How to Cook Pasta Like a Real Chef

With just a few simple tips, you’ll be cooking pasta like a real chef! Enjoy restaurant style pasta at home!

This How to Cook Pasta Like a Real Chef tutorial is…

• Quick
• Easy to Follow
• Requires no additional ingredients or tools!

Cooking Pasta 101

There are hundreds of types of pastas in all types of shapes and sizes! For our tutorial, we are using a classic rigatoni. The shape and size of pasta will impact the cooking time, but not the techniques. By using just a few simple tips, your Italian dinner night will turn out perfect every time!

The first tip is to use the correct amount of water and salt. A good ratio to go by is four quarts of water and one tablespoon of sea salt for each pound of pasta. If you are making less than a pound of pasta, lessen the amount of water and salt. Next, make sure you have a large enough pot! The pot needs to hold all the water plus have room for the pasta to move around in the boiling water. A rolling boiling will help keep the pasta from sticking together when cooking.

Another tip for perfect pasta is to save some of the pasta water! As the pasta cooks, the water will turn cloudy as the starches are released. Either scoop or ladle ~1 cup of the pasta water to save for mixing with your chosen pasta sauce. The starchy water helps emulsify, (or fully combine), the pasta and sauce.

The last, possibly most important, tip is to cook the pasta to al dente. Al dente means “to the tooth” in Italian and refers to the perfect texture for cooked pasta. It must be firm, not crunchy or mushy. The cooking time depends on the size of the pasta; the smaller the pasta, the shorter the cooking time and vice versa.

Ingredients

Pasta – Pick your favorite! The size of the pasta will dictate the cooking time. Make sure you are cooking the pasta to al dente texture! Pick out a single noodle and take a bite to test for doneness.

Water – Pasta needs lots of water to cook properly. Four quarts of water per one pound of pasta is a good rule to follow.

Salt & Pepper – Salt is used in the pasta cooking water, as well as to season the finished pasta, along with pepper.

Olive Oil – Olive oil keeps the cooked pasta from sticking together and adds a rich flavor.

Additional Ingredients

Top your pasta with your favorite meatballs (or veggie balls!), steamed veggies, and grated cheese for the ultimate Italian meal!

Diet Compatibility and Allergens

Diet	Recipe compatible as written?	Recommend substitutions
Keto	No.	Use keto-approved pasta.
Paleo	No.	Use paleo-approved pasta.
Whole30	No.	N/A
Gluten-free	No.	Use gluten-free pasta.
Vegetarian	Yes.	N/A
Vegan	Yes.	N/A
Low sodium	No.	Eliminate salt.
Dairy-free	Yes.	N/A
Mediterranean	Yes.	N/A
Low FODMAP	No.	Use Low FODMAP approved pasta.
Atkins	No.	Use Atkins-approved pasta.

Allergen	Present in recipe?	Recommended substitutions
Milk	No.	N/A
Eggs	No.	N/A
Fish	No.	N/A
Shellfish	No.	N/A
Tree Nuts	No.	N/A
Peanuts	No.	N/A
Wheat (Gluten)	Yes.	Use gluten-free pasta.
Soy	No.	N/A
Sesame	No.	N/A

How to Cook Pasta Like a Real Chef

Step One: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Step Two: Add pasta and cook until slightly under al dente (4-15 minutes depending on size of pasta). Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.

Step Three: Drain pasta in a colander and add immediately back to the pot.

Step Four: Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. If using a sauce, add it to the pasta along with 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Use more pasta water as needed to emulsify the two. Spoon into bowls, add desired toppings, & enjoy!

Watch the video version…

FAQ

Related Articles

• What Are the Main Pasta Regions in Italy?
• Which Pastas Are Paleo?
• The Definitive List of Stuffed Pastas (Like Ravioli)

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