Pasta 101

A foolproof, step-by-step guide to making perfect pasta―from putting on a pot of water to matching up pasta shapes and recipes.

The Basics

Pasta
A staple of every pantry, dried pasta—a delectable combination of semolina flour, water, and salt—is a surefire kid-pleaser, a quintessential comfort food, and the basis of no end of delicious dishes. Fresh pasta, which contains eggs, is more tender than dried and cooks in about half the time.

Delicious Recipes

20-Minute Pasta Recipes
The sauces for each of these dishes can be whipped up in the time it takes to boil the water and cook the pasta―and in some cases, even less. They're easy enough for everyday but elegant enough for company. 

20 Easy Pasta Dishes
Meals that are simple, fast, and delicious, too.

Essential Ingredients for Italian Cooking Checklist

Stock your pantry with a few basic ingredients to create an authentic Italian meal.

• Canned tomatoes. Opt for whole, peeled tomatoes as opposed to crushed or diced for pungent flavor in everything from sauces to soup.

  Related: The Best Ways to Use Canned Tomatoes 

• Dried pasta. A combination of flour, water, and salt, dried pasta is a quintessential comfort food and the basis of many Italian dishes.

  Related: Common Types of Pasta

• Arborio rice. A short-grained rice with high starch content, Arborio releases starch and thickens when cooked at length over low heat, making it ideal for creamy risottos.

  Related: Risotto, 5 Ways

View The Entire Checklist