Cooking School Lesson

How to Cook Pasta

Lesson Graduates

Marvin M Maggie K Emma W Every R Mohammed A Vanessa H Grant S Joe S Andre M Anyonita G Josh P Michael V Shirley S Craig W Enida J Giuseppe D Melissa J Carl O Jennifer R Dan V Julie A Nancy B Zeb K Michelle C Gavin A Reda D Chris A Kevin C Doris L Gregery B Peter B Angeli P Karen P George P Giovanni M Hugo S Aron H Rick T Brenda L Lucia P Andrew L Ajay S

Lesson completed by:
3531 students

Lesson Snapshot:

  • 1 instructional video
  • 12 practice recipes
  • 30 tip and technique videos
  • interactive quiz

Lesson Description & Goals

Pasta is one of the most loved dishes around the world. In Italy, eating a plate of pasta is a daily ritual – a plate of properly-cooked pasta that is. Remarkably, however, most people inadvertently have been eating improperly cooked pasta for most of their lives.

In this lesson, you will learn the essentials in order to properly cook pasta. You will learn how to cook both dried and fresh pasta and how to test each type for doneness. You will also learn how to properly drain, sauce and serve pasta. Finally, you will learn how to match different sauces to the type of pasta you are cooking.

Even though cooking pasta is perceived to be very simple, you may be quite surprised to find out how many mistakes are commonly made. If pasta is a mainstay in your culinary repertoire, this lesson is sure to change the way you enjoy it.

  • List the key essentials for cooking pasta
  • Cook pasta to perfection every time
  • Properly sauce pasta
  • Explain what al dente is and how it’s achieved
  • Match pasta sauce with specific pasta shapes for pasta recipes

Lesson Practice Recipes

This lesson includes access to the following text & instructional video recipes

Sausage Rigatoni with Sun-dried Tomato Sauce

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

Spicy Italian and mild fennel sausage in a rich sun-dried tomato sauce.

Comments: 11 Views: 9460 Success: 91%

Lemon Parmesan Orzo

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

Orzo tossed with Italian parsley, lemon and Parmigiano Reggiano.

Comments: 17 Views: 10559 Success: 95%

Penne Mediterranean

by Kimberley S in Rouxbe Recipes

Penne pasta is tossed with chicken, feta, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms and a light, stock-based sauce.

Comments: 25 Views: 12852 Success: 98%

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

by Tony M in Rouxbe Recipes

Garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, red chili flakes and quality pasta make up this delectable dish.

Comments: 64 Views: 25452 Success: 92%

Fava Bean and Kale Pappardelle

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

A quick and healthy whole-wheat pasta dish. Fresh, seasonal fava beans are tossed together with kale and green olives and ...

Comments: 6 Views: 8546 Success: 100%

Torchiette with Bacon, Beer & Cheese Sauce

by Tony M in Rouxbe Recipes

A twist on the classic mac 'n' cheese (macaroni and cheese). Torchiette pasta is smothered with a cheesy aged cheddar sauc...

Comments: 31 Views: 18774 Success: 83%
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Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp, Chili and Tomatoes

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

Inspired by Gordon Ramsay's Cookalong Live, this quick-to-make pasta appetizer is full of fresh flavors.

Comments: 12 Views: 20587 Success: 100%
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Spaghetti and Meatballs alla Nonna

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

These are Grandma's meatballs - okay not my Grandmothers, but they are still delicious. Milk-soaked bread is the secret to...

Comments: 38 Views: 12656 Success: 100%
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Braised Short Rib Ragu

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

This hearty beef ragu requires very little effort to put together and the results are outstanding.

Comments: 3 Views: 5047 Success: 100%
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Spinach-Ricotta Ravioli

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

Tender, delicate pasta filled with fresh spinach and ricotta.

Comments: 11 Views: 7501 Success: 100%

Pasta Boscaiola

by Kimberley S in Rouxbe Recipes

Fresh pappardelle is lightly coated with a delicious sauce of mushrooms, prosciutto, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and a bit ...

Comments: 8 Views: 5806 Success: 97%

Orecchiette with Pesto-Cream Sauce

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

Orecchiette enveloped in a fresh pesto-cream sauce. Simple yet sensational.

Comments: 11 Views: 10794 Success: 100%
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Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Curated from www.zencancook.com

This authentic spaghetti alla carbonara is made with Parmigiano-Reggiano, eggs, and crispy guanciale bacon.

Comments: 0 Views: 700 Success: 100%
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Squash Ravioli with Sage-Brown Butter

Curated from www.zencancook.com

Fresh butternut squash ravioli served with a deliciously nutty, brown butter and sage sauce.

Comments: 0 Views: 576 Success: 100%
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Cacio e Pepe | Cheese & Pepper Pasta

Curated from theitaliandishblog.com

This simple pasta dish of cheese and cracked black pepper is one of my family's favorites. If you've ever been to Rome, yo...

Comments: 0 Views: 700 Success: 100%
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Spaghetti with Roasted Tomatoes, Garlic, Pancetta

Curated from theitaliandishblog.com

This luscious pasta dish is topped with tomatoes which are roasted with bread crumbs and stuffed with slivers of garlic. T...

Comments: 0 Views: 760 Success: 100%
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Corzetti with Parmesan, Pine Nuts and Herbs

Curated from theitaliandishblog.com

Corzetti are Italian pasta discs that are stamped with a design, which helps to hold a sauce. They are a regional pasta to...

Comments: 0 Views: 596 Success: 100%

Fresh Herbed Quark Spaetzle

Curated from www.foodrepublic.com

Spaetzle which is often served as a side dish, is similar in texture to gnocchi. This fresh pasta, is boiled and then saut...

Comments: 0 Views: 343 Success: 100%

What People are Saying

Soraya S
Very grateful.
I am very grateful for what I am learning, it allows me to correct several errors that I made when cooking.