There are several ways to cook pasta.
If you’re not sure what kind of pasta to buy or how to cook it, here are some tips that will help you out.
What kind of pasta did you cook?
When cooking pasta, there are two main types: fresh and dried.
Fresh pasta is made from a dough of egg yolks, flour, and water that is rolled into sheets and cut into shapes like fettuccine or linguini.
Dried pasta is made by extruding strands of dough through holes in a metal die, then drying them so they don’t stick together.
You can usually find dried pasta in supermarkets, but if you want to try making your own, check out our recipe guide here.
How did you cook the pasta?
Fresh pasta cooks quickly in boiling water.
The best method is to boil the pasta until it floats and has a slight bite to it when you bite into it.
To test the texture, use a fork to break off a piece of pasta and see if it holds together.
Once it’s done, drain it in a colander and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process.
Dry pasta should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator once it’s cooked.
For more information about storing pasta, read our guide here.
Dried pasta is cooked differently.
Cook it according to the package instructions.
To test the texture, use a fork to break off a piece of pasta and see if it holds together.
Once it’s done, drain it in a colander and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process.
What did you put on the pasta?
You can add anything you want to your pasta—meat, vegetables, cheese, sauces, and spices are all great options.
But if you want to keep things simple, you can just serve it plain with nothing added.
Was the pasta cooked well?
To ensure your pasta is cooked properly, follow these steps:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
Drop in the pasta and stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Test the pasta after 3 minutes by taking a piece of pasta and biting into it.
It should have a firm bite.
Continue to test the pasta every minute until it’s al dente (meaning “to the tooth”).
When the pasta is ready, drain it in a colander and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process.
How long did it take to cook the pasta?
The amount of time it takes to cook pasta depends on the type of pasta, the size of the pasta, and the temperature of the water.
The rule of thumb is 1 pound of pasta per quart of water.
So, if you’re using a 12-quart stockpot, it would take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes to cook 8 ounces of pasta.
This means that you need to start checking the pasta after 30 minutes, and continue testing the pasta every 5 minutes after that.
How much pasta did you cook?
It’s important to know how much pasta to cook because too little pasta can lead to mushy pasta and too much pasta can lead to dry pasta.
The general rule of thumb is to use half the amount of pasta called for in the recipe.
That said, you can always adjust the number of servings depending on the size of your family and what you’re serving.
What else did you make with the pasta?
Pasta goes with everything.
It works well as a side dish and makes a great base for soups and stews.
It can also be used to top pizzas, burgers, wraps, salads, and sandwiches.
And if you’re making lasagna, macaroni and cheese, or other casseroles, you can use noodles instead of breadcrumbs or rice as a thickening agent.
In fact, you can even add cooked pasta straight to a soup or stew to thicken it up.
Will you make this again?
Yes, definitely.
I love pasta and I love eating it.
I’ve been known to eat a bowl of pasta three times a day.
My husband thinks I’m crazy, but I say that’s my Italian heritage speaking.
What did you think of the pasta?
I loved it!
I was surprised by how fast it came together.
I was able to get dinner on the table in less than an hour.
Plus, it was delicious and had a lot of flavor.
I think next time I’ll double the sauce mixture so I have enough for leftovers.
I also think I might try adding some chopped olives or capers to the sauce mix to give it more depth.
I’d like to try the same recipe with whole wheat pasta next time to see how it compares.
Would you recommend this dish to others?
Absolutely! Everyone in my house loves it.
My kids especially love it because it’s so easy to prepare.
Even my pickiest eater loves it because he doesn’t have to wash any dishes.
You can make this anytime you want to serve your friends and family a quick, yet satisfying meal.
It’s also a great way to get creative with leftover ingredients.
You can use whatever you have on hand to create new meals.
I’ve seen people make it with canned tuna, beans, and even cereal. It really is limitless.
There are many pasta recipes but the most special for me is Gigi Hadid Pasta Recipe.
Is there anything you didn’t like about the dish?
I wasn’t a big fan of the texture of the pasta.
It was a little chewy and had a bit of a crunch to it.
I think I’ll try mixing it with some white rice next time to soften it up.
Also, I found that the sauce got pretty thin towards the end of the cooking process.
Next time I’ll probably add a little more tomato paste or crushed tomatoes to thicken it up a bit.
Gigi Hadid Pasta Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Pan
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 small clove of garlic diced
- ¼ green onion
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vodka
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 225 grams of shells pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- Basil chopped, to serve
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil, garlic and onion. Cook until soft. Add tomato paste and cook until it appears “darker [in colour] / a bit caramelised”, says Hadid.
- Add in the heavy cream. Add in the vodka and cook through until evaporated.
- Add in the red pepper flakes.
- Keep stirring until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Remove sauce from the heat.
- Cook pasta separately. The chef uses shells but Orecchiette would also work well. When the pasta is done, save ¼ of the pasta water before draining.
- Add in the butter. Stir over a medium heat til the butter has melted and the sauce is “sauccyyyy”, says Hadid.
- Add pasta – and the pasta water – to the sauce. Add parmesan cheese and stir. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Top with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and basil to serve.
Video
Nutrition
I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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