Follow this how-to guide whenever you want to cook the perfect pasta nests, no matter if you're using a tomato- or cream-based pasta sauce.
Active Time10 minutesmins
Total Time10 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Jim Stonos
Equipment
Pot
Pasta insert
Cooking spoon
Frying pan
Materials
0.5lbpasta nests(Fettuccine, tagliatelle, or another long pasta variety)
0.5tbspsalt(Sea salt or any other type of salt)
2quartswater(Tap water)
Instructions
Boil the Pasta Nests
In the pot, salt the water and bring it to a gentle boil over medium-high heat
Put the pasta nests in the pasta insert, then place the pasta insert in the pot of gently-boiling water
Cook 2-3 minutes less than the recommended cooking time in the instructions on the package
When the pasta noodles are tender on the inside, but still firm to the bite on the outside (al dente), they're done
Toss the Pasta Noodles With the Pasta Sauce
Given that your pasta sauce is just done and still in the frying pan over medium heat, strain the noodles and transfer them to the frying pan
Scoop up 1 cooking spoonful of salty and starchy pasta water, adding it to the pasta sauce and pasta noodles in your frying pan
Toss and cook the noodles, stirring lightly every so often, for 1-2 minutes, letting the pasta water incorporate with the sauceāand the noodles absorb it
Plate and serve, optionally grinding some hard Italian cheese (like Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano) on the pasta dish