The 2 Boxed Pastas Ina Garten Always Keeps In The Pantry

Pasta is one of those ingredients that's always good to have to line pantry shelves. These noodles are versatile and filling and can transform a dish into a meal. Nothing is easier on a busy work night than boxed pasta and store-bought sauce. Even Ina Garten is a fan. While we know she is quick to pick up a jar of Rao's sauce, the Barefoot Contessa shared with Bon Appetit that she has two go-to brands for her pasta noodles to go along with it: De Cecco and Cipriani Tagliarelle.

Garten stated, "I most often used De Cecco pasta, which I think is really good quality." And you will be happy to learn she isn't a shape snob. The cookbook author went on to explain, "I'll use any shape, like fusilli, penne, bow ties, whatever I'm in the mood for."  What's so great about De Cecco? Those blue and yellow boxes of De Cecco pasta are produced in Italy, use fresh semolina, and separate themselves from their competitors by using bronze draw-plates to cut and shape their pasta.

However, when Garten wants to create a pasta that impresses, she reaches for Cipriani Tagliarelle and she uses her favorite truffle butter to make a fast and easy but decadent meal.  She said, "...for a really luxurious dish, I love Cipriani Tagliarelle. It's basically linguini. It tastes like fresh pasta, but better (I don't happen to love fresh pasta. I find it, very often, a little too doughy for me). It cooks in three minutes, and it's just fabulous. I use the Tagliarelle with Urbani's white truffle butter — it's a really easy dish." 

Cipriani Tagliarelle is described as an egg noodle that is both firm and soft and is not meant to be served al dente. Instead, it should have a soft consistency throughout. In fact, the makers of this pasta note that if you want to determine if a restaurant makes good pasta, you should order their noodles with just butter and cheese. If it is good pasta you will know right away because the taste of the noodle will take center stage.