can also use spaghetti or macaroni here.
- Carrots, peas & bell peppers are the veggies I often use. Veggies like sweet corn, baby corn, mushrooms & broccoli also go well.
- I have used organic pasta made with durum wheat. Brown rice pasta, quinoa pasta or any multigrain pasta also goes well for this recipe.
- If making for toddlers, use macaroni or baby pasta as it is easy to handle.
- To make the pasta creamy you can also add in a few tbsps of cream or coconut cream towards the end.
Variations
- Eggs: To use eggs, just move the veggies aside once done. Beat eggs and pour to the pan. Scramble and cook just until done. Then add the pasta. You can also check this egg pasta.
- Chicken: Boil the chicken first and shred. Add it to the pan and saute for 2 to 3 mins with the veggies. I have a different chicken pasta here.
More Pasta recipes
Red sauce pasta
Vegetable pasta
White sauce pasta
Pasta soup
Masala pasta
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
- 2 cups pasta
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or butter (divided) (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon cumin (or jeera)
- 3 cloves garlic chopped finely
- 1/3 teaspoon Salt as needed ½ tsp for boiling pasta
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon garam masala or pav bhaji masala or any other masala powder
- ½ teaspoon kasuri methi or coriander leaves
- 2 tablespoon Cream as needed (optional)
vegetables
- 1 large onion chopped finely
- ¾ to 1 cup tomatoes chopped mashed or pureed (do not use very sour tomatoes)
- 2 carrots chopped or as needed
- ¼ to ½ cup green peas
- ¼ cup capsicum or bell pepper – chopped
How to make the recipe
Preparation for masala pasta
- In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. When the water begins to boil, add half teaspoon salt and pasta.
- Cook till al dente. I suggest referring the instructions on the pack. While the pasta cooks, wash and chop the veggies.
- Drain off to a colander and rinse in cold water. Set aside. Reserve 3 to 4 tablespoons of pasta cooked water.
How to make masala pasta
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan. When the oil turns hot, add cumin.
- When they begin to splutter, then add finely chopped garlic.
- Fry till it begins to smell good for a minute or two.
- Add onions and fry until they turn pink.
- Then add chopped veggies and fry for about 2 minutes.
- Next mash the tomatoes well and add it to the pan along with salt.
- Cook until the tomatoes turn soft and blend well with veggies. The raw smell of tomatoes should disappear.
- Add kasuri methi, red chili powder and masala powder.
- Stir well and fry for a minute. Switch off the stove. If using cream add now and stir.
- Add cooked pasta and 1 tablespoon oil. Toss well. Adjust salt as needed. Add coriander leaves. If the pasta looks dry, then pour 1 to 2 tablespoons pasta cooked water.
- Serve masala pasta hot.
NUTRITION
Masala pasta recipe originally published in May 2013. Updated the post with more tips in May 2019.
Preparation
1.Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a large pot. When the water begins to boil, add salt and pasta.
2.Cook the pasta al dente on a medium flame. It should be soft yet cooked but not chewy. Refer the package for exact cook time as each brand has a different cook time.
Once done drain the pasta to a colander. You can also save 3 to 4 tbsps pasta cooked water. You can use this towards the end to bring the pasta to consistency.
Making masala for pasta
3. Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin. When it begins to sizzle, add garlic. Fry the garlic for a minute or 2.
4. Add onions and fry until they turn golden.
5. Add the chopped vegetable and fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Add mashed tomatoes along with salt. Fry until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy. You can also puree the tomatoes and use. Most times I do puree them as my boys are super fussy with the skin of tomatoes.
7. When raw smell of tomatoes disappear, add kasuri methi, masala powder and red chili powder.
8. Fry for one to 2 minutes till the raw flavor of chilli powder goes away. If using cream add it now.
How to make masala pasta
9. Add cooked pasta.
10. Toss well and add coriander leaves. If it is too dry you can add little oil or pasta cooked water. Mix well and check salt. Add more if needed.
Indian style pasta aka masala pasta is ready to serve.
Sarojini Subbanan says
Can you please send me with out rice dosa recipe
Because your all recipes are awesome
swasthi says
Hi Sarojini,
Thank you. Dosa without rice can be made with so many other ingredients like just millets, just dal or with multigrain alone. What are you exactly looking for? I can give you the recipe.
Sarojini Subbanan says
I like your recipe
Maya says
Yummy masala pasta ma’am. Made this for our dinner today. Fantastic recipe. 💗
swasthi says
Hi Maya,
Thank you so much for trying. Glad your pasta turned out good.
Sajitha says
I tried your easy recipe & it was yummy. Thanks for this recipe.
I tried it with little variation like I added paneer in place of peas.
swasthi says
Hi Sajitha,
You are welcome. Glad your pasta turned out good.
🙂
ACHUBIBIN says
Good and thank u for ur recipe ……
swasthi says
Welcome
Rasmi says
Hi Swasthi. I’ve made this dish last week. It was yummy. I left out the cream and added mushrooms. Thanks so much.
swasthi says
Welcome Rasmi
Thanks for trying so many recipes from the blog.
🙂
kaleem says
Good recipe
I liked this .
I make this next time
Because my children’s are so like pasta ant noodles
swasthi says
Thank you
Twinkle says
Hi rashmi! I made this recipe..It was very nice! 👌🏻
swasthi says
Thank you so much for trying
Archana Rajesh says
I wanted to try a different pasta for a change and this recipe is great. I made it today it tastes very good. Our family loved it. Thanks for the recipe Swasthi.
swasthi says
Welcome Archana Rajesh
Glad to know you liked it.
Thanks for the comment
🙂
jannat says
Woo its looking very tasty.
swasthi says
Thank you
Revathy says
Wow. I tried it and it came very well. Thank for the wonderful recipe.
swasthi says
Welcome Revathy
Selena says
Its awesome. I really liked the way you explained…it will really help everyone
swasthi says
Thanks Selena
Avanthikaa eswari says
I was really awesome.thanks a lot
swasthi says
Welcome Avanthika
Thanks for trying
Aresha says
The way u have explained to cook by step by step make very easier and now cooking is fun.. Thanks
swasthi says
Welcome Aresha
Glad to know the recipes are useful
Viswanatha Reddy Inja says
Hi Guys,
You people are awesome,you know what ,this is the page where my search ends for delicious dishes. You guys are amazing. Thanks for the wonderful dishes recipes .
Regards,
Viswa
swasthi says
Welcome Reddy garu,
Thanks a lot for the comment.
Archana says
This recipe is superb. Very healthy.
Santosh jagtap says
I is awesome
Megha kaushik says
Very nice recipe, thanks.
preeth doctor says
Yes
durva says
it was realy hepful to me as for my brochure making project
swasthi says
Hi Durva
🙂
Happy to know it was useful
Tina says
Yammi……!!
Such a mouth watering………. Before try, & m sure that it’ll be great to have more than before try…
swasthi says
Thanks Tina
Glad to know you liked it
vamsi says
how to make it a egg based pasta
swasthi says
Hi Vamsi
You can add eggs after step 7. Move the vegetable masala to one side of the pan and pour beaten eggs and cook. Keep stirring and cook until the egg is soft set and just cooked. Do not overcook as it hardens the eggs. Then add pasta.
You can also follow this simple spaghetti recipe. Just add beaten eggs after step 6. You can add more red chilli flakes & even pepper for heat.