How to cook pasta (the Italian way)

Italians are VERY careful when they cook their pasta…overcooking is a sin! Do you know what “al dente” means? Literally translated the closest phrase would be “to the tooth” which means slightly undercook, and Italians loooove al dente.

So how can we make sure we don’t overcook it, but that we also don’t eat it raw?

The cooking time on the pasta box is generally quite accurate, but it can’t be perfect, as it depends on your personal preference, the hob you have, how high the flame/temperature is and so on. Here is what we do to cook our pasta perfectly – the Italian way!

1. First and foremost, before we add anything to the water in the pan, we need to make sure it’s boiling properly! When I’m in a hurry, I boil the kettle and then I pour it in the pan.

2. Then add rock salt. Quantity depends on preference; most people suggest about 10g per 1L of water. I personally take half a handful of salt, which is basically a little pile in your palm.

3. Finally, add the pasta and check how much the brand suggests the cooking time is.

4. About a minute or two before the suggested cooking time, try one piece of pasta to check how much it still needs to cook for and if you added the right quantity of salt. If it’s too little, add a sprinkle of salt. If it’s too much, add a bit more water or make your sauce condiment less salty to compensate.

And that’s it! I hope these few tips will make a difference in your future dishes ;)