This vagaherla pasta recipe is a delicious childhood favorite of mine. It is a perfect Indian breakfast for a Sunday morning. Cooked pasta is tossed with flavors of bataka pauva and topped with raw chopped onions, cilantro and lemon juice. Pair this pasta with potatoes recipe with a cup of hot chai or milk coffee! Want more comforting Indian food? Give my World’s Easiest and Best Butter Chicken Masala or Easy Paneer Butter Masala Recipe a try. Pasta with Potatoes aka Pasta e Patate This is a variation of a popular Indian Dish known as Bataka Pauva or Pauva Bataka (can be said either way). Poha is flattened rice, which is used in various different recipes. Bataka Pauva being a popular one. As a kid my family called this recipe Macaroni Bataka, Vaghareli Macaroni, or Indian Style Macaroni.
Childhood Favorite
Growing up my aunt made this Indian style macaroni, pasta e patate, recipe often which is where I first learned about it. I was about 6 years old and she made the recipe for my cousins and I. At first, I was confused but then the chewy texture of pasta won me over with the extra spice. Whether your little one likes spicy foods or not, this dish is a great Indian Italian fusion dish!
Love Fusion Recipes?
You must give these a try!
Gluten Free Pasta for Indian Recipes
There are plenty of other variation of pastas out there, but if you really do not want to use regular durum wheat semolina pasta, then try brown rice pasta. It is my go-to variation and has always done well in this dish.
How to make traditional Pauva Bataka
Want to go traditional and not make pasta with potatoes? No problem! Substitute equal parts thick poha instead of pasta. Be sure to wash the thick poha well. Set it aside while the potatoes and spices cook. You can purchase poha here.
Ingredients
poha or pastapotatoes, skinned and peeledcilantroturmericpeanutscumin seedsonionsgingergarliclemon juicecurry leavessugarred chili powder green chilies cashewssesame seedsgolden raisinscurry leaves
Method
Cook the pasta in salted water with oil (in this recipe I recommend using oil when boiling pasta)In a wide pan saute cumin seeds, curry leaves, hing, green chili peppers, and potatoes. Cook until the potatoes are cooked.Add the pasta to the panMix and add the crushed peanuts, turmeric, chili powder, garlic, ginger, salt, sugar, and other spices.Mix and cook on low heat while covered.Serve hot with raw onions on top, fresh cilantro leaves and stems, and squeeze of lemon juice.