Whether you’re wondering how to make pasta less boring, or if you’re seeking for ways to make pasta taste better, this article is for you! In it, I’ll go through the three key measures you can take to improve the quality of your pasta.

We’ll be covering all the hot locations, as well as providing helpful ideas, information, and recommendations on what to do and utilize. So, are you willing to forego the mac & cheese in favor of a gourmet date? Let’s get started!

Why Is My Pasta Tasteless?

If you’re wondering why your spaghetti isn’t good, you could be searching in the wrong areas for improvement.

Before proceeding, it is critical to grasp what constitutes excellent pasta. Nevertheless, since pasta recipes vary so much, there is no one trick that can suddenly repair your spaghetti.

As a result, I’ve included a list of basic recommendations you may follow below.

Tips And Tricks On Making Good Pasta

1. Employ High-Quality Pasta

   This is particularly critical if you’re using gluten-free pasta, which might throw a wrench into the cooking process. Excellent pasta should be more yellow than white, with no cracks, white blotches, or black flecks. It won’t be extremely transparent, and it shouldn’t cloud the water too much while boiling.

2. It should not be overcooked.

   This is a bit more subjective. Being a seasoned al dente despiser (I want my carbohydrates soft like baby food, oops! ), While attempting to enjoy a meal alone, I can safely tell you that your own taste counts more than tradition. Even yet, many people like an al dente texture when preparing pasta, and no one enjoys water-bloated ravioli, so don’t overcook it. At least, not too much.

3. Season Properly And At Suitable Times

   To prevent flavorless pasta, season generously with salt, black pepper, basil, oregano, thyme, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, or even a parmesan rind! Additionally, add some of these ingredients later in the cooking process, particularly if they are fresh. This will keep the more delicate herbs from cooking off their flavors.

4. Prepare Your Sauce

   If you’re using sauce in our meal, one of the most critical procedures is to swiftly combine the pasta and sauce while both are still hot. If you started with al dente pasta, this will finish it to what most people consider the absolute ideal consistency. If you don’t, it will keep your pasta from turning to mush in standing hot water. This also increases your chances of cooking a better meal overall because when you add pasta fast without washing it, the starch left on it allows the sauce to cling properly, resulting in taste in every mouthful.

5. Sauce Suggestions

   If you’re using an acidic ingredient, such as tomato passata, be sure to reduce the acidity with some sugar or milk. If you want a thicker sauce, add some of the pasta boiling water to the sauce. This starch will thicken your sauce and assist it to attach to your pasta.

How Can I Make Bland Pasta Taste Better?

Experimenting with your sauce is one of the simplest ways to improve the flavor of your pasta. If you find your pasta to be dull, investigate how you might enrich the tastes of your sauce. Now, here’s a list of herbs to use in your spaghetti sauce that will accomplish exactly that!

Seasoning Sauces: What Should I Add To My Pasta Sauce?

What can you season pasta with:

• Oregano
• Basil
• Thyme
• Parsley
• Italian seasoning mix
• Salt
• The spice black pepper
• Chili powder
• Paprika
• Garlic, (sauted or roasted and crushed into paste) (sauted or roasted and mashed into paste)
• Caramelize an onion for a different flavor, or use sweeter Spanish onions.
• rind of parmesan
• The bay leaves
• Tomato sauce
• Stock

How Do You Make Pasta Less Boring – What To Put In Spaghetti Sauce To Make It Taste Better

Create your own sauce recipe to liven up your pasta with yet another sauce-based option. There are so many various ways to create spaghetti sauce, so pick your favorite recipes and explore! As samples, I’ve included two short movies on unusual pasta sauces. The first one is for a silky veggie pasta sauce! If you don’t like textured sauces or have finicky eaters, this concealed vegetable pasta sauce is certainly worth a try.

If you want a more classic red tomato sauce, this robust marinara sauce may be a wonderful place to start. If you prefer a white sauce, consider pulling inspiration from the cheesy garlic sauce recipe I’ve included below. It differs from other pasta sauces in that it is relatively thin while being pleasantly creamy and aromatic.

If you’re more worried with a lack of variety in your pasta sauce than with its flavor, you may be asking what to add to spaghetti to make it taste better. The good news is that you can add whatever ingredient you want to your spaghetti! I’ll put them below for your convenience, as well as look into what sides could go well with your spaghetti.

What Else Can You Put On Pasta Besides Sauce?

Thankfully, there are several ways to jazz up a pasta dish that do not entail fiddling with the sauce. Looking for something a bit more umami, for example? Experiment with different seafood! It’s an excellent way to use up leftovers such as reheated calamari or frozen shrimp.

Instead, use what you already have in the pantry and add a little anchovy paste (or a replacement)! If you’d rather use a ready-made recipe, try my lobster ravioli sauce.

What To Add To Pasta

If you don’t want to add extra ingredients to your pasta, I developed a similar list of sides that you may substitute! Look under the section Shortcuts For Elevating Your Pasta.

More Ideas On How To Change Up Your Pasta

If you’re still unsure what to do, experiment with various varieties of pasta or make different pasta recipes. This list, which consists largely of typical Italian pasta meals, is lengthy but not complete. If the Italian versions seem scary, then wing it and build your own!

Speaking of creating your own, did you know that making fresh pasta from home isn’t as tough as it seems, even if you don’t have a machine?

This is a wonderful way to play with your pasta; you could even include some herbs in the dough for a variety! It’s also a terrific method to impress your pals. If you’re looking for a visual makeover, home chef Danny Freeman has some wonderful tutorials on having fun with various pasta patterns and colors.

