📍 Introduction

Pasta cooked to perfection is heavenly. Having just the right amount of texture and bite is possible with a few easy steps. 

🧂 Ingredients & Equipment:

* Dried pasta 

* Colander or strainer 

✔️ Instructions: 

* Boil water in a large pot. Leave enough room to avoid overflow

* Season water & add pasta 

* Set a timer to 3 minutes less than indicated on the box

* Taste by using a slotted spoon and cooling the pasta with tap water. Al dente will feel chewy and firm.

* Drain. Serve with sauce/toppings. Enjoy! 

📝 Notes, Tips, Tricks

* If you plan to cook the pasta further with a sauce, remove ~2-3 minutes earlier

* A single serving is 2 oz or ½ cup dried. This is ~200 calories. For 4-6 people use one pound (a standard box or bag) worth ~1600 calories.  

* If storing, toss with a little olive oil to reduce sticking. Reheat in microwave for ~1 min, or by blanching in hot water 

* If mixing with a sauce, reserve ~ 1 cup of cooking water. It can be used to loosen the sauce without diluting flavor 

* Remember - you can always cook pasta longer, but you can’t uncook it. If you need to cook it longer, add some liquid back in.

📓 Pasta Add-Ins Reference Guide

* Sauce: tomato/marinara, bolognese, cream, cheese, pesto, olive oil, butter, lemon 

* Cheese: parmesan, ricotta salata, pecorino romano, feta, ricotta

* Cooked vegetables: practically anything

* Nuts: Pine nuts, chopped walnuts/almonds

* Herbs/Aromatics: Garlic, basil, oregano, chives, thyme, parsley

* Spices: Red pepper flakes, nutmeg, black pepper  

* Crunch: Breadcrumbs or smashed croutons

* Leftovers (e.g., chicken, sausage, beans, vegetables)

🎓 Further Studies: 

* 9 ways you’re cooking pasta all wrong

* Tips for storing cooked pasta  

* If You Want Perfect Pasta, "Al Dente" Is Actually Overcooked

* 68 sauces that aren’t marinara

👉 Next Lesson: 06: How to Boil Vegetables

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