Follow these simple tips for the perfect al dente pasta - every time. It's easy, as long as you follow these steps and avoid the one thing you should never do!
It might seem like a simple dish, but truly tasty pasta requires attention to detail. Once you've got these steps down pat, you'll never have soggy spaghetti again!
1. DON'T add oil.
Never put oil in the water or on your pasta. You'll end up with greasy pasty and sauce that slips off the noodles/.
2. Use enough water.
There should always be enough water to balance the heat once you've added pasta. A good rule of thumb is to use three liters of water for every 250 grams of pasta.
3. Water should taste like tears
Really. Your water should be well salted in order to flavor the pasta. Three liters of water should get a minimum of 1 tablespoon of salt.
4. Rapid-boil the water first
Bring the pot of water to a rapid boil before adding pasta for a properly cooked noodle every time.
5. Stir, stir, stir
As soon as you put the pasta in, stir it to prevent from sticking together, the bottom of the pot or on the sides. . Stir occasionally during the cooking process.
6. Read the instructions
Each noodle has a recommended cooking time on the package. Follow the directions, but test your noodle for doneness about 2 minutes before the cooking time ends.
'Al dente' noodles are tender, but firm to the tooth.
If you are cooking your pasta in a sauce after, you can remove it from the water slightly before the al dente stage.
7. Save some cooking water
Before you drain reserve about a cup of water for your sauce.
8. Drain, don't dry.
Drain the water from your pasta, but don't allow it to sit and dry out. The noodles will stick together as the starches firm up.
9. Add pasta to sauce
Your sauce should be prepared before you cook the noodles. Keep the sauce warm in a large sauce pan and blend the noodles in immediately after they've been drained.
10. Add pasta water
Adding just a little water when you add the noodles helps the sauce to stick better. The starch in the water will also help to bring a split sauce back together.
Final advice: Always remember: The noodles are the last thing you should prepare. Every other element of your meal should be ready to go before you drop your noodles into water.
