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masala macaroni pasta served in a bowl with cheese on the side
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5 from 3 votes

Instant Pot Masala Pasta (Indian style Macaroni)

Indian Style Desi Masala Pasta is a delicious ,one-pot pasta loaded with veggies and seasoned with indian spices.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Keyword instant pot masala macaroni, masala macaroni, masala pasta
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Method Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 357kcal
Author Bhavana Patil

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 tablespoons tomato ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons coriander leaves
  • 2 tablespoons 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.
    step to saute onions and garlic collage
  • 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.
    step to cook tomatoes with spices collage
  • Then add mixed veggies and cook for another minute.
  • Add some tomato ketchup and give a quick stir.
    step to cook veggies collage
  • Add macaroni pasta, water (or veggie broth), and de-glaze the pot. Make sure there are no brown bits stuck at the bottom.
    step to add pasta and water and mix collage
  • 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.
    step to add cheese and coriander to masala pasta collage
  • Indian Style Masala Pasta is ready to be served.
    masala pasta in the instant pot with a ladle

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 2-3 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. 

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 add cheese to the pasta after cooking. Make sure the pasta sauce isn't too thick, as it can dry out when mixed with the pasta and eaten later.
  • After the pressure cooking time, the sauce might seem thin when you start mixing in the pasta. Don't worry; just keep tossing. The starches from the pasta will blend into the sauce, giving it the perfect consistency.

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 161mg | Potassium: 628mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 5615IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 2mg