Updated 2022.
I first posted this recipe back in 2017 and it quickly became one of the most popular dishes you all made. It’s a great example of combining the flavors of Indian food I love so much (pav bhaji) with something as simple (and not Indian) as pasta. While Pav Bhaji is generally a mixture of boiled and then mashed vegetables like potatoes, onions, peas, and tomatoes, people make this so different from family to family. You could add cabbage, eggplant, sweet potatoes and treat it as a great opportunity to clean out all the veggies in the fridge. So whether you make this the way its written, or choose to experiment- remember to have a little fun and get creative if you like!
To make this gluten free, you can simply sub the macaroni with something like Banza Chickpea pasta which would go really well with it. To make this vegan you can sub the half & half with your favorite dairy free milk or use coconut milk which will also pair wonderfully with the spices in the pasta.
To make this even more decadent, I love adding a handful of shredded fontina or cheddar cheese at the end for a creamy pav bhaji mac and cheese- you will not regret it!
We use and love Badshah Pav Bhaji Masala which can be found at your local South Asian Grocery Store.
Happy Eating ?



This recipe was soo delicious! I made it vegan by subbing in coconut cream for the half and half and it turned out great! Thank you for another awesome recipe.
What would be a better dairy free substitute for the 1/2 and 1/2? Coconut milk or cashew/almond milk?
Coconut milk would work great!
Easy recipe, super flavorful!!
Quick question- I followed all steps but for some reason the pasta tasted bitter- does it have to do with the spices? How can that be improved
I saw this on your IG stories and wanted to try it immediately. I didn’t have cream so I used the 2% milk I had it still tasted great! I was skeptical, but we topped it with mozzarella and We really liked it.
I won’t lie though, it got me craving street Pav bhaji!
What’s half & half??
This looks sooo delicious Palak! Can’t wait to try it this week. Instead of half and half can we use heavy cream?
Looks delicious Palak! Was wondering the best sub for milk to make this vegan? Thanks
Instead of half and half – can I use whole milk?
yes you can!
You know it’s a hit when your husband and kids eat it. We all loved it! Thanks for helping me mix up my dinner routine. Can’t wait to try some of your other recipes.
aw, so great to hear! Thank You for following a long! Cant wait to see what else you try!
This recipe was delicious!! I didn’t have Badshah Pav Bhaji masala so I used the one I had at home but I’ll definitely try the Badshah one if it’s really good. I had to double all the ingredients for the sauce to make it a good sauce to pasta ratio because my pasta box was more than 12 ounces.