Among the other Italian cuisines, pasta has made its way to become the most favourite cuisine of many people worldwide. The strange thing about its liking across the world is the acceptability from a wide range of age groups.
Pasta is indeed an international cuisine; that is why you will notice a craving for pasta among all age groups. You will see a four-year-old gnawing at pasta. A teenager is enjoying eating it. Are you looking for Pronto Pizza?
While a 35-year-old eating pasta heartily and even a 60-year-old impatiently waiting for their pasta treat. A person of any age loves pasta. I am honestly speaking! Even my dog sniffs it when I make pasta.
Are you a pasta lover? If yes, then you might have asked the same question as I do, “what makes a good pasta?” How to cook Perfect Pasta?
Or If you are the lover of pizza then you must need to read ” What Makes A Good Pizza? “
When you try to find the perfect recipe to follow, you get lost in the tiny details of so many recipes. I found my answer and it’s time for me to share it with you all.
Pasta for the Pasta:
Oh yes! How can you make pasta without pasta? Usually, people are confused about which pasta to use when it comes to perfection. Some prefer using fresh pasta; however, others believe dried pasta is better.
The quality of the pasta is essential when it comes to improving the taste of pasta. Both dried and fresh pasta can be used with their specifications.
Lets’ first talk about dry pasta.
What is Dry Pasta and when to use it?
Dry pasta is easy to boil and cook. First of all, choose a good quality pasta. You need to try a few brands based on the availability in your region and decide accordingly. Sometimes, local companies also provide the most refined quality pasta.
However, the best quality pasta is white and hard, made from durum. Durum is wheat that is the hardest and the richest in protein. There are specific parameters that you can use to identify good pasta.
If the pasta doesn’t take long to cook and is not sticky after boiling, it is good pasta.
While boiling, if you observe a moist texture appearing on the top repeatedly, it means it is not a good quality pasta.
Secondly, the trick also lies in boiling pasta in more water and a comparatively bigger pot.
This way, the pasta will not break during the boiling and cooking process. It would be best to stop boiling pasta when it reaches a chewy with a little firm texture.
What is Fresh Pasta and when to use it?
Fresh pasta is usually considered healthy and easy to make. However, you need more preparation time for the dish to be ready if you opt for fresh pasta.
If you want authentic Italian style pasta, then opt for fresh pasta made with eggs and flour. The simplest way to make the fresh dough is to get all-purpose flour (you can opt for different types of flour; semolina, whole wheat flour or glutton-free flour) and crack few eggs depending on the flour.
You can also use oil and water if you don’t want to use eggs to make the dough. Kneed that dough and keep in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, please take out the dough and roll it till it is thin. Now, you can use a machine to cut it or do it manually.
The good thing about this fresh pasta is that it can be cooked in 2-3 minutes and is healthier.
Pasta sauce
Pasta sauce gives life to any pasta. It is the sauce that adds flavour and taste to the pasta dish.
So, the secret to best pasta also lies in the sauce being used.
Therefore, I have lined up a few types of sauces below:
The lazy garnish:
Though the lazy garnish doesn’t fall entirely under the sauce category, I felt the need to share it with the pasta lovers.
If you are feeling lazy and don’t have time to cook the sauce for pasta, you can shred some cheese over freshly boiled pasta with little seasoning on the top.
This is the quickest and easiest pasta that you can enjoy eating.
Tomato sauce:
This is the oldest, easiest and tastiest sauce of all. The mariners initially used tomato sauce, aka Marinara sauce, to cook and season fish. It requires five ingredients and 45 minutes to make this sauce.
Take a pot and cut tomato, onions, and garlic with oregano, salt, olive oil, and dried chilli flakes.
Bring the tomato sauce to simmer and your sauce is ready.
White sauce:
White sauce is the simplest to make based on its ingredients. To make the simple white sauce, you need flour, butter, and milk. All three ingredients are available in your kitchen all the time.
