Click below to listen to Chefs Jackie and Jeff talk about these recipes and tips:
Everybody knows how to cook pasta, right? But, maybe you don't know all the time tested tips two top cooks will share with you here, and a great, simple pasta recipe. Have fun!
HOW TO COOK PASTA
Use plenty of water in your cooking pot, enough to cover your pasta 3 times.
Adding olive oil will help prevent pasta sticking together, but stirring occasionally will achieve the same result and add less fat.
Add salt to your cooking water. Pasta that absorbs salt from the cooking water will have a better flavor.
Add herbs like fresh chopped garlic to your cooking water. Just like salt, flavors will be absorbed.
Add pasta to rapidly boiling water, then reduce the heat to medium for cooking.
In Italy, cooks used to throw pasta against a wall, particularly spagetti, to see if it was "al dente". If it stuck, it was done. Even if messy in your kitchen.
If using pasta in a cold dish, "shock" it in ice water after draining the hot water off. This retards the cooking process so your pasta won't get too soft.
PASTA E OLIO
Courtesy of Chef Jeff Calley © 2011
2 Tbsp Salt (for boiling)
4 Tbsp Olive Oil (for boiling)
1 lb. Pasta (use your favorite dried)
4 Tbsp Olive Oil (for dressing)
2 Tbsp Butter (for dressing)
1 Cup Grated parmesan
5 Leaves Fresh basil
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Put oil and salt for boiling into a 4 quart pan filled 3/4 of the way with water. Bring to a brisk boil. Ease the pasta into the water and reduce the heat to a light boil. Depending on which variety of dry pasta you use, boil it for 8-10 minutes.
No comments:
Post a Comment