• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact
    • Press

Honey, Whats Cooking logo

November 19, 2019 17 Comments

Masala Mac and Cheese (no cream, no half and half, gluten-free option)

Jump to Recipe

Masala Mac and Cheese with step by step pictures. Gooey, creamy, and delicious Masala Mac and Cheese with an Indian twist. This Indian Mac and Cheese is made with no cream, no half and half.
Masala Mac and Cheese (no cream, no half and half, gluten free option)

I’ve been dreaming about making a Masala Mac and Cheese for so long now, and I had to deliver yet another mac and cheese recipe before Thanksgiving. This Masala Mac and Cheese can also go by Indian Mac and Cheese, Desi Mac and Cheese, or Tikka Masala Mac and Cheese.
Masala Mac and Cheese (no cream, no half and half, gluten free option)

What is Masala?

Masala is a mixture of ginger, garlic, onions, and tomatoes sauteed with Indian spices. So in this mac and cheese, we first make the masala and then make a roux (with butter and flour) to help thicken the sauce. We then add the milk slowly followed by lots of cheese. Now we have our masala sauce ready.

Once the sauce is ready, add the macaroni or shells pasta to the creamy sauce. Finish it off with toppings and finally by broiling it in the oven. So creamy and delicious.
Masala Mac and Cheese (no cream, no half and half, gluten free option)

Even my picky eater husband who can’t handle any spice went back for seconds and thirds. The next day he woke up at 7 am on a Saturday and had the leftovers for breakfast. It’s seriously that good.

Make this as a side dish this Thanksgiving, or you can also make my Crunchy Tortilla Salsa Mac and Cheese or Black Bean Enchilada Pasta.
Masala Mac and Cheese (no cream, no half and half, gluten free option)

masala mac and cheese is:

Creamy
Delicious
Indian Fusion
Vegetarian
Made with NO CREAM, NO HALF AND HALF
Gluten-Free option (use gf pasta and gf bread crumbs)
Whole Wheat option (use ww pasta and ww bread crumbs)
Perfect Thanksgiving Side

how to make masala mac and cheese recipe step by step?

Prep

1. Fill a large pot with water and heat up. This is for the pasta.
2. Chop the ginger, garlic, green chilies, and onion.
3. Chop the red and green bell peppers.

Make the Sauce

1. Heat up a dutch castiron on medium heat, once hot, add oil followed by the ginger, garlic, and green chilies. Saute for about 30 seconds.
2. Add onions and saute for 3 minutes.
3. Now add the red and green bell peppers. Season with salt. Stir well. Saute for about 4-5 minutes.

4. In the meantime, using a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder grind your spices – cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom and fennel seeds.
5. This is what you should have.
6. Add the grinded spices, along with turmeric, coriander powder, and red chili powder. Cook for about 1 minute.
7. Add the tomato paste.

8. Saute for about 3 minutes.
9. Now add 2 tbsp of butter.
10. Once the butter melts, add the flour.
11. Cook the flour and butter for about 2 minutes to form a roux. This will help thicken the sauce.

12. Now, SLOWLY pour the milk little by little. Do not add all the cold milk at once else your sauce will curdle.
13. Note how the sauce is getting thick. Reduce heat to very low.
14. In the meantime, season the boiling hot water with salt and cook the shells until al dente. 
15. Here is your sauce. Make sure your heat is very low. Let the sauce heat up on very low heat for about 5 minutes.

16. While the sauce heats up (not boil), grate the cheese. I used Gruyere and White Cheddar.
17. Add the cheese little by little to the sauce. Do not add the cold cheese at once to the hot sauce. Make sure your heat is very low.
18. Cook the sauce for a few minutes until nice and hot. Sauce is ready.
19. Drain the pasta.

Assemble the Mac & Cheese

1. Add the pasta to the cheese sauce.
2. Transfer the pasta to a baking dish or a 12″ castiron skillet. Alternatively, you may enjoy mac and cheese without baking this dish.
3. Top with 1 cup of cheese – equal parts of Gruyere and White Cheddar.
4. Also top with plain bread crumbs and sliced serrano chilies for garnish.

5. Broil for 10 minutes. Start watching it closely after 5 minutes.
6. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves. Serve hot!

Enjoy!


Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Masala Mac and Cheese (no cream, no half and half, gluten-free option)

Gooey, creamy, and delicious Masala Mac and Cheese with an Indian twist. This Indian Mac and Cheese is made with no cream, no half and half.
4.95 from 20 votes
Prep Time25 mins
Cook Time35 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course Main Course, Sides
Cuisine American, Indian-Inspired
Diet Vegetarian, Lightened Up, Whole-Wheat option, Gluten-Free option
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 799kcal

Ingredients

Pasta

  • pot of boiling hot water, season well with salt
  • 1 pound medium shells pasta whole wheat or gluten-free will work

Make the Sauce

  • 1 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 serrano chili, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 inch piece ginger, finely chopped
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1/2 medium green bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1/2 inch piece cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
  • 2 cardamom pods
  • 4 peppercorns
  • 1 clove
  • 2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp red chili powder cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp white flour
  • 2 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup Gruyere cheese, grated for sauce
  • 1 cup mild cheddar cheese, grated for sauce

Topping & Garnish

  • 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese, grated
  • 1/2 cup mild cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1-2 tbsp plain bread crumbs, or panko
  • sliced serrano chilies
  • small handful fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Instructions

Prep

  • Fill a large pot with water and heat up. This is for the pasta.
  • Chop the ginger, garlic, green chilies, and onion.
  • Chop the red and green bell peppers.

Make the Sauce

  • Heat up a dutch castiron on medium heat, once hot, add oil followed by the ginger, garlic and green chilies. Saute for about 30 seconds.
  • Add onions and saute for 3 minutes.
  • Now add the red and green bell peppers. Season with salt. Stir well. Saute for about 4-5 minutes.
  • In the meantime, using a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder grind your spices - cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom and fennel seeds.
  • This is what you should have.
  • Add the grinded spices, along with turmeric, coriander powder, and red chili powder. Cook for about 1 minute.
  • Add the tomato paste.
  • Saute for about 3 minutes.
  • Now add 2 tbsp of butter.
  • Once the butter melts, add the flour.
  • Cook the flour and butter for about 2 minutes to form a roux. This will help thicken the sauce.
  • Now, SLOWLY pour the milk little by little. Do not add all the cold milk at once else your sauce will curdle.
  • Note how the sauce is getting thick. Reduce heat to very low.
  • In the meantime, season the boiling hot water with salt and cook the shells until al dente.
  • Here is your sauce. Make sure your heat is on very low. Let the sauce heat up on very low heat for about 5 minutes.
  • While the sauce heats up (not boil) grate the cheese. I used Gruyere and White Cheddar.
  • Add the cheese little by little to the sauce. Do not add the cold cheese at once to the hot sauce. Make sure your heat is very low.
  • Cook the sauce for a few minutes until nice and hot. Sauce is ready.
  • Drain the pasta.

Assemble the Mac & Cheese

  • Add the pasta to the cheese sauce.
  • Transfer the pasta to a baking dish or a castiron skillet. Alternatively, you may enjoy mac and cheese without baking this dish.
  • Top with 1 cup of cheese - equal parts of Gruyere and White Cheddar.
  • Also top with plain bread crumbs and sliced serrano chilies for garnish.
  • Broil for 10 minutes. Start watching it closely after 5 minutes.
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves. Serve hot!

Notes

  • for gluten-free, choose a gluten-free shell pasta and GF bread crumbs.
  • for whole wheat option, choose a whole wheat shell pasta and WW bread crumbs.

Nutrition

Calories: 799kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 527mg | Potassium: 473mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1842IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 812mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @honeywhatscooking or tag #honeywhatscooking!

Recipes You Will Love:

Kale Cranberry Curry Wild Rice (healthy, gluten-free, dairy-free) Baked Ziti with Spinach (vegetarian, vegan option, gluten-free option) Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese (vegetarian, gluten-free option) Tandoori Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms (vegetarian, gluten-free option)

Filed Under: American, Christmas, Diwali, Fall, Gluten-Free, Indian, Main Course, Pasta & Noodles, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian, Winter Tagged With: Recipes

Previous Post: « Tomato Basil Soup (vegan option, paleo option, gluten-free)
Next Post: Chatpate Rosemary Roasted Potatoes (vegan, gluten-free) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amrit says

    November 21, 2019 at 10:52 pm

    5 stars
    Wow this was a huge hit when I made it for a potluck I hosted. Everyone just loved it. Will now have to make it again for Thanksgiving too!

