It's Italian for "To the tooth." It means the pasta still has some resistance and isn't cooked into a soft mass with no resistance when you bite into it. Al Dente pasta should resist very slightly when you bite into it, so it still has a bit of body.
Here's a test. Cook some spaghetti. Every minute or so after it gets soft enough to stir, remove a strand and throw it against the fridge. When the strand sticks then the pasta should be al dente, and that is the level it's "supposed" to be cooked for proper pasta. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Charles Rivard Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 8:08 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [CnD] Cheesy Stuffed Shells Recipe - Allrecipes.com This is a term I have heard but not known the meaning of. What is al dente? Thanks. --- Be positive! When it comes to being defeated, if you think you're finished, you! are! finished! ----- Original Message ----- From: "gail johnson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 6:01 PM Subject: [CnD] Cheesy Stuffed Shells Recipe - Allrecipes.com > Cheesy Stuffed Shells Recipe - Allrecipes.com > Prep Time: 15 Min > Cook Time: 45 Min > Ready In: 1 Hr > Servings ( 8 servings > > Ingredients > 1 (16 ounce) package jumbo pasta shells > 1/2 pound Italian sausage > 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach - thawed, drained and squeezed > dry > 1 cup ricotta cheese > 1 egg > 3 cloves garlic, crushed > 1/2 lemon, juiced > 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese > salt and pepper to taste > 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano > 2 cups spaghetti sauce > 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese > Directions > Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook > for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse in cold water. > Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until > evenly brown. Drain and crumble. In a large bowl, combine cooked sausage, > spinach, ricotta cheese, egg, garlic, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. > Season with salt, pepper and oregano. > Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). > Stuff pasta shells with the sausage and cheese mixture and place in a 9x13 > inch baking dish. Top with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese. > Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the pasta is heated through > and the cheese is melted. > > -- > Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit > www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere. > > _______________________________________________ > Cookinginthedark mailing list > [email protected] > http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark _______________________________________________ Cookinginthedark mailing list [email protected] http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark _______________________________________________ Cookinginthedark mailing list [email protected] http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark
