The Ultimate Homemade Spaghetti: From Perfect Noodle Boiling to Flavor-Boosting Tips
Boil Spaghetti Like a Pro: Achieve That Chewy, Delicious Texture Every Time!
Spaghetti is a go-to dish for a simple yet satisfying lunch at home! With the wide variety of pre-made sauces available nowadays, you can easily whip up a delicious pasta meal with just spaghetti noodles and sauce. Once considered a restaurant-only treat, spaghetti is now accessible for home cooks thanks to convenient meal kits. Many ready-to-heat products offer restaurant-quality taste and texture. For instance, ‘CJ Premium Pasta/Spaghetti’ (a Korean brand) comes in a 320g package with 1,168 calories, recommended for 3-4 servings with an 8-minute cooking time. It’s made with 100% Italian durum wheat semolina for authentic Italian pasta. Its affordable price makes it a popular choice, but did you know there are many types of spaghetti noodles beyond the classic long strands? Common pasta shapes include macaroni, fusilli, penne, and lasagna. Dried pasta is traditionally enjoyed in Southern Italy, while fresh pasta is more common in the North. ‘CJ Pasta’ is a dried pasta product, though fresh pasta is also gaining popularity. Pasta made from 100% Italian durum wheat semolina contains about 365 calories per 100g. ‘Pasta’ in Italian refers to dough made from flour, and semolina derived from ground durum wheat is used to produce various shapes like spaghetti, macaroni, and lasagna. Spaghetti, a representative Italian dish, is loved worldwide! While each product has its own cooking instructions, a few tips can elevate your homemade spaghetti. Adding salt to the boiling water helps the gluten in the pasta retain its structure and absorb flavor, resulting in a chewier texture. A common method involves boiling 2000cc of water with 20g of salt. Once boiling, add the spaghetti noodles. Stir occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking together. The cooking time for spaghetti can be adjusted based on your preferred texture. ‘Al dente,’ favored in Western cuisine, means firm to the bite and typically takes about 8 minutes. For a texture preferred by many Koreans, around 10 minutes is ideal. If you prefer softer noodles, cook for about 12 minutes. These are general guidelines; always refer to the cooking instructions on the package. A standard serving size for spaghetti noodles is about the size of a 500-won coin, roughly 80g to 100g. However, for culinary exams like the ‘Yangshik Jorisa’ (Western Cuisine Cook) practical test, a serving is considered 70g.
Main Ingredients
- Spaghetti noodles (approx. 80g-100g per serving)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Today, we’re making delicious spaghetti using a rose sauce that I have at home. It’s simple to make with just sauce, minced garlic, and some green onions. First, bring a generous amount of water to a boil in a pot. Once the water is boiling, add a pinch of salt. It’s important to ensure all the spaghetti noodles are submerged in the boiling water. If any part of the noodles is sticking out of the pot, it could burn, so be careful! When you add the noodles, don’t just leave them be, as they tend to stick together. Stir them gently a few times during the first minute or two. Some people add olive oil to prevent sticking, but a pinch of salt and consistent stirring is often sufficient. Adding oil won’t help if you don’t stir properly. Spaghetti noodles shouldn’t be rinsed with water after cooking, as this removes the starch that helps the sauce cling to them.
Step 2
The cooking time for spaghetti can be adjusted to achieve your desired texture. Boiling for 8 to 9 minutes results in ‘al dente’ pasta, which is firm with a slight bite in the center. This texture is often preferred in China. For a texture that’s popularly favored in Korea, aim for 10 minutes, which yields a tender yet satisfying bite. If you prefer very soft noodles, cook for about 12 minutes. Pasta cooked ‘al dente’ is often described as having a ‘core’ or a firm center. Personal preference varies, of course. While the sauce will be simmered with the noodles later, this won’t significantly overcook them. Therefore, for the commonly preferred Korean texture, cooking for over 10 minutes is recommended. Keep in mind that cooking times can vary slightly between brands, so always consult the instructions on the back of the package for the most accurate cooking duration.
Step 3
Now, let’s finish making our delicious spaghetti! Melt some butter in a pan and sauté the minced garlic and green onions until fragrant. Once the aroma of garlic and onions is released, add the boiled spaghetti noodles and the prepared spaghetti sauce. Stir-fry everything together until the sauce is well combined with the noodles. Voila! Your delicious spaghetti is ready! As mentioned earlier, it’s crucial not to rinse the spaghetti noodles after boiling. In restaurants, when cooking large batches of spaghetti, they often toss the cooked noodles with oil, cool them with a fan, and then briefly reheat them with the sauce before serving. Boiling spaghetti noodles is surprisingly easy, isn’t it?
