Maggie lasagna? Innovative recipes to try if you love relishing spicy and tangy Maggi

From being a quick midnight snack, a saviour of college students living away from home to being an actual delicacy in the hilly and chilly regions of India, Maggi has been ruling the hearts of Indians for decades.

Each Indian who loves Maggi likes it being cooked in a certain way. Some love to slurp up the soupy noodles, some like to eat it a bit undercooked while some love to relish it with ketchup.

While most of us will never be able to understand how some people relish Maggi with ketchup, we definitely have developed a taste for various Maggi variations.
The Covid-19 pandemic saw people following a viral Maggi trend that involved mixing boiled Maggi in a mixture made from garlic, green chillies, red chilli flakes sesame seeds and hot oil. Today, we see Indians experimenting with Maggi more than ever.

If you are someone who loves to try out Maggi in different forms, here are a few home chefs and Maggi lovers sharing their unique recipes for you to try.

Maggi lasagna and Korean-style Maggi by Mumbai-based home chef and entrepreneur, Bijal Shah
Shah, besides being a home chef, also takes cooking classes which allows her to innovate with various food items, create new recipes and post about the same on Instagram. Maggi lasagna is a result of this.

She says, "At my home, Maggi is a go-to meal. My two daughters and I absolutely love it. It is a quick meal option, especially on hectic days. What makes it best is the versatility that allows me to customise it in so many ways."

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Bijal shares two of her favourite recipes.

Maggi Lasagna:

Ingredients:
Maggi instant noodles - 3 packs
Marinara sauce - 2 cups
Shredded mozzarella cheese - 1 cup
Grated Parmesan cheese - 1/2 cup
Ricotta cheese - 1 cup
Chopped spinach (frozen or fresh) - 1/2 cup
Sliced mushrooms (optional) - 1/2 cup
Italian seasoning - 1/2 tsp
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped fresh basil for garnish (optional)

Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 175°C
2. Cook the Maggi instant noodles according to the package instructions, but slightly undercook them. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix the cooked Maggie noodles with the ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, chopped spinach, and sliced mushrooms (if using). Season with salt and pepper.
4. In a baking dish, spread a thin layer of marinara sauce to prevent sticking.
5. Place a layer of the Maggi noodle mixture over the sauce.
6. Sprinkle a layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the noodles.
7. Repeat the layers, finishing with a generous layer of marinara sauce on top.
8. Cover the baking dish with aluminium foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
9. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
10. Let it cool for a few minutes, garnish with fresh basil if desired, and serve your delicious Maggie lasagna.

Korean Style Maggi

Ingredients:
Maggi instant noodles - 2 packs
Gochujang paste (Korean red pepper paste) - 2 tbsp
Soy sauce - 1 tbsp
Sesame oil - 1 tbsp
Water - 1 cup
Sliced vegetables (bell peppers, carrots, and green onions) - 1/2 cup
Sesame seeds and nori sheet (seaweed) for garnish

Method:
1. Boil the instant Maggi noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a separate pan, heat the sesame oil over medium heat.
3. Add the sliced vegetables and stir-fry for a few minutes until they start to soften.
4. In a small bowl, mix the Gochujang paste, soy sauce, and water to create a sauce.
5. Pour the Gochujang sauce over the vegetables in the pan and stir to combine.
6. Add the cooked noodles to the pan and toss them in the sauce until they are well coated and heated through.
7. Garnish your Gochujang Maggi with sesame seeds and nori.
8. Serve hot and enjoy your spicy Korean-style Maggi.

Feel free to adjust the spiciness by adding more or less Gochujang paste to suit your taste.

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Lemony Zesty Maggi by Kaushangi Modi, cooking enthusiast and home chef
For Modi, Maggi is a comforting companion. "I eat Maggi at least once a month. It is my go-to when I am alone at home and wish to spend some quality time with myself." Modi, who is also a working professional says Maggi plays a crucial role in a bachelor's life.

