Italians are passionate about their pasta. From silky pappardelle with ragu to creamy spinach cappelletti, the pasta dishes at Sicilia Mia are undoubtedly some of the best in town.

The secret to eating Italian takeaway pasta is to match the right pasta shape with the proper sauce and eat it al dente. That’s not easy, but it’s worth the effort for the perfect pasta experience. For delicious Italian takeaway pasta, check this out.

Al dente

Most pasta recipes call for noodles to be cooked al dente or “to the tooth”. Dried pasta cooks very quickly – within just a couple of minutes. But it is tricky to know precisely when it has reached the perfect consistency. Cook it a few minutes too long, and it will be chalky and harsh, but even just a minute less can make it turn out to be slimy and mushy.

The trick to getting it right is always to test it. The best way to do this is to remove a noodle from the boiling water and bite into it (carefully so as not to burn your tongue). It should have a bit of resistance and not be too soft.

It is also essential to keep in mind that different shapes of pasta require other cooking times. To get the most accurate result, always start with a large pot of salty water and set your timer a few minutes less than the recommended time on the packaging.

Less grated cheese

In Italy, pasta is valued for its ability to make the most of any ingredients, from meatballs to ricotta to a little bit of leftover sauce. The Italian art of ’arrangiarsi’, or making the most out of what you have, is something that all cultures can appreciate. For delicious Italian takeaway pasta, check this out.

While shredded cheese is convenient and easy to prepare, it’s not the best for your health. Shredded cheese has a higher surface area, producing more oxidation and deterioration. Pre-grated cheese also typically contains additives like anti-caking agents and mould inhibitors that are not necessary or healthy.

Instead, look for grated toppings such as ricotta, Asiago and Parmesan that have less fat. Or choose a block of cheese that you can cut into smaller pieces or crumble to add flavour and texture to dishes. Besides, grating your cheese is a great way to tone your biceps and triceps while cooking! It also allows you to control the amount of cheese you use, avoiding excess.

Matching the right pasta with the proper sauce

Whether we know it or not, every pasta shape and style is specifically designed to work with different sauces. Getting this right can take a meal to the next level.

For example, larger tubular pasta shapes – such as pappardelle and rigatoni – can handle heartier ragus or meaty sauces with lots of texture (via Recipe Tips). Meanwhile, the nooks and crannies in twist and spiral pasta noodles – like fusilli and casarecce – are best suited to more liquid or smooth sauces that easily cling to their surfaces.

Meanwhile, long pasta strands – such as spaghetti and linguine – can be used with light and creamy sauces and can be wound around each other to create a neat noodle tower or eaten straight from the bowl (via Real Simple). To ensure they stay nice and moist, they are best paired with lighter or oil-based sauces that coat them evenly.

Don’t twirl your spaghetti against the surface of a spoon

Many restaurants will offer a spoon along with your fork to help you eat your spaghetti, but it is considered rude to twirl your pasta on the scoop. Spaghetti, linguine and other strand-shaped pasta are meant to be twisted around the fork to achieve a neat bundle before winding it up into your mouth.

Italians aren’t uptight regarding table manners, but slurping a mountain of spaghetti in public is one thing they definitely won’t tolerate. It’s considered an absolute insult to Italian cuisine and culture.

If you can’t twirl your noodles properly, order a short pasta such as penne or rigatoni. Then, you’ll be able to enjoy your dinner without offending any hard-core Italians. However, in more casual settings or your home, you can eat your takeaway pasta however you like –don’t break any dishes! That way, you’ll have a better chance of getting your money back!