Food Tips
Essential cooking tips for pasta lovers
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Food Tips
Essential cooking tips for pasta lovers
In honour of World Pasta Day on October 25, we chatted with celebrity chef David Rocco about the basics of pasta, tips on how to elevate pasta dinners, and why he loves it so much.
It's safe to say that pasta is a convenient and affordable staple in most people's pantries, and that rings especially true for celebrity chef David Rocco, whose Italian heritage makes him no stranger to this dinner favourite. "As a kid, I had to have pasta every day, and what inspired me to become a chef was seeing my mom being able to whip up a pasta dish in minutes" he says. And who could blame him? Making an exquisite pasta dish doesn't have to be complicated—butter, olive oil and some Parmigiano can be all you need to put together a delicious meal. But, of course, a pasta dinner can be so much more than just that.
We had the chance to chat with David all about pasta. Here, what you don't know — but need to — about your go-to weeknight dish.
1. There are so many pasta-bilities.
Did you know there are over 600 varieties of pasta cuts in the world? And when it comes to pairing them with sauces and toppings, "it's like a canvas, says David, "you can change the sauce and you get a totally different meal." For the traditionalists out there, you can't go wrong with these combos:
- Rigatoni: Choose a rich bolognese meat sauce for a fail-proof pairing.
- Penne: Top with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil for a refreshing taste.
- Spaghetti: Go for the gold and add mussels and clams in a buttery sauce.
- Fusilli or Rotini: Team with tuna and capers for a flavourful base.
2. The principles of cooking it right.
Although making pasta is simple, there are some basic guidelines David recommends following:
- Add salt to water when it comes to a boil. The pasta will slightly absorb the salt and it'll be more flavourful.
- Your pasta should finish cooking in sauce. If the pasta package calls for 8 minutes of cooking time, remove it at six-and-a-half minutes (or, when it's pre-al dente, meaning there's a white ring visible after taking a bite of a noodle) and transfer to a pot of sauce to cook for the remainder of the time.
- Reserve a ladle of pasta water. Once the pasta is finished cooking in your sauce, add a ladle of water from the pot the pasta was cooked in. "This will thicken the sauce giving it a beautiful sheen—the sauce and the pasta just cling together like one beautiful marriage," says David.
- Keep your pasta in the box. Even those leftover bits of pasta that you don't end up using should remain in the box and kept away in your pantry to keep them fresh.
3. It's healthier than you think.
Pasta is healthier when it's not overcooked. "Keeping it al dente makes it more digestible and keeps the sugar index levels down," says David. And of course, what you top it with matters. Load it up with vegetables like broccoli, or, make a sauce out of puréed peas, broccoli and beans for rotini pasta, sprinkle Parmigiano on top, and you've got a healthier and heartier pasta option.
4. It doesn't have to be so basic.
It doesn't take much to elevate a basic pasta dish for a delicious weeknight meal. Take note from David: While the pasta's cooking, fry up some pancetta or prosciutto with garlic, diced tomatoes and fresh basil, to create a simple but amazing sauce. "That hit of salty prosciutto or pancetta just gives your pasta an amazing hit of flavour," says David.
5. It can turn into an unexpected treat you need to try.
Have leftover pieces of pasta in your pantry? Cook it, and try this: "Get an egg or two and beat it in a large bowl. Add that extra pasta into your egg mixture, fry it up and then flip it over," says David. "It becomes this omelette-pasta pizza and is the best snack ever—it's delicious!"
Celebrate World Pasta Day with one of our favourite pasta recipes:
LEMONY TOMATO BASIL PASTA
SPINACH & AVOCADO GREEN GODDESS PASTA
Photography by Jodi Pudge
GET THE RECIPE: Spinach & Avocado Green Goddess Pasta
SLOW COOKER TOMATO & SAUSAGE PASTA
Photography by Jeff Coulson
GET THE RECIPE: Slow Cooker Tomato & Sausage Pasta
PENNE WITH JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES & CRISPY CHORIZO
Photography by Jodi Pudge
GET THE RECIPE: Penne With Jerusalem Artichokes & Crispy Chorizo
BUTTER CHICKEN SKILLET MAC & CHEESE
David Rocco is a Canadian executive producer, celebrity chef, best-selling author and host of many international syndicated television series. Rocco partners with Barilla to promote great-quality pasta.
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