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.
More Pasta recipes
Red sauce pasta
White sauce pasta
egg pasta
Pasta soup
Vegetable pasta
chicken pasta
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.
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 heavy 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.
Related Recipes
Masala pasta recipe | How to make pasta | Indian style pasta
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 2 cups pasta
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or butter (divided) (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
- 3 cloves garlic chopped finely
- ⅓ teaspoon salt (+ 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 (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 (bell pepper) – chopped
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil.
- When the water begins to boil rapidly, add half teaspoon salt and pasta.
- Cook till al dente on a medium to high flame.
- I suggest referring the instructions on the pack of pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, rinse and chop the veggies.
- Drain off the pasta to a colander when done 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.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Can i boil pasta a day in advance if cooking for a party?
Yes you can. Toss the pasta in little oil and then store it in air tight container in the fridge
My father and I made a meat version of this today (almost like an Italian meat sauce over pasta)–it was really good!
Amazing recipe. Very tasty.
Thank you
Thanks the recipe. Would you have a recipe for a nice crunch salad which would compliment this.
Welcome Kd. I think I am too late.
I don’t have a recipe for crunch salad
I tried it. Awesome.
Glad to know! Thank you
very nice
Thank you
thank you for giving ME a recipe of pasta. This is very useful.
Welcome Pooja
Yummy ? thanks. Added a slice of cheese To make it creamy
Thank you
Prepared masala macroni. The taste was simple and good. Thanks for sharing.
Pasta came out very good.
Glad to know!
Your resipes are to good but you are not sending kids resipes
Hi Ruchi,
Thank you! I have all the kids recipes here
Hi Swasthi,
followed your recipe and made this pasta with the kids for Mother’s day, it came out very well, everyone liked it. Thank you so much!
Welcome Vikram,
Glad to know your family liked it.
Thank you
I tried it out and loved it!!!
Thank you
Tried the masala paste turned out super delicious was a hit with my family pnly issue i have is I can’t seem to print recipe out for future reference.
Hi Nisha,
thanks for the review. It is available always online and you can print too.
It was really tasty and spicy.I couldn’t believe that I made it myself!
Thanks Miinu
Nothing unique and original in the recipe. For example, you could have used bay leaf (tejpatta) and nutmeg (jaiphal) powder & cinnamon ( dalchini not cassia) powder.
Hi Anjana,
Thanks for rating the recipe. All the spices you have mentioned are used in garam masala. So I have not used. But can definitely be used.
I love your recipes so much. whenever I need an assistance I search for you only. Have tried many of your recipes and had come out well too.Thank you very much.
Hi Praseedha,
You are welcome. Thank you! Glad the food turns out good.
Hope you enjoy more recipes from here.
Hello Swasthi,
I am 45 year old lady learning to cook good food. My family loves the food I learn from you. I have tried so many cakes, pastas, rice and paneer recipes. I made masala pasta today. We all liked it. Thank you for the clear photos. Stay blessed!
Hi Mrs.S Deshpande,
Glad to know you. Thanks a lot for the wishes. Very happy to know your family loves the food. Hope you enjoy more recipes from here!
🙂
Hi swasthi, your recipes are too good.when ever I try your recipe they turn out so well.today I made masala pasta,we all loved it, especially my husband because every time I make pasta,he doesn’t like it, but today I searched for Indian style and got yours.thanks a lot.keep going and God bless you.
Hi Rajani,
You are welcome! Glad your pasta turned out good. Thank you so much for the comment!
🙂
My kids gals love this masala pasta with broccoli, potatoes & some feta sprinkled on top. How you do pack this for the kids in the school box? Pasta tossed in the sauce or separately? Do you have a recipe for mac and cheese? Thanks for all the ? recipes.
Hi Reena,
That sounds so delicious. I pack it with the pasta mixed in the sauce. But pour 1 tsp oil over the pasta in each lunch box and then toss lightly to coat the extra oil. My kids say that tastes better and not too dry. I haven’t posted a recipe for mac and cheese yet. Will try to.
🙂
Can you please send me with out rice dosa recipe
Because your all recipes are awesome
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.
Yummy masala pasta ma’am. Made this for our dinner today. Fantastic recipe. ?
Hi Maya,
Thank you so much for trying. Glad your pasta turned out good.