Pasta Problems

[ItalianinLondon]

AIBU to wonder...

Why people don't cook their pasta in its sauce for the last two minutes? (The starch of the pasta water gives the sauce a better texture and the pasta gets better flavoured by the sauce, if you do)

Why it is considered unacceptable (by my DH) to have multiple pastas open simultaneously? (You need different types for different dishes!)

And why anyone would object to the eating of pasta 5x per week? Especially when you can buy wholegrain, spelt, etc. etc. (Not that I do, if I'm honest.)

This is an important matter, worthy of considered debate, IMHO!

Fantastic! My brexit box is full of pasta and therefore I need new recipe to try out. I'm heading over there now

My two favourite carbs are pasta and rice. I have multiple kinds open away the same. I did not know the tip re last 2 min of cooking, thank you!

I've never ever had a bad meal in Italy.
I have. In Rome and in Venice. Things out of tins/microwaved, served with maximum surliness.

So have I! My mum was literally the world's worst cook. Unusually, for an Italian family, my dad did 90% of the cooking. But his mother (my grandmother) had 7 boys and 0 girls, so she had to pass on her culinary skills regardless of gender!

Agree. You can guarantee to have a bad meal in hot touristy spots.

I remember my brother saying the pizzas he had in Italy were crap. I personally love a thin base and have discovered that rocket on a pizza is lovely and helps make it healthier.

Is more expensive pasta worth the money? I know the fancier shakes are often only the more expensive brands. I usually get tesco or Waitrose own. Asda's is vile and has a kind of cinnamon flavour to it.

Oh dear - I didn't realise it was frowned upon to have lots of different pasta open at the same time! In that case i'm a major offender. Then again i grew up in a household with a 'Pasta cupboard' if there were less than three full bags, then mum decided we were running out and more was needed!

I do disagree with mixing shapes in one dish though...

re. cooking in the sauce after, i always mix through including some pasta water but wouldnt say i 'cook it' ...i worry about over cooked pasta in that instance

(Please don’t shout at me) I cant eat wheat and spent years trying to convince myself that gluten free options were lovely even though they really weren’t BUT I now eat the Doves Farm brown rice pasta and genuinely love it. It’s only got one ingredient unlike all the other gf versions, it’s got great texture and a lovely flavour. And feels a little bit virtuous. I have tried some of the fancy gf pastas imported from Italy. They are good but at £5-6 a pop, a bit bloody pricey.

And yes I also do the spoonful of pasta water before sauce thing. Think I got that from that famous Italian, Jamie Oliver

@Broken2020 our family has got through an entire packet of M&S Fiorelli since you posted. Never had it before. Gorgeous, thanks! #mmmmwildgarlicpestosoon