Macaroni Upma / Macaroni Stir Fry

PreparationTime : 10 Minutes
Cooking Time: 5 Minutes
Servings : 2

Ingredients :

Pasta - 1.5 cups
Onion - - Finely chopped - 1 small

Tomato- Finely chopped - 1 small

Coriander leaves - Finely chopped - 1 tablespoon

Mustard - 1 teaspoon

Urad dal - 1 teaspoon

Hing / Asafoedita - a pinch

Red Chilli Powder - a pinch

Salt - to taste

Oil - 1 tablespoon

Water - 21/2 cups

Method :

Boil Pasta in 2.5 cups water until soft. Strain and keep it aside. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard let  it splutter, then add urad dal fry until golden brown, now add onions and tomatoes, saute for a minute, add red chilli powder, and saute them again for two minitues. Add Salt, asafoedita, and cooked pasta.Cook on low flame for few minutes.Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Tomato Basil Pasta

Preparation Time :10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Servings : 2

Ingredients:

Pasta - 400gms
Tomato- 1 Medium - Chopped
Basil - 1/2 cup - chopped
Garlic - 3 cloves - chopped
Corn Flour - 1 tablespoon
Milk - 1/2 cup
Margarine / Oil- 3 tbsp
Salt to taste

Method:

Cook pasta with little salt in a pan of boiling water until soft. Drain the water and toss pasta with one tbsp of oil and keep it aside. Heat margarine in a pan, saute tomatoes. garlic and basil until cooked, mix one tablespoon of corn flour with 3 tablespoons of water, stir the cornflour mix along with half cup of milk to the tomato basil mixture, stir for few seconds then add cooked pasta,salt, and drizzle some pepper. Serve Hot :)

Tip : There cornflour paste should be smooth, otherwise the texture will not come properly. you can add red chilli powder instead of pepper to spice up more !!

This dish goes to Any one can cook event hosted by Umm of Taste of Pearl City and  to Kids Lunch Box Treat by Taste Buds

Mint Pasta Salad

Preparation Time :10 minutes

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Servings : 2

Ingredients:

Pasta - 400gms

Mint leaves -1/4 cup

Coriander leaves - 1/4 cup

Green chillies - 1 or 2

Garlic - 5 Cloves or more

Fresh Cream - 3 tablespoons

Butter - 2 tablespoons

Salt to taste

Method:

Cook pasta with little salt in a pan of boiling water until soft. 

Drain the water and toss pasta with one tbsp of oil and keep it aside.

Grind together mint leaves,coriander leaves. garlic and green chilli.

Now heat a pan, add butter,saute the mint paste, for 5 minutes on low flame.Add salt and cooked pasta and toss it gently, add cream and give it a stir. Let it cool, refrigirate for an hour and serve cold !!

Simply Spaghetti

Preparation Time :15 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Servings : 2

Ingredients:

Spaghetti - 400gms
Onion- 1 Medium - chopped long and thin
Mixed Veggies - 1/2 cup
( I used Frozen veggies)
Coriander Powder - 1 teaspoon
Cumin Powder - 1 teaspoon
Pepper - 1 teaspoon or as per your taste
Butter / Margarine- 3 tbsp
Salt to taste

Method:

Cook spaghetti with little salt in a pan of boiling water until soft. Drain the water and toss spaghetti with one tbsp of oil and keep it aside.Now heat a pan, add 3 tbsp of margarine,saute onion and the vegetables for 3 minutes on medium flame along with coriander and cumin powder.Add cooked spaghetti, salt and pepper.Toss it gently so that the veggies mixes well. Serve hot !!

Tip : I used margarine as its low in fat, you can use actual butter if you are carefree :)