This Creamy Tandoori Sauce Pasta is the ultimate vibrant fusion of hearty pasta and Indian spices. It packs the punch of the tandoori masala spice mix, paired with fusilli, spaghetti, or macaroni!

Close-up of tandoori pasta with fresh basil leaves and cracked black pepper.

Ingredients

First up, the star ingredients: the tandoori spice mix, also known as the tandoori masala! Feel free to just get a store-bought tandoori spice blend so you don’t have to bother with each of the individual ingredients!

Garam masala: A warm and aromatic spice blend.
Paprika: A vibrant red spice made from dried and ground bell peppers.
- Speaking of paprika, I have this Smoked Paprika Aioli / Mayo recipe that you might want to check out!
Kashmiri chilli or cayenne pepper: A fiery spice that adds a kick to the dish. Kashmiri chilli powder works best due to its characteristic slight bitterness but normal cayenne powder works great too!
Coriander: A fragrant spice with a citrusy and slightly sweet flavor.
Cumin: An earthy and slightly nutty spice.
Salt: Essential for seasoning, bringing out the flavors of all the ingredients!

Now part two, the aromatics and vegetables:

Olive oil: A versatile oil.
Fresh ginger: An aromatic root that gives that nice warming flavor.
Yellow onion: A savory and slightly sweet aromatic.
Garlic: Packs that garlicky punch to this recipe.
Bell pepper: The sweetness of this vegetable balances the flavor really well. I used red bell peppers but you can use any color!

Ingredients for tandoori pasta with labels on a white marble.

And lastly, for the pasta:

Fusilli: Feel free to use any pasta from spaghetti to macaroni.
Tomato blocks: Chunks of fresh or canned tomatoes essential in pasta dishes.
- Check out my 10-Minute Tomato Carpaccio if you’re a fan of tomatoes!
Reserved pasta water: Used to create a silky and flavorful sauce.
Lemon juice: Adds a refreshing citrusy tang.
Plant-based yogurt (optional): A creamy and tangy dairy-free alternative!
Basil (optional): Feel free to substitute with parsley.

Where to Buy Tandoori Pasta?

Depending on where you live, you can find tandoori pasta in either any supermarket chain, or a specialty Indian or Asian supermarket. Alternatively, you can buy one at Amazon.

Is Tandoori Paste Healthy?

Tandoori paste can be a healthy option depending on its ingredients and how it is used. Traditional tandoori paste typically contains a blend of spices, known for their antioxidant properties and potential anti-inflammatory effects. For example, cumin is antidiabetic and is beneficial for cholesterol and stress management. While chili peppers boost your metabolism and ginger have to potential to prevent cancer.

However, it’s important to be mindful of store-bought tandoori pastes, as they may contain added preservatives, artificial colors and high amounts of sodium.

How to Make Tandoori Pasta

First up, the preparations!

Peel and mince onion, garlic, and ginger. Cut bell peppers into stripes.
Measure and mix tandoori spice blend.
Cook pasta according to package instructions.

Next, time to cook the tandoori sauce!

Heat olive oil in a large pan and sauté minced garlic, ginger, and onion until fragrant.
Add bell peppers (optional) and cook for 5 minutes until slightly softened.
Add tandoori spice mix, fry briefly to release aroma.
Stir in tomato blocks and let simmer.

P.S. You can also repeat the four steps above, excluding the bell peppers to get yourself a homemade tandoori masala paste! Then feel free to use that paste in your cooking however you want. 😉

Minced garlic, ginger, onion, and bell peppers on a pan. — Sautéed aromatics and bell peppers.

Bell peppers, ginger, garlic, onion with tandoori spice mix on a pan. — Sautéed aromatics and bell peppers.

Now your pasta should be almost done. Note that you want it to be undercooked for about 1 minute since leaving them in a hot pot after draining will still cook them further a little.

So now…let’s mix the pasta and the sauce!

Reserve (take out) 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
Add the reserved pasta water to the sauce and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the bell peppers are cooked through.
Now stir in the cooked pasta and lemon juice to the sauce. Optionally, add plant-based yoghurt and stir to coat.
Turn off the heat, garnish with basil if desired, and enjoy!

Creamy tandoori sauce pasta on a pan with basil.

If you want to add a side dish, I highly recommend my Healthy Whole Wheat Garlic Bread with Olive Oil, or this Sliced Bread Garlic Bread version which uses your regular sliced bread to make things even simpler!

Top Tips

The recipe cooks really fast so be sure to measure out and cut your ingredients beforehand!
Take your pasta off the heat 1-2 minutes earlier than the cooking time in the package.
- It will cook further since the pot is still hot, and that you will cook it further with the sauce.
If your pasta looks a bit dry, add splashes of (pasta) water or plant-based milk.
You can use any pasta of your choice, be it spaghetti, macaroni, penne, farfalle, or anything else! Get ready for some yummy tandoori spaghetti, tandoori macaroni, or tandoori (insert your favorite pasta here)!

A plate of tandoori sauce fusilli pasta with fork on a white background.

Storage, Meal Prep, and Freezing Instructions

Storage and Meal Prep:

This pasta in tandoori sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
You can reheat the pasta in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a splash of water if needed to prevent it from drying out.

Freezing: I do NOT recommend freezing this pasta since it will alter the texture of the pasta.

FAQ

Tandoori sauce typically consists of a base of yogurt, combined with tandoori spices like paprika, chili powder, cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, and garam masala.

Tandoori seasoning works really well as a marinade as it infuses that smoky and aromatic profile. It can be used to season vegetables, tofu (like in my Tandoori Vegetables Platter), or even fish/meat for my non-vegetarian/vegan friends.

You can also use the spice blend in sauces and dips such as in this Tandoori Mayonnaise.

Tandoori flavor can be described as smoky, spicy, and tangy. This is due to the blend of warm, aromatic spices. Yoghurt is often added to a tandoori marinade, resulting in that creamy goodness!

Tandoori sauce often uses Greek yogurt while tikka sauce uses regular yogurt. Other than that, they often share the same spices used. The difference is a bit hard to decipher since the ingredients vary depending on the recipe and as a result, there is often an overlap between the two.

The biggest difference between tandoori and tikka is usually in the type of meat that is used. Both dishes use chicken, but tandoori uses chickens with bones while tikka uses boneless chicken.

Moreover, tikka is usually prepared on a skewer while tandoori usually requires marinating before it is grilled in a tandoor (a large urn-shaped oven, from which its name comes from).

A fork lifting tandoori masala pasta from a white plate.

Want More Recipes Like This?

For more pasta recipes, try my almond milk mac and cheese.

For more spicy dishes, try my masala chips, gochujang ramen, rice paper sheets noodles, spicy noodle rolls, Korean French fries, or this vegan rendang (Indonesian curry-like dish).