Pasta is a much-loved pantry staple that is nutritious, tasty and oh so versatile. Whether you are a seasoned chef or a kitchen novice, mastering the art of cooking pasta can elevate your culinary repertoire from zero to hero with hungry friends and family.
Over the years, we’ve all eaten pasta that’s been soggy, stuck together, or not cooked enough. So, knowing how to cook pasta is a must have before you even start searching for pasta recipes. Understanding the art of adding the right ingredients to your cooked pasta is also essential. Often the simplest ingredients bring out the best in this traditional cuisine like these classics:
- Classic Aglio e Olio: Garlic, olive oil & chilli flakes
- Creamy Avocado: Mashed avocado, lemon juice & basil
- Simple Marinara: Tomato sauce with fresh basil and a touch of garlic
- Speedy Pesto pasta: Organic pesto pasta with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese
PASTA TIPS
Ready to start? Follow these essential tips for the perfect pasta.
Check Your Pot Size
Pasta expands in volume during cooking - up to 3x its original size – so make sure your pot is big enough to comfortably handle the amount of pasta you are cooking.
Water & Salt
Be generous with the amount of water you are cooking your pasta in - this helps prevent pasta from sticking together during cooking. And don’t forget to add a pinch of salt!
Get Boiling
To prevent pasta sticking, wait for the water to boil first before adding the pasta. Once added, stir regularly to prevent any sticking. For an eco-friendly twist, reuse the nutrient-rich pasta water in your sauces or soups.
Ideal Texture
The ideal pasta texture is "al dente" – tender but still firm to the bite. Follow the cooking time on the package, but taste-test your pasta as you go. Remember that residual heat will continue cooking the pasta, so err on the side of undercooking if you plan to finish it in a sauce.
Drain Don’t Rinse
Once your pasta is cooked, drain the water but do not rinse the pasta under cold water. This process will actually cause you to lose important starches that help pasta sauce stick to the pasta.
Pair with the Right Toppings
When selecting sauces and toppings, consider the shape and texture of your pasta. Hearty pastas like penne or fettuccine pair well with rich, meaty sauces. Delicate pasta's like spaghetti or angel hair complement lighter, oil-based sauces.
PASTA TYPES
Pasta can be a nourishing addition to your diet when enjoyed in moderation and paired with nutrient-dense ingredients. The question often asked is, which pasta is best for me and my family?
High Protein
If you’re looking to increase your update of protein and fibre, legume-based pastas like Eco Organics offer a higher protein and high fibre content than traditional wheat pastas. Eco Organics Chickpea Fettucine, for example, contains a whopping 42g of protein per serve (the average protein contained in two chicken breasts) and 21g of fibre. Black Soybean Spaghetti contains even more protein (44g of protein) and 22g of fibre per serve (that’s approximately 73% of your daily recommended fibre intake from one ingredient!).
Made with Certified Sustainable Ingredients
If you’re passionate about supporting sustainable agriculture, choosing pasta from Berkelo is an ideal choice. Their Sourdough Pasta range has been crafted from certified sustainable flour sourced from the Wholegrain Mill in Northern NSW. The pasta is slow dried over 16 hours to hold flavours well and improve digestibility and nutrient availability. Each of these Certified Sustainable products are fully traceable and are tested to be residue free, GMO free, high quality and nutrient dense.
PASTA FOR KIDS
Zoo animals and organic ingredients - talk about the perfect combination for a kids’ pasta! Our very own Organic Zoo Pasta is a tasty, authentic Italian pasta created from organic durum wheat, tomato and spinach, cut into fun zoo shapes kids love! And unlike many commercial pastas, ours is made by cutting the pasta through a bronze extruder which produces a rough and textured pasta surface (allowing pasta sauce to cling and hold better) It’s then slow-dried for over 30 hours. Some commercial pasta makers use less expensive Teflon dies which creates smooth, shiny pasta with a slick surface that sauce won’t stick to as easily.
ORGANIC
Want to upgrade family meals to include organic ingredients? Choosing organic pasta means you are consuming a product that is free from pesticides, GMOs, preservatives or fillers and is packed with quality ingredients that offer superior nutritional value. Want to try organic pasta? Try Organic Penne or Organic Fusilli with Tomato & Spinach.
GLUTEN FREE
You can also make your own gluten free pasta using Cassava Flour. Check out the recipe below:
INGREDIENTS:
- 225g Organic Cassava Flour
- 50g rice flour
- 50g corn flour
- 3g xanthan gum
- 21g oil
- 3 eggs
METHOD:
1. In a mixing bowl, sift and mix all dry ingredients together.
2. Add oil and eggs to dry ingredients. Mix all ingredients together using a dough hook or mix by hand until well combined.
3. Remove the dough from the bowl and press together to form a ball. The dough should stick together however have a slight crumbly texture and slightly tacky. Gladwrap the dough so it does not dry.
4. The dough may be rolled out between two pieces of baking paper and hand cut. You may find that the edges break, simply cut them off and roll them out a second time.
5. If using a pasta machine I recommend using small amounts of dough at a time and a gentle hand. You will find that the dough may crumble the first couple times you pass it through the machine. Simply continue to fold the edges over and pass the dough through the first setting several times until the dough smooths, before changing the thickness. I found that rolling this dough to the 5th setting on a Marcato Pasta Machine was the perfect thickness, followed by the fettucine attachment. If he edges of the dough crumble, simply cut them off and repeat the rolling process.
6. Heat a pot of water over the stove (I like to add a touch of salt), once the water has boiled reduce heat to a simmer. Add your fresh pasta to the water and cook for approximately 2-3 minutes. Time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of your pasta.
7. Serve with your favourite sauce.
BON APPETIT
Now you’ve picked your pasta – here’s a little inspiration to get you in the mood for Autumn pasta perfection. Bon Appetit!