Here’s a video of him on Rachael Ray’s program explaining how to create luscious ravioli!

Lastly, another method to zhoosh up that pasta is to use things you wouldn’t ordinarily use. For example, replace cow’s cheese with goat’s for a tangier, gamier taste. I’ve included a video below of this viral TikTok spaghetti that was all over the site earlier. This simple pasta bake starts with feta (sheep’s cheese) and tomatoes as a basis for your spaghetti. You may either combine and drain the roasted vegetables to make a smooth sauce, or leave them whole and coarsely mashed to add texture and taste to plain or sauceless pasta.

Shortcuts To Elevating Your Pasta – Only Easy Methods!

Sides That Go Well With Pasta

1. Stuffed Sweet Roasted Bell Peppers

   Stuffed bell peppers go well with any vegetable-based spaghetti sauce. The sweetness complements the tart tomatoes wonderfully and brings out the other tastes in the meal.

2. Venison with a gamey flavor

   Venison is an excellent accompaniment to the aforementioned expensive date night spaghetti. The rich, gamey taste complements any pasta. Nevertheless, avoid strongly tomato-based dishes with this since the combination of these two tastes might be overbearing. There is an extra advantage to eating wild venison if you reside in the United Kingdom (or certain regions of America). When the deer population is unregulated owing to a lack of natural predators, eating wild venison may assist to balance out the local ecology, particularly the flora and, as a result, insect life.

3. Sharp or tangy pasta will not work well since they will overshadow each other.

   Blank Parmigiana Alla Parmigiana

   Chicken, beef, or pork alla parmigiana is an excellent accompaniment to a light, creamy sauce such as carbonara or mascarpone pasta. Combining this with an overly cheesy

4. Kiev with melted butter

   Chicken kiev is perhaps the simplest choice on our list, but it doesn’t skimp on flavor! Because of its subtle yet wonderful tastes, this side dish complements almost all sorts of pasta meals. I would suggest a garlic butter and herb kiev for spaghetti. You may either purchase it ready-made and bake it, or you can create your own!

How To Improve Pasta Sauce From A Jar

It’s often claimed that the sauce is what makes or breaks a pasta dish, and in many circumstances, this is accurate. Whether it’s a marinara sauce or another kind of pasta sauce, it’s much easier to simply put it in and purchase a jar. If you do decide to do so, but want to give your sauce a bit more punch, consider adding any of these to enhance it! If you’re using pre-made pizza sauce for your pasta, season it thoroughly and follow these instructions exactly.

1. Paste of Roasted Garlic

   Roast some garlic and crush it up to give incredible flavor and a subtle texture to your spaghetti sauce.

2. The Acidity Must Be Balanced

   Most store-bought tomato sauces have their acidity reduced, but if it’s still too acidic, add some sugar or milk to taste.

3. Combine Fruit and Vegetables

   Roast (or boil) some fruit and vegetables to help the sauce last a little longer. Sweet foods such as bell peppers, carrots, and tomatoes work very nicely. Just combine and drain after roasting before adding to your sauce!

4. Including Onions

   Onions, like garlic, are excellent for taste and texture. If you want to mix up that silky sauce, roughly chop and sweat some onions. To go the additional mile, caramelize them.

5. Mix in a variety of cheeses.

   This one is for those of you who like white and cheese sauces. Add some additional cheese to your sauce to accentuate the flavour. Mascarpone and a liberal sprinkling of bacon work wonders for this.

How To Make Pasta Taste Good Without Sauce

What should you add on basic pasta? There are several alternatives to pick from! I’ll include several below, as well as some tips on how to make spaghetti taste delicious without sauce.

1. ‘Boil and Mash’

   Boiling your spaghetti is an often-overlooked stage in the pasta-making process. As a result, many individuals wind up with bland pasta. To prevent this, season your pasta water with sea salt and try cooking a garlic bulb or two in it. That way, when your spaghetti is finished, it won’t be as bland. In addition, for added taste, take the clove used and crush it before combining with the pasta.

2. Including Fats

   When it comes to pasta, fats are quite crucial! To spice up ordinary spaghetti, drizzle with olive oil or better yet, herbs.

3. Ingredients from the Past

   Butter, eggs, and parmesan cheese may create an excellent basis for plain(ish) spaghetti. Follow this Mothers Kitchen guide recipe for delicious sauceless spaghetti!

4. Vegetables, Vegetables, Vegetables

   Fruit and vegetables, whether tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, garlic, peas, carrots, cucumber, mushrooms, or broccoli, may transform any ordinary pasta meal. For a nice, tasty pasta, sauté them in butter or gently roast them with herbs.

5. Pesto! Herbs, for example.

   Are you running short on ingredients? Most of us have dried herbs stashed away in the pantry! To prevent blandness, top your spaghetti with parsley and basil. Pesto, if you have it, is also a great way to enjoy plain pasta!

6. Protein and Cheese
7. Add some tang to your spaghetti by using a sharp or unique cheese. Gorgonzola, mozzarella or burrata, and parmesan cheese are all excellent options. Protein sources include legumes such as black beans and chickpeas, as well as fish, chicken, and red meat!

Cooking Methods – FAQs

Improving Your Pasta – Which Method Is Best

Pasta has a ridiculous amount of variance, not only between cultures, but even geographically! This implies that there are several alternative recipes and procedures for making pasta, each of which will provide a different outcome. As a result, it complicates my search for a universal strategy that can improve all pasta meals. Yet, there are certain general rules for making delicious pasta that you may follow. Remember to completely cover the boiling spaghetti with salt the next time you’re at the stove!