KIDS LUNCH BOX #54 – Masala Pasta + Rice Krispies + Apple
Some kids school lunch box ideas to try…
- Spinach Corn Sandwich + Orange + Almonds & Pistachios
- Masala Rice + Lauki Raita + Broccoli Smileys
- Makhana Paratha + Potato Sagu + Mixed Nuts
- Potato Spinach Pancakes + Sprouted Moong & Corn Salad+ Grapes
- Butternut Squash Pasta + Dry Grapes + Orange
Here is what I packed for school lunch…
LUNCH – Masala Pasta – Here is the Recipe Link for Masala Pasta.
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Instant Pot Masala Pasta
Indian Style Desi Masala Pasta is a delicious ,one-pot pasta loaded with veggies and seasoned with indian spices.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz macaroni pasta (about 2-2.5 cups) or any pasta
- 1 tablespoon ginger and garlic minced
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 green chili finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes (about 1 cup)
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- salt, pepper to taste
- 1.5 cups mixed vegetables(carrot, bell pepper, corn
- 2 tablespoon tomato ketchup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaves (cilantro)
- 2 tablespoon shredded cheese optional
Instructions
Instant Pot Method
- Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add olive oil, and once it’s hot add minced ginger and garlic. Saute for few seconds.
- Then add onions and green chilies, and saute till the onions are soft and translucent.
- Then add finely chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft and mushy. Then add spices like turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, salt and pepper. Give a quick stir.
- Then add mixed veggies and cook for another minute.
- Add some tomato ketchup and give a quick stir.
- Add macaroni pasta, water (or veggie broth), and de-glaze the pot. Make sure there are no brown bits stuck at the bottom.
- Close the lid on the pot, and turn the pressure valve to the SEALING position. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 4 minutes.Let the pressure release naturally for 2-3 minutes, and then quick release the pressure.I used macaroni Pasta in this recipe, which has 8 minutes for cooking on the stovetop. So to cook on Instant Pot – Divide the cooking time by half and minus one for al dente pasta. So it's 3 minutes. For softer pasta, do 4 minutes.
- Then quickly stir the pasta and garnish with cilantro (coriander leaves). You can also add some cheese on top.
- Indian Style Masala Pasta is ready to be served.
Stovetop Method
- Firstly, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add salt to the water and cook the pasta, according to the package instructions. I used Macaroni, but you can use your favorite pasta. Other good pasta options are penne, spaghetti, or even tortellini. Reserve some pasta water for later use.
- Add olive oil, and once it’s hot, add minced ginger and garlic. Saute for a few seconds.
- Then add onions and green chilies, and saute till the onions are soft and translucent.
- Then add finely chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft and mushy. Add spices like turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, salt and pepper. Give a quick stir.
- Then add the mixed vegetables and cook till they are tender. It takes about 1-2 minutes.
- Add some tomato ketchup and give a quick stir. You may also add hot sauce if needed.
- Add cooked pasta, and reserved pasta water, and mix well. Cook for another 1-2 minutes so that the pasta absorbs the flavor. Garnish with cilantro (coriander leaves). You can also add some cheese on top.
- Indian Style Masala Pasta is ready to be served.
Notes
This recipe was created in 6qt Instant Pot DUO60 Multi-use Pressure Cooker.Â
Variations
-
- If you don’t have olive oil, you can also use butter or regular cooking oil.
- You can use any kind of pasta like penne, shell, or rigatoni.
- Try using Whole wheat, Lentils, or Veggie pasta for kids.
- You can also add sweet corn, and broccoli for this pasta.
- You can also use canned crushed tomatoes.
- You can add pav bhaji masala instead of garam masala to give it a twist.
Tips
- You can also add cheese to the Pasta after cooking. Pasta sauce should not be too thick else after mixing pasta, it becomes dry when eaten later.
- The sauce will seem thin when you start to mix in the pasta. Don’t worry; keep tossing. The starches from the pasta will be mixed into the sauce to give a perfect consistency.
Nutrition
Calories: 357kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 13gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 161mgPotassium: 628mgFiber: 8gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 5615IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @indianveggiedelight or #indianveggiedelight
SNACK – Rice Krispies - I used store-bought Rice Krispies.
SNACK – Apple - I have sliced the apple and cut them into a heart shape, and smeared some lime juice so that they dont turn brown when kept for a long time. Always try to use local and seasonal fruits.
Prep Work For The Previous Evening
- You can cut the vegetables for pasta the previous night and refrigerate them.
Notes
- Packed in a stainless steel tiffin box called Lunchbots which is Eco-Friendly, Dishwasher Safe, BPA-Free and is easily available on Amazon. Do not use plastic lunch boxes to your kids, they are toxic.
- You can increase or decrease quantity based on your child’s appetite.
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