Masala Pasta Bake
This is a twist on a classic dish that anyone can easily prepare at home. If you cannot get your hands on ground Kashmiri chili powder, simply combine smoked ground paprika with a little bit of ground cayenne pepper. A quick and easy mid-week meal for all to enjoy as the weather gets cooler.Ingredients
Serves 6
1 × 1 lb (450 g) package fusilli
2 tbsp (30 ml) grapeseed oil, plus extra for greasing baking dish
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
1 tbsp (15 ml) minced ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 × 5.5 oz (156 ml) can tomato paste
1 cup (250 ml) water
1¼ tsp (6 ml) ground cumin
1 tsp (5 ml) ground coriander
½ tsp (2.5 ml) turmeric
2 tsp (10 ml) Kashmiri chili powder
½ tsp (2.5 ml) kosher salt
¼ cup (60 ml) unsalted butter
¼ cup (60 ml) all-purpose flour
2 cups (500 ml) whole milk
1 cup (250 ml) sour cream
1 cup (250 ml) coarsely grated Gouda, plus an extra ½ cup (125 ml) for topping
1 cup (250 ml) coarsely grated cheddar, plus an extra ½ cup (125 ml) for topping
1 cup (250 ml) chopped collard green leaves or kale leaves
2 cups (500 ml) cubed roast chicken
3 tbsp (45 ml) roughly chopped cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook pasta 2 minutes less then package directions indicate for al dente. Drain and set aside. Set pot back on stove without cleaning, for use later in recipe.
- In a large skillet, heat grapeseed oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and sauté another 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant before adding tomato paste, water, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder and salt. Cook until mixture starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place butter in reserved pasta cooking pot and set over medium heat. Once butter has melted, whisk in flour and cook, continuously whisking for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook until sauce starts to thicken, stirring often. Whisk in sour cream before gradually stirring in 1 cup (250 ml) each Gouda and cheddar a handful at a time, letting cheeses melt slightly into mixture before adding next handful. Once incorporated, stir in tomato masala mixture from skillet along with collard greens. Let cook 5 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring often. Fold in pasta and roast chicken. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. (Pasta may be served at this point with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro and an extra sprinkling of cheese, if desired.)
- To bake pasta, preheat oven broiler.
- Lightly grease a 9 × 13-in (3.5 L) ovenproof baking dish. Transfer pasta to baking dish and sprinkle with remaining ½ cup (125 ml) each cheese. Broil until cheese melts, about 3 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro, if desired, and serve immediately.