Recipe for Super Quick Fresh Pasta by Jamie Oliver (2024)

FAQs

How does Jamie Oliver make pasta without eggs? ›

Durum Flour: Ground from extra-hard wheat (durum comes from the Latin word for hard), this strong flour is high in protein and finely textured. Its strength means you can use it for shaped pastas, like orecchiette, as well as extruded pasta, such as spaghetti.

For one pound of pasta, bring 3–4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add salt and pasta. Stir to separate pasta. Reduce heat so that pasta is simmering (tortellini and tortelloni may be cooked more vigorously).

Fresh pasta cooks much quicker than dried pasta. The absolute cooking time depends on the thickness of the pasta; some thin, fresh pastas can cook in under 2 minutes. Dried pasta cooking time depends on the shape and size of the noodle, with most dried pastas taking anywhere from 8 to 12 minutes.

Instead of boiling a cauldron of water and then adding the pasta, add your pasta to a large saucepan or a deep, wide skillet. The size of your pan depends on what you have handy and your pasta shape. If you're making a long noodle like spaghetti, use a large skillet that is big enough to submerge the entire pasta.

Boiling your pasta in less water in a large, shallow pan, will allow you to get the water boiling in 2-4 minutes, which gets you cooking faster.

Fresh pasta cooks much quicker than dried pasta, usually in just 1 to 3 minutes, or up to 10 minutes for thicker pasta once it's added to boiling water. The key is to keep an eye on it and taste it for that perfect al dente texture.

The no-boil method is a natural fit for baked pastas, like this lasagna, or a baked penne dish. But for a faster, weeknight-friendly take on no-boil, try cooking pasta right in its sauce on the stovetop.

Yes, it is possible to cook pasta in the microwave. Place your pasta in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with water and microwave on High for the same amount of time stated on the packet directions, plus 3 minutes, or until al dente. Drain and stir in your favourite pasta sauce.