Delish Quarterly Issue 5, 2022

IT WAS ALWAYS the go-to weeknight dinner in my house growing up. Easy, fast, and the perfect option for my working mother, who would often come home from the offce so late that she would throw dinner together while still wearing her coat. (Sidenote: She also loved the shortcut of making tomato soup using marinara sauce as a base—something June Xie has absolutely perfected on p. 66.) As a mom myself, I just haven’t taken to pasta the same way, for a million reasons. I realize after reading this issue, however, that most of my reasons are absolute crap: “Pasta is so boring”—then I saw Justin’s Chicken Tikka Masala Alfredo (p. 52) and Makinze’s Ravioli Shakshuka (p. 69…how is that even possible?). “I don’t want to clean a strainer AND…

MYTHS—BUSTED! Never fall for one of these again. MYTH Your pasta water should taste like the ocean. Do you know how salty that would be?! Seawater has 3.5% salinity. You want something closer to a much more palatable 1%—or 1½ teaspoons per quart. MYTH Add oil to pasta water to prevent sticking. This won’t hurt, but it also won’t help. Oil doesn’t really stick, so some will end up down your drain and the rest will coat the noodles, preventing sauce from clinging. Skip it! MYTH Salting pasta water helps it boil faster. Science lesson: Salt makes it harder for the water to boil (aka when molecules convert from the liquid to the gaseous phase). Salt your water after it starts boiling. MYTH Pasta should be boiled uncovered, never with…

Know what “al dente” really means. Blow on a noodle for 5 seconds before taking a small bite. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s cooked most of the way through, with a sliver of white in the center of the pasta. Drain your noodles immediately. No time to waste here: Once they’re al dente, if they continue to hang out in the pasta water, they’ll bloat. Save your pasta water—always! If you’re making a sauce, you’ll need this carbolicious liquid for its clinging power, but it’s also great for adding extra body to jarred sauces (start with ¼ cup). I even keep a Mason jar’s worth in the fridge to stir into soups!…

NONNA SAYS “The Pecorino shines here; use the highestquality you can find. And don’t be shy with the pepper!”—SANDY ZIEGLER CACIO E PEPE SERVES 2 30 MIN Purists might scoff at the inclusion of Pecorino and Parmesan (most recipes pick one), but we think using both is what makes our version pretty special. Kosher salt8 oz. linguine or spaghetti2 tbsp. butter, divided1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil Coarsely ground black pepper¾ c. freshly grated Pecorino, plus more for serving¾ c. freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving 1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ⅔ cup pasta water before draining. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter with oil. Add a generous amount of…

Sankofa churns out fresh pastas for customers in his Morristown, NJ, prep kitchen. MOST PEOPLE WOULD think you’re crazy for opening a food business at the peak of a pandemic. For pasta maker AJ Sankofa, that was part of the appeal. Out of restaurant work and restless a couple of months into 2020, Sankofa and his fiancée began whipping up fun desserts at home (upside-down pineapple cakes! tiramisu!) and posting them on social media for people to order. “It quickly blew up and I was like, ‘If we can do this with desserts, why not pasta?!’” Sankofa says. A chef friend offered up her vacant shop in their New Jersey hometown, and Sankofa got to work. “I wanted to offer a fine dining experience people could pick up, heat, and…

Take Five Sit down and eat your breakfast. Use the time to nourish body and mind—clear your head, jot down affirmations, and visualize all you are going to accomplish. Make Ahead For those busy mornings when you’re in a rush, have an easy backup plan prepared in advance, like a fruit smoothie, egg muffin, or yogurt parfait. Team Effort Give everyone a breakfast task—like helping prep, setting the table, and putting bowls in the dishwasher—to keep things moving and avoid a big cleanup later. Made to Order There’s comfort in having a consistent breakfast option like Quaker Oatmeal. Keep it interesting with fun toppings and add-ins, or choose from a variety of flavors—all ready in minutes. Quaker Instant Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon Enjoy the goodness of 100% whole grains with…