The recipe always says to reserve some pasta water. I either forget, or I just don’t bother. The one or two times I’ve needed it, I just added regular water and it was fine.
This might be too political for this sub.
Raise your pitchforks!
Ψ ← my pitchfork is dull, and it’s handle is short.
I’m not generally a fan of single use tools, but we keep one of these around from the 70s.
I always forget too. However it makes a huge difference if you’re making something like a pesto or lemon garlic pasta. Water just adds liquid but the starch in the pasta water adds thicc liquid
I just dunk a cup into the pot while the pasta is cooking if I remember to do so. That way,I have a nice cup of pasta water to toss out because I forgot to use it in the sauce.
Ha ha yeah …. I’ll remember to use it if it’s there. For me it’s more like putting the cup out next to the pot so I don’t forget it, drain the pasta, then spot the cup I was supposed to remember to use and say “shit”
Oops, I did it again. I had the cup out, in front of all the stuff while I boiled some tortellini, then just as I finished draining the pasta: “dammit”.
Aside from that: garlic, pesto and red pepper flakes simmered a bit in olive oil, throw in some red bell peppers. Stir In the pasta until it’s covered. Then throw in a bunch of spinach and shaved Parmesan, and outstanding! This is my favorite dinner …. But it would be better with pasta water
The point of keeping some pasta water is that the salty, starchy water helps the sauce emulsify and stick to the pasta. Adding regular water just dilutes the sauce and makes the result worse.
If you’re not going to use pasta water, you shouldn’t add any water at all.
I just add cream to my Carbonara sauce
Somewhere in the distance everytime I do that I hear “Vaffanculo!!!”
I always used to forget too. Now when the pasta is cooking I will get the strainer ready by putting it in the skink. I will put the measuring cup in the strainer so I will remember before pouring the water out.
