What are the 5 things to remember in cooking pasta?

5 Tips On How To Cook Pasta Cook Your Pasta In A Big Pot. Don't Cook The Pasta In Advance. Salt The Water. Save The Pasta Cooking Water. Add The Cheese At The End. Feb 4, 2020

What is the most famous pasta dish in the world?

Did you know that the debate over the original ingredients of Carbonara –- the most famous Italian pasta dish around the world – is still ongoing and it is a hot topic in Italy?

What long thick spiral shaped pasta adds an unexpected twist to any recipe that calls for spaghetti?

Fusilli Pasta This long, thick, spiral-shaped pasta adds an unexpected twist to any recipe that calls for spaghetti. Its crevices are perfect for carrying thick sauces, but it's often also used in pasta salads.

Why do pasta recipes ask for so much water?

A large volume of water at a rolling boil helps keep the pasta separated from each other . The pieces are constantly agitated by the water and thus cook more evenly with fewer clumps. Reason 3. A small volume of water will become too starchy as the pasta cooks.

What pasta is thinner than spaghetti?

Spaghetti means "little twine," and variations include spaghettini (thinner), spaghettoni (thicker), bucatini (thicker and straw-like, with a hollow center), capellini (very thin) and angel's hair (thinnest). Spaghetti is traditionally served with simple, thin sauces such as olive oil or marinara (tomato sauce).

What is a spaghetti with a hole in the middle?

Bucatini (Italian: [bukaˈtiːni]), also known as perciatelli ( Italian: [pertʃaˈtɛlli]), is a thick spaghetti-like pasta with a hole running through the center.

What pasta looks like lasagna?

Typically known as mafaldine , this is a type of pasta has a ribbon shape, similar to lasagna but more narrow.

Can you soak pasta instead of boiling?

Recipe for no-boil pasta Place dried pasta in a deep bowl (75g per person is perfect), cover with cold tap water and soak overnight . The day after, discard water, place pasta in a saucepan with your preferred pasta sauce, heat on high for around four minutes - getting it piping hot is imperative - and serve.

Should you add oil to the water when cooking pasta?

Contrary to popular myth, adding oil into the water does not stop pasta sticking together . It will only make the pasta slippery which means your delicious sauce will not stick. Instead, add salt to the pasta water when it comes to the boil and before you add the pasta.

Why should you leave the lid on to boil the water?

But as long as more energy is being added to the water than is being lost with the vapor, the temperature will continue to rise until the water boils. Covering the pot prevents water vapor from escaping, enabling the temperature to rise more quickly .

What are some of the important rules to remember when cooking pasta?

10 rules for perfect pasta. By Matt Preston Use a large, light pot. ... Season your pasta water with lots of salt. ... Never add oil to the boiling water. Add your pasta when the water is bubbling furiously. ... Serve your pasta “al dente”. More items...

What are the factors to consider when cooking pasta?

How To Cook Pasta: 10 Tips And Tricks DON'T put oil in your water or on your pasta. ... Fill your pot properly. ... Salt your water like the sea. ... Bring water to a rapid boil before adding the pasta. ... Drop and stir. ... Check the package for timing. ... Always save some cooking water. ... Drain don't dry. More items... Oct 20, 2023

What is the golden rule for cooking pasta?

Make sure that you use plenty of water to boil the pasta ( 1 litre of water for every 100 grams of pasta ). Bring the water to a hard boil before you add salt (around 10 grams of salt for every litre of water). Then pour in the pasta and return to boil.

These 5 One-Pot Pasta Recipes Are Absolutely Magical (2024)

These 5 One-Pot Pasta Recipes Are Absolutely Magical (1)

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Grace Elkus

Grace Elkus was the Deputy Food Director at Kitchn, where she wrote a monthly vegetarian recipe column called Tonight We Veg. She received her culinary arts diploma from The Natural Gourmet Institute.

updated Aug 15, 2022

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One-pot pastas are an absolute magic trick. Cook pasta start to finish in one pot? No straining? And oh, wait — all the other ingredients for a delicious, well-rounded dinner cook right in the pot with the pasta? Amazing!

In fact, one-pot pastas embody everything we crave in a winning

quick weeknight dinner

big payoff in flavor. But what happens to the pasta’s cooking water, you ask? As the noodles boil, the water reduces into a starchy binder, creating a rich sauce for the noodles to cling to. See? Magic.

