pasta!

How to Cook Pasta

 

 

 

The secret of cooking pasta is to use plenty of water. Cooked pasta should be 'al dente' or "firm to the bite". Undercooked pasta is undesirable and has a taste of raw flour, whereas overcooked pasta will be soft and sticky. Generally speaking, fresh pasta will take about 2 to 5 minutes to cook. Fresh pasta does not increase much in volume whilst cooking as it does not absorb much water.

ingredients

2 cups pasta
1 tbsp oil (for cooking)
1 tbsp oil (for tossing)
1 tsp salt

Method

• Boil plenty of water in a large pan with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of oil.

• Add the pasta to the boiling water by adding a few strands or one sheet of pasta at a time.
• Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally and gently until the pasta is tender. Cooking times may vary with the size and the thickness of the pasta. Very small pasta (like macaroni, fusilli, conchiglie, penne) may cook in 5 to 7 minutes, while larger sha
• Immediately drain the cooked pasta into a sieve or a colander. Transfer to a bowl of cold water to refresh it. Drain again and keep aside.
• If the pasta is not to be used immediately, add 1 tablespoon of oil to it and toss it.