    Reply
  2. Ashima says

    November 23, 2019 at 8:42 am

    5 stars
    Best Mac and cheese ever!! I actually made mine vegan and my husband and mother in law couldn’t tell the difference!

    Reply
  3. Aparna says

    November 23, 2019 at 9:43 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe! Simple instructions and delicious result

    Reply
  4. Nirali Pathak says

    December 6, 2019 at 5:52 pm

    5 stars
    I love Nisha’s recipes! I made Chicken Tikka Masala using the same recipe for the gravy. Except substituted pasta with chicken. It was delish! Thanks girl!

    Reply
    • honeywhatscooking says

      December 8, 2019 at 4:12 am

      Thanks so much Nirali. Such a great idea. xoxo

      Reply
  5. sruthi says

    December 11, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    5 stars
    First time cooking Mac and cheese, turned out amazing. recipe is easy to follow along 🙂

    Reply
  6. Aasheekaa says

    December 27, 2019 at 11:46 am

    5 stars
    Another winner from you Nisha – this recipe was the star of our vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner. We all enjoyed it and the dash of masala was perfect for our Indian family. Thank you!

    Reply
    • honeywhatscooking says

      December 31, 2019 at 2:26 am

      Thanks so much Aasheeka. So glad you enjoyed this dish. Really appreciate your sweet comment. xoxo

      Reply
  7. Ghata Vyas says

    April 9, 2020 at 2:40 pm

    5 stars
    Made this for lunch yesterday. So delish!!! Hubby and I devoured it! I put tad too many jalapeños so def had a kick ;).

    Reply
  8. Preeti says

    May 8, 2020 at 4:42 pm

    5 stars
    Best recipe ever!! My husband and in-laws absolutely loved this dish. I added some chicken to it and it really hit the spot. Thanks so much for this amazing recipe

    Reply
  9. Mayuri says

    November 26, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is so easy to make. Made this for Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit! Everyone liked how light and creamy it was. MIL asked if it could become a staple! Haha!

    Reply
    • honeywhatscooking says

      November 27, 2020 at 3:52 am

      Awww.. that’s so awesome! So glad your MIL approved – that’s always a tough one. xoxo

      Reply
  10. Gurpreet Aujla says

    November 27, 2020 at 10:36 am

    5 stars
    Perfect sidedisb for Thanksgiving everybody loved it and so easy to make😋 Thank you so much for always sharing yummy recipes☺️

    Reply
  11. Navya says

    December 4, 2020 at 11:05 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is a bomb. We just loved it . My husband is not a great fan of Mac n cheese but he had 3 rounds of this. I am going to make it again . Thank you for the recipe! And all the best for your delivery😊

    Reply
  12. HK says

    December 9, 2020 at 1:34 am

    5 stars
    This one was a winner!! I substituted some of the ingredients with vegan alternatives and the dish still tasted AMAZING!!

    Thank you for the recepie and your blog in general! ❤️

    Reply
  13. Aparajita says

    July 25, 2021 at 2:48 pm

    5 stars
    SO SO YUMMY! The best twist on traditional mac and cheese that in my opinion, is pretty bland. But this is so flavorful and delicious!! A family favorite. Thank you for this recipe Nisha!

    Reply
  14. Aparajita says

    July 25, 2021 at 9:15 pm

    5 stars
    SO SO YUMMY! Way better than traditional mac and cheese which, in my opinion is pretty bland. This is so flavorful and creamy and my family and I love it. Thank you for this wonderful recipe Nisha!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar





Subscribe

Don't miss a single post!

Trending

  • Mexican Pizza Taco Bell (vegetarian)
  • Bombay Grilled Sandwich (vegetarian, vegan option...
  • Indian Afternoon Tea
  • Gajar Ka Halwa | Indian Carrot Pudding (gluten-fre...
  • World’s BEST Spaghetti RAO’s Homemade Marina...
  • Green Moong Dal Khichdi (healthy, gluten-free, veg...
  • Almond Cardamom Tea Almond Cardamom Cake
  • Tea Party Sandwiches (cucumber chutney, veggie cre...

