While it might appear to be a current trend, saving and using some of the water in which you have cooked your pasta is a traditional and authentic Italian cooking method. The gloriously salted water (remember the water should be as salty as the sea) along with the starch that has been absorbed by the water provides an excellent seasoned enhancement to whatever sauce you are preparing. The hot liquid provides body and flavor to your creation.
If you find that your sauce base of vegetables and spices are sautéeing or browning too quickly, adding some of the pasta water to prevent burning will also help the flavors develop. Did you begin your sauce by toasting your spices to perfection? Try adding a ladle or two of pasta water to help marry the flavors even further, then continue to build your sauce.
Should your sauce be done in advance of your pasta and it begins to become thicker than desired, add some of the pasta water to keep it at the consistency you prefer. Pasta water will not really help achieve a truly thick sauce, but it can assist in tightening up a sauce that is a little too thin.
Always bring the pasta to the sauce, as you will bring a little pasta water with you. The days of pouring the entire pot into the colander are long gone. Thin pastas such as angel hair and capellini will absorb more sauce than tubular pastas. If you feel that you don’t have enough sauce to adequately coat your pasta, add a ladle full of pasta water and blend into your sauce. This will help to stretch your sauce to cover the pasta without altering its flavor.
The starch left in the pasta water will also help your sauce stick to the pasta, which is why you should never add oil to the water you cook your pasta in. The quickest sauce can be made from sautéing garlic and vegetables in a little bit of olive oil, crushed tomatoes, grated cheese, fresh herbs and a splash of pasta water. Delizioso!
If you’re looking for an authentic Italian experience, visit Christini’s today. As a top Orlando restaurant, we take expert care with each and every one of our mouth-watering pasta sauces. Schedule a reservation, or just stop by! We are more than happy to present you with quality service and an elegant experience. Stop by today, we’ll do the cooking so you don’t have to.