TIPS FOR PAIRING PASTA WITH ORGANIC PASTA SAUCE
Pasta is a versatile dish; it can be whipped up as an easy midweek family meal or enjoyed as part of a fine-dining experience. One of the simplest ways that you can elevate your home cooked pasta to a five star meal is by understanding how best to pair pasta with organic pasta sauce.
TYPES OF PASTA Pasta comes in an incredible variety of different shapes and sizes. On one hand, you have the traditional, ‘spaghetti’ — a long, thin, cylindrical noodle. On the other hand, dinosaur shaped pasta is a great way of getting kids to enjoy a healthy dinner packed with veggies and protein. Between these two, there are hundreds of pasta types for you to explore and enjoy. Before we go into pasta shapes, let’s talk about the difference between fresh and dried pasta. Fresh pasta is often sold in markets and delis. It has a shorter shelf life than dried pasta (a few days in the fridge or a month or two in the freezer) but provides a more authentic Italian texture and flavour. Dried pasta is certainly the more popular of the two, largely due to the fact that it can last for years if stored in a cool, dry place. The vast number of different pasta brands can make it difficult to know whether you are opting for a quality product. When it comes to shape, pasta can be broadly broken up into five different categories: short, long, sheet, stuffed, and dumpling.
SHORT Short pasta comes in a wide variety of different thicknesses and shapes. It is often paired with chunky sauces and has a rough, textured exterior.
LONG These are what many of us picture when we think of a delicious, steaming bowl of pasta. Long pasta includes everything from the very thin angel’s hair to the thicker and flatter fettucini.
SHEET When we talk about sheet pasta, one thing comes to mind — lasagna. Combine with cheese, meat (or veggies!) and organic pasta sauce for a delicious, decadent treat.
STUFFED Stuffed pasta is a great way of experimenting with flavour. Tortellini and ravioli are the two most common varieties; both can be stuffed with meat, vegetables, and cheese and served with a delicious sauce for a simple midweek meal.
TYPES OF SAUCE As is the case with pasta, there is an intense variety of different sauces out there. When purchasing sauce, always choose an organic variety. That way, you can be sure that you are benefiting from the freshest and most natural ingredients while also looking after the environment.
RED Unsurprisingly, red pasta sauces are those that use tomato as the base ingredient. They are often fiery hot and filled with veggies and protein. Popular types of red sauce include marinara, bolognese, and ragu.
WHITE Deliciously creamy, white pasta sauces are often used in recipes that feature very few ingredients, letting the full flavour and texture of the pasta sing.
GREEN There are a few ingredients that can give green pasta sauce its vibrant colour. Most often, basil is the culprit.
CAN’T ANY PASTA BE PAIRED WITH ANY SAUCE? The short answer to this question is no. Of course, if you’re wanting to use up a few leftover packets of pasta in your cupboard, there is no harm in testing and trying different combinations. But, if you’re looking to impress your friends and family with a restaurant quality pasta dish, you need to pay particular attention to the shape of your pasta and the taste of your sauce.
PERFECT PASTA AND SAUCE COMBINATIONS There are a few standard rules to follow when pairing pasta with sauce. These include: The thicker the pasta, the thicker the sauce: If your chosen pasta is quite wide, it’s best to pair it with a robust sauce. A hearty bolognese, for example, often goes well with penne. Think bite-sized: If your sauce has a lot of vegetables, it’s a good idea to recreate their size and shape through your choice of pasta. Doing so will make it easier to get a little bit of everything in one forkful. Complement the taste and texture: Stuffed pastas, such as tortellini and ravioli, are very tasty in their own right. When choosing an organic pasta sauce to pair with these, make sure it is light and does not overpower the natural taste of the pasta.
Source: https://riverinagrove.com.au/