Footer

About Me

A foodie who is passionate about living a healthy-ish lifestyle, cooking, and traveling. You'll find a mix of everything here and lots of seasonal content. I moved from Jersey City leaving behind my family & friends to beautiful Southern California for love. I'm adjusting to the laid-back SoCal lifestyle and learning a lot about myself along the way. Come join me on a soul searching journey and I'll tell YOU "what's cooking" through my love for food, fashion, and travel.

Toss noodles with Manchurian sauce and you've got Toss noodles with Manchurian sauce and you've got the most delicious sweet & spicy MANCHURIAN NOODLES. This dish comes together in just 20 minutes and it's loaded with veggies - onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, baby corn, and scallions. For this recipe, I used my favorite 3-ingredient ramen noodles. ⁠
⁠
✔️ Vegan / Gluten-free option / Quick & Easy⁠
⁠
➡️ Recipe on the blog. Link in bio!⁠
⁠
#manchuriannoodles #noodles #indochinese #indochinesefood #vegannoodles⁠
MANGO 🥭 CHICKPEA KACHUMBER SALAD is delicious, MANGO 🥭 CHICKPEA KACHUMBER SALAD is delicious, refreshing, and healthy. This is a spin on the traditional Kachumber Salad with the addition of mango and chickpeas. This salad is sweet, spicy, tangy, and good for you!⁠
⁠
✔️ Healthy / Vegan / Gluten-free / Nutritious⁠
⁠
✔️ Recipe on the blog. Link in bio!⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#indiansalad #kachumbersalad #summerrecipes #indiansalsa #healthyrecipe #vegansalad⁠
⁠
PANEER TIKKA QUESADILLAS are mouthwatering! Here's PANEER TIKKA QUESADILLAS are mouthwatering! Here's an Indo-Fusion dish you will love! I made a delicious marinade for the paneer and sauteed it along with the veggies. Assemble your whole wheat quesadillas and cook until the cheese has melted. The best part about this dish is my "special taco sauce" which complements these quesadillas perfectly. ⁠
⁠
✔️ Vegetarian / Nutritious / Whole Wheat / Gluten-free option / Easy to make⁠
⁠
➡️ Recipe on the blog. Link in bio!⁠
⁠
✅ Follow @honeywhatscooking for more recipes!⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#paneerrecipes #quesadillas #paneertikka #paneer #mexicaninspired #paneertikkaquesadillas #indianfusion #indianfusionrecipes #indianfood #streetfood #castironcooking
Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms who show up s Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms who show up selflessly every single day. Also, a happy mothers day to all of you who want to be moms. ❤️  This is the most challenging role of my life, but the journey is totally worth it. Krish has made me a stronger and happier person. He gives new meaning to my life.  And lastly, my kid couldn’t give me one nice picture of us in Hawaii… there’s either someone in the back or he’s making a face or he just wants to get away. He just can’t sit still for a minute… and with that a Happy Mother’s Day to me! 🥰
.
#happymothersday #mothersday #16monthsold #myhappiness #mybaby #mybabyboy
Vacationing with a kid has been a completely diffe Vacationing with a kid has been a completely different experience. While it’s nice to spend time as a family, dinners can get tough with a baby. Sanjiv and I enjoyed a romantic evening at House Without A Key in peace because Krish “thankfully” fell asleep (he was behind us I promise… swipe). It was so nice to converse with my better half over live music + cocktails, delicious food, and the BEST coconut cake (last pic). A memorable meal and evening! ❤️ #mylove 
.
#housewithoutakey @halekulanihotel #loveofmylife #waikikirestaurant #waikikitravel #hawaiitrip #datenight #familytrip
Follow Me On Instagram
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy

Subscribe for free recipes & monthly newsletter!

Don't miss a single post!

Recent Posts

  • Manchurian Noodles (vegan, gluten-free option)
  • Mexican Pizza Taco Bell (vegetarian)
  • Mango Chickpea Kachumber Salad (healthy)
  • Paneer Tikka Quesadillas (vegetarian)
  • Hara Bhara Kebab (vegan, healthyish)
  • Eggless Marble Cake

© 2022 Honey, What's Cooking.