How to Perfect Pasta Al dente in 3 steps

by Hemlata Chouhan on Dec 24, 2025 0 comments

When it comes to making authentic Italian pasta, who’s the real MVP? The pasta, the sauce, and the cooking technique- all play a starring role. While Chilzo’s got you covered with the finest Italian sauces, let me be the one to unlock for you a treasure trove of cooking secrets!

Here's the scoop: Italians are all about al dente pasta. Boiling it just right lets it cosy up with the sauce, bringing out all the right flavours and textures.

My one true mission is to make your kitchen a delicious destination for authentic global dishes. So, without further ado, let's read up on a simple three-step guide to pasta al dente. Let's get cooking!

Step 1: Bring in the Waterworks:

Grab a big ol' pot and fill it up with plenty of water—about 3 to 5 litres per kilogram of pasta. You want your pasta to have room to dance around freely and not stick together. It's like giving your pasta its spacious Italian villa to frolic in!

Step 2: Sprinkle Some Salty Love:

Once your water is bubbling, it's time to add some flavour. Add in a generous pinch of salt before you toss in the pasta to make it taste even more delicious. I usually opt for about 1 to 2 tablespoons of salt per 3-4 litres of water—and that is just enough to make you sing an epic Italian ballad!

Step 3: Test for Pasta Perfection:

Now comes the fun part—testing for that al dente texture! Follow the package instructions for cooking time, usually around 8 to 12 minutes. But about 2 minutes before the clock strikes, start fishing out a piece of pasta and give it a taste test. It should be firm yet tender. If it's still a bit too firm, keep cooking and test again in quick 30-second intervals until the pasta is just right.