We can all agree that Pasta is one of the simplest and most delicious recipes to make – whether for a light lunch or a hearty dinner. Isn’t a bowl of Spaghetti covered in a delicious sauce paired with a drink of your choice, isn’t that the ideal way to relax? Italian food has become a household favorite across India and abroad. From aromatic Arabiatta sauce to zingy pesto, there are many types of sauces and recipes that you can experiment with when it comes to pasta. However, there are also some mistakes that you need to avoid when preparing food. These are steps and processes we often skip while cooking and can be easily fixed. So if you are a pasta lover, we have what you need to start your cooking game. We’ve done some research to make your noodles taste restaurant-style and just the way the experts make them.
Here are 7 mistakes to avoid when cooking pasta and achieving restaurant-style results:
1. Overcooking The Pasta
Wondering what makes the restaurant style so delicious? That’s because they made it. Believe it or not, just one minute of cooking time can make all the difference to a pasta dish. Allow the noodles to cook slightly so that the noodles are fully cooked when you mix them with the sauce.
(Read more: Know your pasta sauce: The Ultimate Guide)
Avoid overcooking the noodles. Credit: iStock
2. Do not stir often
Boiling pasta can be a daunting task, so it’s important that you pay attention to each step to make it truly restaurant-style. While the noodles are boiling, stir occasionally so the noodles don’t stick together.
3. Add Olive Oil to Pasta
Do not add oil to your noodles. This can backfire and will in fact cause the sauce to run out of your pasta as it will become too oily.
(Read more: 11 Simple Pasta Recipes)
To taste good, pasta must be oil-free. Photo: iStock
4. Not adding enough salt
However, salt is a very important ingredient in your pasta dish. Make sure to add just enough salt to the noodles to properly season the noodles. It is also said that salt can make water boil faster.
5. Wash noodles after boiling
Washing noodles in water after boiling is absolutely not. We can’t stress enough that the natural starch and salt must be left to the noodles and not washed off to make it truly restaurant-style.
(Read more: Kitchen tricks: 5 easy ways to add leftover pasta water to your cooking)
Draining the noodles is an important step, however, do not rinse again. Photo: iStock
6. Leave the pasta in the water
However, it is important to drain all the water in the pasta after the pasta has been cooked properly. This leaves the texture of the noodles intact and not mushy or sticky.
7. Throw away the Pasta Juice
Last, but not least, never pour the water into which you boiled the pasta. Save at least 2 cups of that for later, and use it to thicken your sauces and make sure they mix well with the pasta. You can even bring it to use while making soups, stews, or other broths.
What are you waiting for? Put on your apron, show off your inner chef and cook with some pasta! We bet your near and dear ones will be impressed with your restaurant-style preparation.
Bon Appetite!
