Pasta, the not so new, but still uber popular dish, is fast becoming the go-to meal for every mother, especially those with children who always seem to be yearning for more. But not all variants of this yummy delight are a favourite with the kids. That’s why we reinvented the dish and created this desi version of mac and cheese! It’s time to buckle up and learn this lip-smacking recipe ‘coz your kids will love it.
Ingredients (Serves Four)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- Some mustard seeds
- 8-10 curry leaves (optional)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
- 10-12 pieces of baby corn
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 chopped red bell pepper
- 1 chopped green bell pepper
- 1 chopped yellow bell pepper
- Finely chopped green chilly
- Salt, black pepper, red chilly flakes to taste
- 1 cup elbow pasta
- Soy sauce
- Ketchup
- White vinegar
- Shredded cheese
- Bread crumbs for garnishing
- Butter
Method:
Step 1
Put some water to boil in a vessel. When it comes to a boil, add two spoons of salt, along with elbow pasta or what is commonly known as macaroni, as directed on the packet. Although, not compulsory, but you can add a few drops of olive oil to the boiling water, for an added taste. Cook till al dente, and then strain the remaining water.
Step 2
Heat some oil in a frying pan. Add the mustard seeds and curry leaves (here’s the desi tadka) to the oil. When the mustard seeds start to pop, add the chopped garlic as well. Sauté it till golden brown. It’s now time to add the baby corn in the pan, and let it gain its moisture a minute or two. Now, put in the chopped onions and the bell peppers, one by one and toss the mixture for about two minutes. Add salt, black pepper and the red chilly flakes as per your taste. Pour in three tbsp soy sauce, one tbsp ketchup along with one tbsp of white vinegar and keep tossing the mixture. Now add the al dente macaroni along with some shredded cheddar cheese and mix it well with the veggies. Let the dish cook for another two to three minutes. Make sure the veggies are not too soggy, but a little crisp, to give the dish a great flavour.
Step 3
Preheat the oven at 300°C for about 10 minutes. While that gets done, take a deep tray and spray it with kitchen oil. Put the entire pasta mix in the tray. Sprinkle a generous amount of bread crumbs over the mix and put a few dollops of butter over it. Keep the tray in the oven for about five minutes. Your desi mac and cheese is now ready, with a golden brown crispy topping for that added zest.
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