Italian-Indian Fusion Pasta—Dinner for 2
Every couple of months, we take turns hosting dinner parties and this is the dish that always makes an appearance. It’s a fusion of Italian and Indian flavors, and it’s always a hit with everyone.
Meal Type
Dinner
Cuisine
Fusion
Italian
Indian
Servings
2
Food Star
Pasta
Spices
Health
Variations
Diets
Variations
Do This With That Stuff
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
- While the water is boiling, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the diced onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cumin, garam masala, turmeric powder, and chili powder (if using) and cook for 1 minute more, stirring constantly.
- Add the canned diced tomatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, add the dry pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente (tender but still firm). Drain well and set aside.
- Once the sauce is done simmering, add it to the cooked pasta in a large bowl and stir until combined.
- Transfer the pasta mixture into an oven-safe baking dish and bake for 15 minutes or until heated through.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro (optional) before serving warm with your favorite sides!
Variations and Pairings
Beti’s Reflections
I absolutely love getting together with my neighbors, especially when it involves food. Every couple of months, we take turns hosting dinner parties and this is the dish that always makes an appearance. It’s a fusion of Italian and Indian flavors, and it’s always a hit with everyone.
This pasta dish is a perfect balance of spices and tomatoes, with just the right amount of heat. It’s really easy to make, and can be customized to suit any dietary needs. I love that this dish can be made vegan or gluten-free without sacrificing any of the flavors.
To start, we preheat the oven to 350°F and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. While the water is boiling, we heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. We add diced onions and garlic and cook until softened. Then we add the spices – ground cumin, garam masala, turmeric powder, and chili powder (optional) and cook for one more minute, stirring constantly. Next, we add canned diced tomatoes and let everything simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In the meantime, we add the dry pasta to the boiling water and cook it until it’s al dente. Once the pasta is cooked, we drain it and set it aside. Once the sauce is done simmering, we add it to the cooked pasta in a large bowl and stir until combined. We then transfer the pasta mixture to an oven-safe baking dish and bake it for 15 minutes, until it’s heated through.
When it’s time to serve, we garnish with fresh cilantro, which is optional but adds a nice pop of color and flavor. This dish goes well with a light white wine or a crisp lager beer, and we always pair it with a fresh salad and some garlic bread.
This dish has become a staple in our neighborhood dinner parties, and I can see why. It’s flavorful, easy to make, and customizable to suit any dietary needs. If you’re looking for a new pasta recipe to add to your rotation, give this one a try. Your taste buds will thank you!
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