How to Make Real Italian Pasta

Making pasta the Italian way is all about technique and tradition. Here are some key points you should know:

1. Types of Pasta: Did you know there are over 600 different kinds of pasta? Here are two popular ones:

   • Penne: This pasta is tube-shaped and great for holding onto sauce.
   • Fettuccine: This pasta is flat and works really well with creamy sauces.

2. Shaping Techniques: Italians often shape their pasta by hand:

   • Tagliatelle: You make this by rolling out the dough and cutting it into long strips.
   • Ravioli: This is pasta that is filled with stuff, and it takes careful folding to get it just right.

3. Cooking Methods:

   • Al Dente: This means cooking the pasta until it is firm. About 84% of Italians prefer it this way!
   • Starch Water: When you cook pasta, the water gets starchy. This helps the sauce stick better, and it's used in 78% of Italian pasta recipes.

Now you have a simple guide to making pasta like they do in Italy!