After dinner, there is a very special kind of hunger. It’s generally when you’re already in your jammies and totally reluctant to cook anything complex. That’s when quick noodles, leftover spaghetti, and whatever’s in the fridge suddenly start looking like a perfectly decent midnight snack. With a smart Usha Cooktop, you can whip up something a little more exciting for those late-night cravings without spending too much time in the kitchen.
From delicious noodles and creamy pasta to quick sauces and spicy mixes, these six late-night snacks are simple to cook when you want something cosy, tasty, and ready before your appetite changes its mind.
1. Masala Instant Noodles
Instant noodles are arguably the unofficial hero of late-night munchies, but adding a few more ingredients can make them even more gratifying. Cook the noodles on the cooktop as you normally would and combine them with fried onions, capsicum, green chillies, and the spice packet. To spice it up a little, crush some green chilli, coriander, garlic, and a little lemon juice, make a paste, and add a teaspoon to the noodles.
Image Credit: Unsplash
The end product is spicy, tangy, and a lot more thrilling than just eating the noodles straight from the skillet.
2. Creamy Tomato Pasta
Creamy tomato pasta is a great option if you want something heartier than noodles. While cooking your pasta on the cooktop, quickly make a sauce by combining tomatoes, garlic, and a small onion in a Usha mixer grinder. Add oregano, chilli flakes, and a dash of cream or milk after cooking the mixture with butter or oil until it thickens. Add the cooked pasta and boil for a few minutes to ensure that the sauce coats every mouthful. It’s the kind of bowl that nearly justifies staying up late.
Image Credit: Pexels
3. Loaded Aloo Chaat
When you want something spicy, tangy and properly filling, a bowl of loaded aloo chaat can do the job. Cut boiled potatoes into bite-sized pieces and toss them in a pan with a little oil, cumin, chilli powder and chaat masala until lightly crisp. For the chutney, blend coriander, green chilli, lemon juice and a little salt in the mixer grinder. Top the warm potatoes with the chutney, chopped onions, tomatoes, yoghurt and a generous sprinkle of sev. It comes together quickly and gives you that perfect mix of crispy, creamy, spicy and tangy in every bite.
4. Quick Pesto Pasta
Pesto pasta sounds like something that belongs on a restaurant menu, but the sauce is surprisingly easy to make at home. Blend fresh basil or coriander, garlic, nuts, cheese, olive oil and a pinch of salt in the mixer grinder until you have a coarse, spoonable pesto. Meanwhile, cook your pasta on the cooktop, reserve a little pasta water and drain. Toss the pasta with the pesto, loosening it with a splash of pasta water if needed. The result is fresh, herby and creamy without requiring a long ingredient list.
Image Credit: Pexels
5. Spicy Peanut Noodles
If you’ve got peanut butter in the kitchen, give it a late-night makeover. Cook noodles on the cooktop. Make a quick sauce by mixing or whisking together peanut butter, garlic, red chilli, soy sauce, a little lemon juice and warm water. Toss the noodles in the sauce while still hot, add chopped onions, carrots or capsicum for a little crunch. The creamy peanut sauce offsets the chilli and acidity well, giving this something more substantial than a plain packet of noodles.
6. Cheesy Masala Pasta
For those nights when cheese is non-negotiable, make a quick masala pasta. Cook the pasta on the cooktop and prepare a simple sauce with blended tomatoes, garlic and green chilli. Cook the sauce with butter, chilli powder, oregano and a little ketchup before adding the pasta. Finish generously with grated cheese and let it melt over low heat. You can add sweet corn, capsicum or leftover vegetables if they are available. It is saucy, cheesy and comforting, exactly what a proper late-night munchie should be.
Your Late-Night Cravings, Sorted
A bag of chips or a bowl of instant noodles isn’t always the only late-night snack option. Making spicy noodles or creamy pasta is as easy as gathering a few common ingredients, heating them up in a pot, and using a mixer grinder for sauces. The best part about staying up late sometimes is knowing there is something tasty waiting for you in the kitchen, so keep these ideas in mind for when hunger hits after supper.