Spaghetti 🍝 — a staple of Italian cuisine, featuring long, thin pasta noodles that can be paired with a variety of sauces from simple olive oil and garlic to rich meat sauces.
Basic Cooked Spaghetti (Serves 4)
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 g) dry spaghetti
- 4–5 quarts water
- 1–2 tsp salt
- Sauce of your choice (marinara, Bolognese, pesto, aglio e olio, etc.)
Instructions
1️⃣ Boil Pasta
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.
- Add salt to season the water.
- Add spaghetti, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
2️⃣ Cook
- Boil for 8–12 minutes, depending on desired firmness:
- 8–9 min for al dente
- 10–12 min for softer pasta
3️⃣ Drain & Serve
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water if using sauce — it helps the sauce stick.
- Drain spaghetti in a colander.
- Toss with sauce immediately and serve hot.
Tips
- Stir pasta occasionally during cooking to prevent clumping.
- For extra flavor, finish pasta in the sauce for 1–2 minutes, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
- Top with freshly grated Parmesan, fresh herbs, or a drizzle of olive oil.
- Avoid rinsing spaghetti unless using in a cold pasta salad.
I can also give you a classic spaghetti Bolognese recipe with rich meat sauce if you want a full meal version.
Do you want me to provide that?