Ingredients:
Maggi instant noodles - 1 pack
Water - 1 cup
Maggi masala
Lemon juice - 1/2 lemon
Chopped green chillies - 2
Curry leaves - 2-3
Cheese cube - 1

Method:
1. Begin by boiling water.
2. Now add Maggi noodles to the boiling water.
3. In a separate bowl, add Maggi masala packet and a little water. Whisk it to make it an even paste
4. Once the noodles are half cooked, squeeze half a lemon, add finely chopped green chillies, and a few curry leaves along with the masala paste
6. Let this all boil till it's a little soupy and the broth is thick
7. Now remove it from the flame and grate some cheese on it.
8. Serve piping hot and enjoy the creamy, lemony, soul-satisfying noodles.

Loaded Cheesy Maggi by Sangeeta Sharma, CEO, Mitraan Da Junction, Faridabad 21C
The taste of Maggi can be elevated simply by adding cheese and spice to it. Sharma enjoys this delightful fusion of spiciness and creaminess quite often. She calls this recipe her specialty.

Ingredients:
Maggi instant noodles - 1 pack
Small onion - 1
Chopped green chillies - 2-3
Cheese cubes or slices - 2-3
Oil - 1 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste
Water - 1 cup

Method:
1. Heat oil in a pan and add finely chopped green chillies. Sauté the chillies briefly before adding the diced onions. Allow the onions to achieve a light golden hue.
2. Combine cheese with a portion of water to facilitate melting, then blend it into the sauteed mixture.
3. Add the Maggi noodles, and season with salt, red chilli powder, and Maggi masala. Thoroughly cook the Maggi.
4. Garnish the prepared Maggi with the remaining cheese and serve

Fiery Maggi by Priya Malhotra, content writer and cooking enthusiast
For Malhotra, Maggi is a comfort food. She says, "I believe Maggi is like a blank canvas on which you can add your unique twist and turn it into a delicious work of art." She adds, "It's great to have a simple and satisfying option like Maggi for those lazy days when I crave something delicious but don't want to put in a lot of effort in the kitchen."

Malhotra who was pursuing her master's degree away from home often indulged in this two-minute wonder along with her friends. Back at home, her siblings too relish her special fiery Maggi quite often.

Ingredients:
Maggi instant noodles - 1 pack
Water - 1 cup
Butter - 1 tbsp
Mixed herbs - 1/2 tbsp
Black pepper powder - 1/4 tsp
Red chili powder - 1/4 tsp
Red chilli flakes - 1/2 tsp
Slices of cheese - 1-2
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil.
2. Add a pinch of salt and butter. Once the water simmers, toss in your favourite spice mix. Then add the noodles.
3. Once they are perfectly cooked, crown the dish with a generous layer of cheese.

Spicy Schezwan Maggi by Sejal Thamke, food technology student and cooking enthusiast
Thamke is a college student currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in food technology. She stays away from home and gets her daily meals from a tiffin service. She says, "On days when the aunty who provides tiffin service takes an off, Maggi is my go-to option. I do love cooking but sometimes I am just tired or have assignments with tight deadlines. On such days, Maggi with a few chopped veggies is the best option."

Thamke experimented with flavours during her academic journey. She shares her favourite Maggi recipe with all other students staying away from home.

Ingredients:
Maggi instant noodles - 1 pack
Chopped onion - 1
Chopped tomato - 1
Chopped spicy green chilli - 1
Oil - 2 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp salt
Maggi masala
Schezwan sauce - 1 tsp
Chopped coriander for garnishing
Water - 1 cup

Method:
1. Take a pan, add oil and let it heat.
2. Add chopped green chillies and chopped onions. Wait till the onions turn pink-brown.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes and let it all cook for a minute or two.
4. Then add all the other spices. Mix well. Once the flavours blend, add water. Let the water simmer.
5. Once this happens, add your noodles. Once cooked well, allow water to evaporate. Then mix schezwan sauce well.
6. Turn off the flame and garnish Maggi with some chopped coriander leaves. Your Maggi is ready.

To make the recipe more filling, Thamke also suggests adding some veggies of your choice.

While Maggi is an all-time favourite, it's important to note that it falls under the category of junk food and should be consumed in moderation. Instead of regularly incorporating it into your diet, it's advisable to savour this dish occasionally.