Pasta
is simple and easy to make and whichever
of the many pasta varieties you have chosen,
the basic rules for cooking it remain the
same.
Cook
pasta in plenty of boiling water - 3 litres
for each 450 grams of pasta.
Add
a tablespoon of salt to a pan of cold water
and bring it to the boil.
Add
a dash of olive oil of small knob of butter
to the water.
Add
the pasta to the water and stir.
Bring
back to the boil, stirring occasionally
for between 8 and 12 minutes (less for fresh
pasta). The pasta is done when it is al
dente - when it is firm to the bite
- not soft and mushy and not still hard.
The old tale of throwing spaghetti at the
wall to see if it sticks may be more fun,
but the only way to tell if the pasta is
al dente is to taste it.
When
done drain well, and either add the pasta
sauce and stir together or arrange the pasta
on a plate with the pasta sauce on top.
