Toast Your Dried Pasta Before Boiling For Another Realm Of Flavor

For many home cooks, dried pasta is a lifesaver. With this pantry staple, you can whip up a quick and simple cacio e pepe for a last-minute lunch or make an impressive spaghetti bolognese for a dinner party. But either way, we can all agree that noodles without sauces and spices are a pretty plain ingredient. Well, that's why they serves as an excellent canvas for adding different flavors.

You can add a more complex taste to your meal by toasting or roasting your dried pasta before boiling. Simply popping those noodles in the oven and giving them a brief yet transformative journey through hot, dry heat will not only add a beautiful golden brown tan but also impart a delicious aroma and nutty taste to the otherwise plain pasta you're used to. It's all thanks to the Maillard reaction, a chemical process that occurs when amino acids and sugars are exposed to heat resulting in an attractive new color, aroma, and flavor.

The process is surprisingly simple, just remember to factor in the extra preparation time you'll need to carry out this added step. Begin by spreading out your dried pasta on a roasting pan. You can drizzle olive oil on top and toss or leave them dry. Next, place them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and toast for 10 to 15 minutes. Once they turn golden brown, remove from the oven and cool. Now you can cook the noodles in boiling water as usual.

However, you'll notice that the roasted pasta takes a bit longer to cook. To change that, you can first rehydrate them by soaking in a plastic bag with cold water and leaving them in the refrigerator for about two hours. Boiling the noodles after rehydration will take the usual time to cook to al dente as unroasted pasta.

Once they are cooked, prepare your preferred sauce, toss the cooked pasta in it and serve. You can now enjoy a new realm of nutty flavors from your finished dish. What's more? By toasting dried pasta before boiling, they acquire the perfect al dente texture that won't easily mush, making them ideal for a soupy dish. So, the next time you find yourself reaching for that bag of dried noodles, dare to step into another realm of flavor by giving them a toast before boiling. Your tastebuds will surely thank you.