It is so tiring to eat the same style of food every day ! And I admit I enjoy some of the most common veggie food from around the world. These are so simple to make, tasteful and also healthy.
For me vegetarian means food cooked with only plant products. Once, while I was on an official tour to Almaty (Kazakhstan, Russian Federation), I was looking for such vegetarian food in one of the upscale restaurants.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find any recipe on the menu card which was purely vegetarian. I went up to the counter where a lady was taking the orders I asked her if they could serve only vegetarian food.
She was so alarmed by my request that she started looking for vegetables in all the plates spread on the counter! Luckily she found one hamburger with ham plus vegetables. She took out the ham and told me to eat that.
When I refused she told me she could not serve such moonish (as if I was asking for moon) order! I realized that the ‘vegetarian‘concept in that country is not only unthinkable but also unpalatable.
I did not eat dinner on that day. It was already too late and the streets were empty, looking unsafe. My colleague had a delightful meal there and wasn’t sorry at all for me. Throughout my stay in Almaty I survived on pizzas for lunch, bread / butter and coffee for breakfast and potatoes for dinner.
But other countries were not as treacherous. Italian food is wonderful, healthy and also very, very tasty. Whenever I get bored with my Indian cooking I think of Italy and Italian vegetarian varieties.
With time India and Indians have become blissfully cosmopolitan. Ingredients are available in plenty, albeit expensive. I try my hands on veggie pizzas, pastas and macaroni etc. Unfortunately, these recipes require specific vegetables and not our typically Indian ones.
The other day I tried veggie macaroni (not so uncommon), which to my surprise turned out quite tasty indeed.
Cheese Macaroni Delight
Mushrooms ready for use
- Olive Oil: As much you wish and a must for all Italian food recipes for that special flavour
- Red, Green, Yellow Bell paper: Diced and as much you can spare
- Mushrooms: 150 gms
- Macaroni: 200 gms
- Maida (Cake Flour): 2 tsp
- Milk: One cup
- Oregano & crushed Black paper: For garnishing and final flavor
How to Make
Here are the steps I suggest you take for making the delightfully delicious cheese macaroni. The image below is the snap of the dish just before grilling.
Cheese macaroni just before final grilling
- Boil Macaroni in generous quantity of water. Add a little salt and olive oil into the boiling water.
- When the macaroni becomes soft, drain the water and wash it immediately in cold water. Smear a little olive oil on the macaroni to remove stickiness.
- In a pan sauté diced vegetables and mushrooms in olive oil, remove from pan and keep separately. Again heat a non stick pan, pour olive oil. Take 2 tsp maida (cake flour ) and sauté for a few seconds.
- Add warm milk and stir constantly till no lumps are visible. Add boiled macaroni and salt. If required, add a little water and let it simmer for a while, remove and keep it for five minutes.
- Sprinkle Oregano and crushed black paper on the dish, drizzle some olive oil as well. Grate cheese and sprinkle. Cut tomatoes and spread on the entire dish on top of the macaroni.
- Grill or bake for 10 minutes in the microwave or oven. Serve warm with wine or other cold drink.
Cheese macaroni ready to serve
Are you as thrilled as I am as I write this post? Do leave your comments below. And yes, any tips, suggestions, anything… are always welcome.
My other recipes:
- How to Make Perfect Grilled Tomato Sandwich in Just 3 Minutes
- How 2 Finger-Licking Ladies Finger Dishes Saved My Day
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