Definition: Al dente refers to the desired texture of cooked pasta in Italian cooking. It literally means "to the tooth". When the pasta is cooked al dente, there should be a slight resistance in the center when chewed.

Pronunciation: all DAN tay • (adjective)

Examples: When cooking pasta for use in casseroles, make sure the texture is al dente, or slightly chewy to the tooth.

Alternate Spellings: al dante

Related Resources:

One Pot Pasta
Learn how to cook pasta in the liquid from casseroles, stews, and skillet meals. The texture will actually be more towards al dente than that boiled in water.

How To Cook Pasta
Part of the "How To" library of cooking lessons, a step by step instructional article on cooking pasta correctly.

Elsewhere on the Web:

I Love Pasta Organization
An excellent website all about pasta, cooking guides, and recipes.

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