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Mike smith's avatar

I have found that there is a huge difference between different pastas. I used to think they were all pretty much the same, but then I bought some of the expensive, Italian, copper extruded stuff, and it is delicious. The rough texture absorbs the sauce, and the texture is always "chewy", my favorite. I would never have thought it would make such a difference since pasta contains so few ingredients, but based on my taste tests, the difference between brands is huge.

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Wild Lion*esses Pride from Jay's avatar

Absolutely, Mike! You’re spot on about the difference between cheap pasta and the crafted stuff—it's a game changer. But here's where the magic happens: when you take that high-quality, slightly undercooked pasta and let it steep in the sauce for those crucial 2-3 minutes, something transformative occurs. It’s like the pasta becomes one with the sauce. Whether it’s broth, cream, or wine, that liquid — along with all its flavors — gets absorbed by the pasta itself. It's not just sitting on top anymore, but rather melding together, allowing every bite to burst with a depth of flavor you can’t achieve by simply spooning sauce over the pasta. That’s when the texture, the starch, and the sauce really come together to create something extraordinary. It’s a method that elevates the whole dish, giving the pasta a rich, flavorful heart.

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Constellations In Her Bones's avatar

YUM. :0)

The Pasta Paradox! Makes me smile and now I'm hungry. Again.

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