Simple Pasta
Boil water. Salt it. Add noodles. That is the whole skill. Cheese and oil do the rest.
- Time
- 15 min
- Cost
- $2.50 / 2 sv
- Protein
- 14g
- Calories
- 430
Cost is an approximate grocery total for this recipe as written. Protein and calories are estimates per serving.
Video coming soon
This slot is ready for a follow-along YouTube. Until then, the steps below are enough.
Shopping list
- 8 ounces PastaPantry
- 1 tablespoon for the water, plus a pinch after SaltPantry
- 1 tablespoon Olive oilPantry
- 1/3 cup Shredded cheeseDairy
Do this
- 1Fill a saucepan 2/3 full of water. Add a tablespoon of salt. It should taste like the ocean — that is how the pasta gets flavor.
- 2Bring to a rolling boil (big bubbles that do not stop when you stir). Add pasta. Stir for 10 seconds so it does not glue together.
- 3Set a timer for the low end of the box time. Taste a noodle at the timer. It should be tender with a tiny bit of chew, not crunchy and not mush.
- 4Scoop out 1/4 cup of the cloudy water with a measuring cup, then drain the pasta.
- 5Put pasta back in the pot. Off the heat, add oil, cheese, a pinch of salt, and a splash of that pasta water. Stir until it looks creamy, not dry.
- 6If it clumps, you needed more pasta water. Next time you will remember. Eat immediately.
Gear for this one
One saucepan
Pasta, rice, oatmeal, chili. A 2–3 quart pot covers almost every 'boil water' job.
Find on Amazon (opens Amazon)Measuring cup
Rice, pasta water, yogurt bowls. Close enough counts — wild guessing does not.
Find on Amazon (opens Amazon)Tongs
Move hot chicken, pasta, and vegetables without burning your fingers.
Find on Amazon (opens Amazon)
