Bottle Masala Mac n Cheese (one pot recipe)

This east Indian inspired Mac n cheese is spicy, packed with flavor and delicious! A simple but comforting meal to serve a family with my crunchy topping and boiled eggs. It is cheesy, gooey and very yummy in under 30 mins!

I have a confession to make. I have been sitting on this blog since a few years. The recipe was done during Diwali for Barilla pasta and since then I have not gotten around to posting the recipe on the blog. And every time I make this Mac n cheese at home I remember I need to post it. So here I am, deliciously late but none the less I am here. This Mac n cheese is a ode to my childhood. I grew up eating this in my friend’s house and they made it a little differently but the flavors were very similar.

Don’t get me wrong I love me a good Mac n cheese that is simple, classic, creamy and indulgent. However this one is an absolute winner! I cannot begin to explain how much I love this version. The addition of the crumbly topping, boiled eggs and chopped parley makes it feel more fancy and wholesome as a meal but honestly we enjoy it without all of those components. Now the most important part of this conversation is that we need bottle masala and I don’t know how many of you know what that is, so let us get to understanding this recipe.

What is Mac n cheese? What is Mac n cheese made of?

Mac n cheese is also known as macaroni and cheese. It is a pasta dish that is usually macaroni pasta made is a cheese sauce. Even though it is popular in America, it traces back to casseroles from the 14th century in Italy, rightfully so considering they created pasta. The recipe since then has developed and today you can buy ready to eat Mac n cheese in boxes from supermarkets. The sauce is more like a white sauce with cheese and milk. It can be eaten directly from the stove top or it can be baked in a casserole until the top is golden and inside is gooey.

What is bottle masala?

I must briefly talk about what is Bottle Masala, it is an East Indian Masala that is made up of almost 50 spices and ingredients. You can find it at speciality Indian stores. The flavor is similar to that of curry powder and garam masala and chili. It is unique spice blend that is used in many curries, stews, meats and an assortment of recipes.

What is bottle masala Mac n cheese?

Bottle masala Mac and cheese is essentially all the flavors and textures of Mac and cheese but with bottle masala. It is creamy, rich and cheesy but packed with spicy and earthy bottle masala powder. The Mac and cheese is topped with a savory crunchy crumble topping that is the perfect addition to the cheese sauce.

What is the best cheese for Mac n cheese?

This depends on the type of Mac and cheese you want to make but my go to cheese is mature yellow cheddar and mozzarellas. You can add gouda, gruyere, parmesan, monterey jack, brie or even fontina. I have used mature yellow cheddar to make this bottle masala Mac n cheese for the flavor and the color but also for its melting factor.

What ingredients do you need to make bottle masala Mac n cheese?

To make this bottle masala Mac n cheese we need macaroni (I have used elbow macaroni), butter, olive oil, onion, garlic, corn & green peas (I used frozen), milk, water, salt, bottle masala, pepper powder, cheddar cheese and boiled eggs. For the topping we need brown butter, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, chili flakes. I have garnished it with freshly chopped parsley.

Don’t have bottle masala? Make a quick version at home!

If you don’t have any you can use a mixture of 1 tbsp Kashmiri chili, 2 bay leaf, 1 tbsp paprika powder, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp sesame seeds, 2 tsp cinnamon powder, 1 tsp cloves, 2 pc green cardamon powder, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1 tbsp garam masala, 2 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp coriander, 2 tsp black pepper – blended into a powder.

What equipment do you need to make this bottle masala Mac n cheese?

To make the pasta we need a heavy bottom sauce pot. I have also use a wooden spoon to stir it together. I have used a small sauce pot to boil the eggs and used the same pot to make the crumble topping. A grater for the cheese unless you are using pre shredded cheese. I like using the oven for the top to get it bubbly and golden for which you would need a casserole oven proof dish.

How to make bottle masala Mac n cheese?

Sauté the onions and garlic in olive oil and butter. Add the corn and peas. Add the water, milk and elbow pasta. Add the bottle masala and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Once the pasta is cooked add the cheese off the heat and transfer to a baking dish. To make the topping, brown the butter add the chili flakes. Toast the bread crumbs and take off the heat. Add the cheese. Sprinkle the topping over the pasta dish and bake in a preheated oven at 180 Deg C for 5-8 minutes or until the top is colored. Add the boiled eggs on top once done, garnish with freshly chopped parsley.

Serving bottle masala Mac n cheese?

The best way to serve this Mac and cheese is immediately while still hot for the best texture and flavor. I like serving with boiled eggs, freshly chopped parsley, and the crumble topping. It is a deliciously crunchy addition to the creamy cheesy pasta.

Storing bottle masala Mac n cheese?

The leftovers can be stored in air tight container in the fridge for a couple of days. The crumble topping with not stay crunchy once you refrigerate it hence you can sprinkle the topping over the portion you will be eating/serving. Store the crumble in a zip lock bag and it keeps at room temperature for up to 3 days. The Mac n cheese can get a bit dry and clumpy as it is refrigerated but once you microwave it, the pasta should get a little saucy. I would also suggest making this and eating it immediately.

Looking for more pasta recipes?

Now that we have covered how to make this bottle masala Mac n cheese recipe, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on pinterest & instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.

Bottle Masala Mac n Cheese (one pot recipe)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Servings 6 people

Equipment

Large stock pot (heavy bottom)
Baking dish
Wooden spoon
Grater (for cheese)
Small sauce pot (to boil eggs & to make topping)
Casserole dish

Ingredients

500 gm Elbow Pasta
4 tbsp Butter
4 tbsp Olive oil
2 Onions diced
4 Garlic cloves minced
1/4 cup Corn
1/4 cup Peas
1 tbsp Bottle masala powder
1 1/2 cup Water
1 liter Milk
1 cup Cheddar cheese grated
Salt & Pepper to taste
4 Eggs boiled

Topping:

1 tbsp Browned butter
1 tsp Chili flakes
1/2 cup Bread crumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

To make the topping, brown the butter add the chili flakes. Toast the bread crumbs and take off the heat. Add the cheese once slightly cooled, set aside.
In a heavy bottom sauce pot on medium heat sauté the onions and garlic in olive oil and butter for a couple of minutes until soft.
Add the corn and peas, stir.
Add the water, milk and elbow pasta, stir well.
Add the bottle masala and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat and allow the pasta to cook. Around 10-12 minutes or until al dente.
Once the pasta is cooked add the cheese off the heat and transfer to a baking dish.
Sprinkle the topping over the pasta and bake in a preheated oven at 180℃ for 5-8 minutes or until the top is colored.
Add the boiled eggs on top once done, garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve hot.

Notes

Homemade bottle masala powder recipe is a combination of: 1 tbsp Kashmiri chili, 2 bay leaf, 1 tbsp paprika powder, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp sesame seeds, 2 tsp cinnamon powder, 1 tsp cloves, 2 pc green cardamon powder, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1 tbsp garam masala, 2 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp coriander, 2 tsp black pepper - blended into a powder.
Baking the Mac and cheese is optional but I love the golden color you get from the broiler.

Annika Eats

Hi Ninja!

Bottle Masala Mac n Cheese (one pot recipe)