Make Spaghetti
Spaghetti with red sauce is a simple, easy, and delicious meal that's perfect when you're short on time. This article will teach you how to prepare this classic Italian dish.
Contents
10 Second Summary
1. Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat.
2. Add the spaghetti. Ensure that they are completely covered by the water.
3. Allow the water to return to a boil.
4. Boil the spaghetti for 7 to 15 minutes.
5. Pour the pasta through a strainer. Shake it to remove excess water.
6. Heat some sauce, and pour it over the spaghetti.
7. Top it off with melted butter and grated parmesan cheese, basil, or oregano, if desired.
Ingredients
- Dried spaghetti
- Red sauce (vodka sauce, marinara, etc.)
- Grated parmesan cheese (optional)
- Butter or olive oil (optional)
- Seasoning if desired (garlic, Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, pepper)
Total Time: 30 minutes
Steps
Cooking the Spaghetti
- Fill a medium sized pot with cold water. Place it on the stove on high heat. Bring to a boil.
- Carefully place the spaghetti into the boiling water, making sure the spaghetti is completely covered with water. You may need to break the spaghetti in half. Bring water back to the boil, stirring the pasta lightly to keep it from sticking and reduce the heat so it doesn't boil over.
- Cook for 7-15 minutes, depending on your preference, the type of pasta and package directions. Spaghetti should be soft in the center but not mushy when finished. Test a strand of pasta to make sure it is finished before turning off the stove. If the center is still hard, allow to cook for an additional minute or two and test again.
- Remove pot from heat. Drain the pasta in the sink using a colander or large strainer, then transfer pasta to a plate. Serve immediately.
- If spaghetti is served dry, drizzle with olive oil or butter.
Preparing the Sauce
- Pour sauce into a small pan. Place the pan on the stove on high heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer.
- Allow to cook for up to 20 minutes, following package directions. Most prepared sauces have already been cooked, and simply need to be heated up on the stove. Stir the sauce occasionally, and test it to make sure it is hot.
- If desired, add further seasoning.
- Remove from heat. Allow the sauce to cool for a few minutes, and then serve it on top of the pasta.
Adding Butter
- Place a frying pan on the stove on high heat. Cut a piece of butter (about 1/2 inch thick for one serving) and put it on the stove.
- Allow the butter to melt.
- Remove pan from heat. Drizzle on top of the pasta.
- Serve and enjoy! Add grated parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, or other Italian spices for extra flavor.
Tips
- Instead of using butter, drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil over your spaghetti to add some richness and flavor without the dairy fat.
- Fresh spaghetti takes less time to cook than dried pasta. You may only need to cook fresh pasta for about 2-5 minutes. [citation needed]
- If desired, you can add some browned hamburger meat as well. You'll need about 1 pound of minced meat. Just brown it in the pan and serve it with or in your sauce.
Warnings
- Be sure to turn off the stove when you are finished cooking.
- Use caution when draining boiling water.
Things You'll Need
- Stove
- Pot
- Strainer
- Frying pan (optional)