The family-friendly pasta technique deserves a spot in your meal plan, so we came up with five easy, delicious variations to keep you happy and well-fed.

Each only require five major ingredients (not including the basic pantry staples of salt, pepper, and olive oil).

Read more about the history of magical one-pot pasta: The Story of One-Pan Pasta from the Martha Stewart Chef Who Created It

5 Snapshot Recipes for One-Pot Magic Pastas

The pasta: Each recipe calls for 12 ounces of linguine, which will serve 4 people. Feel free to substitute your favorite long noodle, such as spaghetti or bucatini — anything that cooks to al dente in eight to nine minutes. Avoid gluten-free pasta, which doesn’t release the requisite starch this method relies on.
The protein: Meat and shellfish that don’t require browning or pre-cooking are best for one-pot pastas. We like fully cooked pork and chicken sausages as well as raw shrimp, which you’ll add to the pot in the last few minutes of cooking.
The method: The veggies, proteins, and herbs vary within each recipe, but the basic formula remains the same: You’ll combine linguine, olive oil, salt, pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a pot; bring to a boil; and cook until the pasta is al dente and water has nearly evaporated. If you prefer a thicker sauce, let the pasta sit for 10 minutes before serving.
The pot: All of these recipes are made using a Le Creuset 3.5-quart pan. Any shallow straight-sided skillet will work — just avoid a deep skillet or stockpot, which can prevent the water from evaporating and result in overcooked pasta.

Our Favorite Pot for One-Pot Magic Pasta

Le Creuset Signature 3.5-Quart Everyday Pan

300

Crate & Barrel

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One-Pot Puttanesca Pasta

Combine 12 ounces linguine, 12 ounces halved cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup pitted and halved Castelvetrano olives, 1/4 cup capers, 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a large straight-sided skillet.

Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, stirring and turning the pasta with tongs to prevent sticking, until pasta is al dente and almost all the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Top with more fresh parsley. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Get the full recipe: One-Pot Pasta Puttanesca

One-Pot Lemon Shrimp Pasta

Combine 12 ounces linguine, 1 bunch kale leaves (torn), 1 (15.5-ounce) can cannellini beans (rinsed and drained), zest of 1 large lemon, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a large straight-sided skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, turning pasta frequently with tongs, for 5 minutes.

Add 1 pound raw peeled and deveined shrimp and cook until pasta is al dente, liquid has nearly evaporated, and shrimp are opaque, about 3 minutes more. Halve the lemon and squeeze in the juice. Top with crushed red pepper flakes, if desired. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Get the full recipe: One-Pot Lemon Shrimp Pasta

One-Pot Spicy Sausage and Tomato Pasta

Combine 12 ounces linguine, 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, 1/2 fennel bulb (thinly sliced), 1 cup torn fresh basil leaves, 12 ounces smoked Andouille sausage (cut into 1/2-inch pieces), 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a large straight-sided skillet.

Get the full recipe: One-Pot Spicy Sausage and Tomato Pasta

One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pesto Pasta

Combine 12 ounces linguine, 10 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms, 6 cloves thinly sliced garlic, 1/4 cup pesto, 8 ounces mascarpone cheese, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a large straight-sided skillet.

Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil mixture, stirring and turning the pasta with tongs to prevent sticking, until pasta is al dente and almost all the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Top with fresh basil. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Get the full recipe: One-Pot Creamy Mushroom Pesto Pasta

One-Pot Spinach Artichoke Chicken Pasta

Combine 12 ounces linguine, 12 ounces cooked chicken sausage (cut into 1/2-inch pieces), 1 (12-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts (drained), 1 Parmesan rind, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 4 1/2 cups water in a large straight-sided skillet.

Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil, stirring and turning the pasta with tongs occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is al dente and almost all the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. In the last 2 minutes of cooking, add 1 bunch spinach. Remove Parmesan rind and toss with 1 cup grated Parmesan. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Get the full recipe: One-Pot Spinach Artichoke Chicken Pasta

Do you have a snapshot-style one-pot pasta dinner you love? Tell us all about it — or share a link to an Insta snap and tag us @thekitchn!

This is Snapshot Cooking, the home of Kitchn’s easiest recipes. These mini recipes are so simple you can practically cook from the before-and-after snapshot itself.

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