How to Cook Pasta Like a Native Italian

With "carb" becoming a dirty word, it may surprise people in this country to know that in Italy, millions of people eat pasta - either for lunch or for dinner - every day. Naturally, they know best how to cook it. For a process that is literally as easy as boiling water, it's amazing how the little things they do in Italy make such a big difference.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Pot of boiling water
• Strainer
• Pasta
• Salt
• Butter
• Sauce
• Small saucepan
• Grated Parmesan Cheese

1. Pour salt into your palm until it makes a small pile. Dump the pile into the pot of boiling water. Repeat once for every two servings of pasta you're cooking.
2. Dump the uncooked pasta into the pot of salted boiling water, making sure it's all fully submerged.
   
   Boil pasta on high heat for a minute or two less than the recommended cooking time, then sample a noodle for firmness.
   
   Be sure to remove the pasta before it reaches your desired softness, as pasta keeps cooking after it's removed from the boiling water.
3. Drain the cooked pasta in the strainer and return it to the pot. Over very low heat, stir in about a tablespoon of butter for every half-pound of pasta until the noodles are coated.
4. In the small saucepan, warm up your favorite sauce over medium heat.
5. In a large bowl, spoon the sauce onto the pasta, and top with grated Parmesan.
   
   Buon Apetito!

Tips & Warnings

• Add an authentic appetizer of prosciutto wrapped melon, buy fresh bread from the bakery, and open a hearty chianti for a true taste of Italy anytime.