Penne Pasta in Indian Style | Masala Pasta

This vegetable penne pasta recipe is a hearty and delicious Italian dish in desi and Indian style. This is an Indo-Italian fusion food in which penne pasta is coated with Indian spices and tomato sauce. This is perfect for breakfast, starter, snack, brunch or for as a full meal. You can also pack this for kid’s lunchbox. This is an indulgent pasta dish that is quick and easy to make.

This tube-shaped penne pasta is not only easy-to-cook, but also soaks all the flavours and masalas really well. Here I have given it an Indian touch with basic masalas. It doesn’t require any pasta masala or sauce. While pastas are available in different shapes and sizes like penne, macaroni, farfalle, rotini or spaghetti, you can also cook in different ways to create some lip-smacking dishes. You can add your choice of vegetables in pasta to make it healthier and nutritious. It can be prepared with veggies like carrots, beans, peas, broccoli, cabbage or corn. You can use whole wheat penne pasta.

You can top it with some grated cheese and fresh herbs to give more yummy taste. Serve it during breakfast, snack or as a full meal.

Course:  Snacks
Cuisine:  Indian
Prep Time:  10 minutes
Cook Time:  20 minutes
Servings: 3

Ingredients:

2 cup penne pasta
2 tbsp oil
1 medium size onion, finely chopped
2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
2 green chili
¼ tsp turmeric (haldi)
½ tsp red chilli powder
½ tsp. black pepper powder
1 tbsp tomato sauce
Salt to taste
¼ capsicum, finely chopped
¼ carrot, finely chopped or grated
½ cup cabbage, finely chopped

Instructions:

In a pan, boil enough water along with ½ tsp. salt. When water comes to boil, add pasta.

Boil for 10 minutes or till pasta becomes soft. Keep stirring so that pasta will not stick at the bottom.
Once the pasta has done, drain off the water and keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan or kadhai. Add chopped onion and green chilli. Saute till the onions become translucent.

Then add chopped tomatoes, stir till the tomatoes become soft and mushy. Add turmeric powder and red chilli powder. Saute for a second.

Add all chopped veggies and salt.

Mix very well and cover with lid. Cook for 1 minute on low medium heat, till they are almost cooked.
Add tomato sauce, black pepper powder and pasta. Mix well and stir fry for a minute till the sauce has coated the pasta well.

Your Indian style pasta is ready. Serve hot.

Tips:

• Here I have used pasta made with durum wheat. You can use whole wheat or any other type of penne pasta.
• You can add your choice of vegetables in pasta to make it healthier and nutritious.
• You can add any other spices like coriander powder or garam masala.
• You can add herbs and cheese.
• If you are making for kids, skip green chillies.