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Two Vital Tricks When Making Spaghetti

Wait.  There are two vital tricks when making spaghetti?  Really?  There are tricks to making one of the easiest dishes on the planet?

As my great Italian auntie says, “Yeah, buddy.”

OK, I don’t really have an Italian auntie, but as a Texan I say that all the time.

To the tricks!

First, I hope you have made the delicious and easy meat sauce from an earlier post.

Once the sauce is made, cook the pasta (according to package directions is fine).  This is my favorite brand.  Who else eats a few strands before throwing them in the water?

Two Vital Tricks When Making Spaghetti

I make sure there is enough water for my pasta to dance in, throw in a bit of salt and wait until the water is boiling before sliding in the pasta.  Once pasta is in, boil for a good 7-10 minutes depending how done you prefer your noodles.

Two Vital Tricks When Making Spaghetti

VITAL TRICKS AHEAD! 

Trick #1:  After the pasta is completely cooked, but before you drain in a colander, get a 1/4 cup measuring cup and dip into the pasta water (DON’T BURN YOURSELF!):

Two Vital Tricks When Making Spaghetti

The measuring cup doesn’t have to be full, but you want most of the measurement:

Two Vital Tricks When Making Spaghetti

Transfer the pasta water to your meat sauce and pour in:

Two Vital Tricks When Making Spaghetti

All of it!

Two Vital Tricks When Making Spaghetti

Mix well.

What you’re basically doing is taking the sticky pasta starch that’s in the water and mixing it with your sauce so that when you combine your pasta with your sauce, the two will marry (stick together) and be as one, forever and ever, amen.  At least until its deliciousness makes its way into your stomach.

SCIENCE!

Which brings us to trick #2.

Trick #2: When your pasta is done and you drain it into a colander, DO NOT RINSE THE PASTA.

Rinsing the pasta strips it of the clingy starch left behind from the water.

Just let the pasta drain, then toss it into the pot of meat sauce and mix.

Your sauce and pasta are now married.  You may kiss the cook.

Two Vital Tricks When Making Spaghetti

Mama Mia!

Or as we say here in Texas, “Let’s eat, y’all!”

 

 

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Want a Simple and Delicious Meat Sauce? This!

Monday 27th of February 2017

[…] eat lots of homemade meat sauce in our house. I use it with pasta, quinoa or rice. It’s versatile and superior to anything in a […]

Laura@Baking In Pyjamas

Sunday 16th of March 2014

That's a great tip and one I use myself. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury, we'd love for you to stop by and link up again this weekend!

Mrs. Tucker

Sunday 16th of March 2014

Glad you know this tip!

Heather {Woods of Bell Trees}

Wednesday 5th of March 2014

Awesome tips lady! Oh my gawsh you remind me sooo much of my mother in law, whom I love by the way.

Mrs. Tucker

Wednesday 5th of March 2014

Ooo, you love your MIL. I likey!

Agos

Wednesday 5th of March 2014

I never rinse my pasta (unless I'm making pasta salad of course), but I had never heard of the pasta water trick! It sounds pretty interesting.

Mrs. Tucker

Wednesday 5th of March 2014

A new trick to impress your friends with!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life

Tuesday 4th of March 2014

What great tips, I love it. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

Mrs. Tucker

Tuesday 4th of March 2014

Thanks!

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