Italian Cuisine

tips

Cooking pasta

When cooking pasta the golden rule is to have the water rolling and boiling. This prevents the pasta sticking together. Also add plenty of salt to the cooking water. Drop in pasta, stir once then cook for 7 minutes (for fresh pasta) or according to packet instructions for dried pasta.

Fresh pasta

Fresh pasta shouldn't be cooked to the 'al dente' stage. As it is egg based, it needs to be well cooked and not have any resistance when you bite into it but be silky smooth.

Italian flavour

For maximum flavour, tear basil. Cutting it on a chopping board leaves some of the flavour on the board.

Fruit and veg

Use fruit and vegetables that are in season. They will look better, taste better and the prices are lower.

Avoiding sticky pasta

To avoid sticky pasta cook in a large pot of rapidly boiling salted water (5 to 6 litres of water to every 500 grams of pasta). Giving the pasta a good stir in the first couple of minutes is also crucial to help avoid sticking.

Al dente

Al dente, literally "to the tooth", does not mean sticking to the tooth, rather that the pasta provides a little resistance when you chew it. The only way to tell is to taste the pasta as you cook it - don't rely on the packet instructions.

Pasta shapes

Thin, delicate pasta shapes are lovely combined with thinner, delicate sauces. Tubular or irregular shaped pastas are best with chunky sauces (so the sauce can get caught inside the shapes). Small pasta shapes, such as risoni, are great in soups.

Fresh vs dry pasta

Similarly to pasta shapes, the choice between fresh and dry pasta is more about matching flavours and textures than about which is superior. Fresh pasta is well suited to delicate sauces, but its primary purpose is to make tortellini, ravioli and lasagne sheets.

Tearing basil leaves

Tear basil leaves with your fingers rather than chopping with a knife. The steel of a knife oxidizes the basil and will turn the cut edge of the basil black.

Peeling and de-seeding tomatoes

To peel and de-seed a tomato, score a small cross in the base of the tomato with your knife; plunge in boiling water for 1 minute, refresh under cold water (running water seems to make peeling easier too); cut in half and scoop out seeds with a dessert spoon.

Cooking artichokes

Remove several layers of the bitter exterior leaves and trim remaining leaves before submerging and cooking artichokes in salted water for around 15 minutes (use a dinner plate on top of the artichokes to keep them under water). A thin skewer should meet little resistance when they are cooked.

Rolling a lemon to get more juice out

Rolling a lemon back and forth on your work surface will soften it and allow for more juices to be extracted. This is a good technique to remember before squeezing out the juice of any citrus fruit.

Studding lamb with garlic and rosemary

Stud lamb rack with rosemary, garlic and anchovies by making small incisions with your knife all over the lamb. Slide slivers of garlic, a piece of anchovy and a few rosemary leaves into each incision then roast as normal.

Which oil for which type of cooking

Olive oil has well reported health benefits, however it does burn easily and has a strong flavour that can adversely affect your cooking. Oils with a high flash point (that can withstand high temperatures) include canola, sunflower and peanut. Of these canola carries the least flavour.

Re-hydrating dried mushrooms

Dried mushrooms, such as porcini, are a great store cupboard back up. Soak in boiling water for 30 minutes to revive them. Strain the soaking liquid and add to the dish for extra flavour.

Chopping an onion

Cut the onion it in half across the base (leaving a portion of root on each half - this will help keep the onion together while slicing), peel the onion and place cut side down. Make multiple cuts long ways from top to bottom but not through the root at the end. The more cuts, the finer the dice.

Chopping garlic

Squash the unpeeled garlic using the flat side of a large knife to loosen the skin and help release the flavour and oils. Peel the garlic and then roughly chop. All of the pieces need to be about the same size to ensure consistency while cooking.

Red wine or white wine?

The general rule with wine is that red wine, with its richer and deeper flavours, is a great accompaniment to red meats, while white wine works well with white meats (fish and chicken). However take time to experiment, there are plenty of exceptions to the rules and with wine the rules are definitely made to be broken.

Light olive oil

Olive oil can be labeled as "light" however don't be fooled to thinking this means it is light in calories. The "light" label refers to the oil being light on taste or colour - not on fat.

What rice for what dish

Long grain rice has a long, slender kernel and cooked grains are separate, light and fluffy. Medium grain rice has a shorter, wider kernel than long grain rice. Cooked grains are more moist and tender, and have tend to cling together more than long grain. Short grain rice has a short, plump, almost round kernel. Cooked grains are soft and cling together.

Salting an eggplant

Salting an eggplant is only necessary if the eggplant is over-mature and is to be fried (salting the eggplant stops it absorbing too much oil). If this is the case sprinkle the eggplant with salt and leave to drain in a colander for 20 minutes. Rinse quickly to remove salt before cooking.

Choosing and prepping asparagus

Choose asparagus with tight, well-formed heads and avoid any with thin woody, dry and dirty stems. Snap off the woody end of the asparagus by holding the spear in the middle and bend the bottom until it finds its natural snapping point. Discard the woody ends, or use in a stock.

Zest

When removing the zest from an orange or a lemon, be sure to avoid as much of the pith (the white part) as possible. This is very bitter and will detract from the taste.

Toasting spices

Toasting whole spices in a dry pan can help to bring out the essential oils and the flavour in the spice, however be careful to taste as you add the spice to your dish as the flavour will have changed and you may need less. Toasting pre-ground spices is a little trickier and it can ruin the flavour of the spice altogether.