Pasta made with Indian masalas, and of course cheese, that delightful ingredient that we Indians just can’t do without. And tomato sauce too. This desi style pasta is mom’s recipe. You can make it spicy if you wish by adding more chilly powder or just keep it medium spicy, and that tastes great too.
It’s a great one dish meal with ice cream for dessert in these hot summer months. You can also eat it with toast, but please, please, do eat your pasta piping hot, because it’s no fun eating cold pasta.
Infact, now that the rains are here, you may wish to sit by the window or outdoors, with a delicious bowl of pasta and a fantastic book to read, or if you like to stay indoors, then you could eat it while watching your favourite television programme.
Here’s the recipe
Desi Style Pasta
Serves 3-4
Ingredients
250 gms shell pasta
3 tablespoons oil + 1 tablespoon oil
100 gms green beans chopped into small pieces
1 medium carrot chopped into small pieces
1 medium potato chopped into small pieces
2 medium tomatoes chopped into small pieces
1 medium capsicum cut into thin strips
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/4 teaspoon chilly powder
salt to taste + a pinch of salt
1/2 cup tomato sauce
Garnish
3/4 cup grated cheese
Method
1 Put a large vessel filled with three quarters water to boil. Add a pinch of salt to the water. Put the pasta into the boiling water. Add a tablespoon of oil and let it cook till the pasta is soft. Drain the water and keep the pasta aside.
2 While the pasta is cooking in boiling water, heat the oil in a large pan. Into the hot oil, add the chopped green beans, carrots, potatoes and tomatoes. Fry for 1 minute. Now add the turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala, chilly powder and salt to taste into the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes. Add 1 cup water, cover and let cook on a slow flame. Keep checking often to see if vegetables are cooked. When the vegetables are almost cooked add the capsicum pieces and cook for 2 more minutes.
3 To the cooked vegetables add the pasta and mix gently. Let cook for 3 minutes, then add tomato sauce and stir gently. Remove from heat, put in a serving bowl and garnish with cheese.
Serve hot.