You need to melt the butter in the pan and cook the flour for a few minutes, till combined well with the butter.
To avoid lumps, you will have to add milk and continuously stir it. When thickens, add more milk and level the consistency of the sauce.
Creamy, dreamy Pasta sauce:
The mouth-watering creamy sauce is also called Alfredo pasta sauce. This sauce is made with seven ingredients.
Heat a pan and whisk whipping cream, cream cheese, and butter in the pan.
Add powdered garlic, salt, and pepper to the whisked ingredients.
Bring the sauce to a smooth texture and finish with parmesan cheese. This sauce is the yummiest of all and the most favourite of cheese lovers.
Vegan tomato sauce:
If you are vegan, you can make this sauce and enjoy the taste of restaurants like pasta at home.
All you need are tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, red chilli flakes, basil, sugar, and water.
Put olive oil to the pan and add garlic to it and squashed tomatoes.
Add all the seasoning and a cup of water.
Your sauce will be ready in 45 minutes.
The green Pasta sauce:
Have you got fed up with the usual sauces? Then try the green sauce (aka Pesto). You don’t need to cook this sauce. All you need is a blender and the ingredients to make this sauce in a minute.
Put basil leaves, olive oil, any of your favourite nuts and cheese in the blender.
Blend it and pour it over freshly boiled pasta, and you are good to go.
Walnut Sauce for making yummy pasta:
It is a creamy sauce similar to the white cheese sauce.
However, it tastes nothing like the white sauce. You need ten ingredients to make this sauce (walnuts, white bread, milk, garlic, parmesan cheese, salt, lemon juice oil, parsley, and pepper).
Remove the crusts of white bread and soak it in the milk.
Blend the soaked bread with walnuts, parmesan cheese, milk, garlic, and oil.
If you want to adjust the consistency of the sauce, you can add milk to the sauce.
Add salt, lemon juice, and pepper. You can serve this sauce separately or add it to pasta.
Either way, it tastes the best.
Meat Sauce:
This sauce will increase the volume and taste of your pasta.
You need 13 ingredients to make this sauce. In a pan, use any oil of your choice with chopped onions, carrots, and celery. When vegetables are fried, add meat till it changes to brown.
Now add garlic and wine, and cook until wine is absorbed.
Add tomatoes, parsley, salt, and basil to the sauce, and leave under low heat to cook for an hour and a half till it achieves its sauce-like thickness.
Add pepper to finish. You can pour this sauce over the pasta or add the pasta to the sauce.
Either way, it would turn out heaven for your tummy.
Mince sauce:
If you love the taste of meat but can’t take long to wait for it to cook, you need the mince sauce. All you need to make this sauce is minced oil, onion, garlic, green or red pepper, tomato paste, pepper paste, black pepper, salt, and parsley.
Use any oil of your choice and add chopped onions, peppers, and garlic to the pan. Cook till it changes colour.
Now pour tomato and pepper paste into the pan, and mix well.
Pour mince in the pan and cook for 10-15 minutes. Cook the sauce with the lid covered.
Chop parsley and add the sauce along with the pasta.
Vegetable sauce:
Open your fridge and find any vegetables you want to add to the vegetable sauce. This is what I like about this sauce. You can alter the recipe to best suit yourself or your guests with their favourite vegetable. All you need is any 2 or 3 vegetables. It can be pepper, corn, squash, cabbage, carrots, spring onions, etc.
You will also need an onion, garlic, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, oregano, parsley, basil, and mushroom powder. Heat a pan and add oil and onion to the pan.
Add garlic, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, oregano, and mushroom powder.
Now add vegetables and cook properly.
To complete the sauce, add chopped parsley and basil.
Enjoy your pasta with vegetable sauce.
Conclusion:
Now you have got an answer to the never-ending question of “what makes a good pasta?”. Choose the best pasta and add your favourite sauce from the list above. Remember, you are the chef in your kitchen. Make your kids, friends, and family fall in love with your pasta.