DONA ELENA AL DENTE

 

 

SAY IT’S AL DENTE!

How do you like your pasta? We say it has to be “al dente” which means “firm to the bite.” When cooked al dente, pasta is tender but firm. Nobody wants to have mushy pasta, especially not this National Pasta Month of October!


This appreciation month is celebrated in some parts of the world and even in the Philippines to draw everyone’s attention to everything pasta - a global food consumed in all five continents.  Pasta has unquestionable merits as it is appropriate for a dynamic and healthy lifestyle, capable of meeting both primary food requirements while creating a high-level of gastronomy.


This month, Doña Elena Al Dente invites you to celebrate by taking your regular pasta dishes to the next level – starting with the kind of pasta you use!


Doña Elena Al Dente is the only Artisan Quality Italian Pasta. It is made using high quality, 100% durum wheat semolina or hard wheat. ONLY pasta made from Durum Wheat can be considered al dente. Doña Elena Al Dente was made through the artisan way of making pasta – slow drying process and not subjected to high heat. It uses special bronze dies which leaves a rough surface that create ridges on the pasta. These ridges help sauces stick to the pasta better, making every bite simply delicious. Unlike other pasta with only 6% protein content, Doña Elena Al Dente has 13% protein, a result of the slow-cooking process which preserves its nutrients. Doña Elena Al Dente is also GMO-free, 100% certified all natural.


Now, take a bite into these sumptuous recipes from Doña Elena Al Dente, best paired with Doña Elena Olive Oil and Doña Elena Mediterranean products.


Pasta Mediterraneo with Doña Elena Al Dente Spaghetti

Pasta Mediterraneo, lends the distinctive taste of anchovies, black olives, and capers. Sautéed with diced tomatoes and topped with basil leaves on top of Doña Elena Al Dente Spaghetti, this dish is perfect for date night.

Pasta Mediterraneo

Ingredients:

500g                       Doña Elena AL DENTE Spaghetti noodles, cooked according to package instructions

3 tbsp                    Doña Elena pure olive oil

4 pcs                      garlic cloves, minced

6 pcs                      Doña Elena anchovy fillets, mashed

½ tsp                     dried chilli flakes

½ cup                    Doña Elena sliced black olives

3 tbsp                    Doña Elena capers

2 cups                   Doña Elena diced canned tomatoes

¼ cup                    basil leaves, chiffonade

To taste                freshly ground black pepper

                                parmesan cheese, grated

Procedure:

1.       Heat the Doña Elena pure olive oil in a sauté pan and sauté the garlic until softened.

2.       Add the mashed anchovy fillets, dried chilli flakes, olives and capers and let it cook for a minute.

3.       Add the canned tomatoes and let the mix simmer until the sauce becomes chunky. Add the basil and simmer a few more minutes.

4.       Season with pepper.

5.       Toss the sauce with the spaghetti noodles.

6.       Garnish the pasta with some black olives and capers on top and sprinkle with generous amount of parmesan cheese. Serve hot.




Shrimp and Pasta Salad with Creamy Sesame Dressing with Doña Elena Al Dente Fusilli

If you’re craving for something oriental instead, cook up this Shrimp and Pasta Salad with Creamy Sesame Dressing. Using Doña Elena Al Dente Fusilli, cherry tomatoes and sliced fresh lettuce, this seafood salad is a tasty dish best served chilled. Chef Davide Lombardi also shares two delectable new recipes using Doña Elena Al Dente Penne Rigate and Doña Elena Al Dente Fusilli.

Shrimp and Pasta Salad with Creamy Sesame Dressing

Ingredients:

500g                       Doña Elena AL DENTE Fusilli, cooked according to package instructions

9 pcs                      prawns, deveined, peeled and blanched

9 pcs                      cherry tomatoes, sliced into halves

150g                       assorted lettuce, sliced into bite size pieces

                                sesame seeds, for garnish

For the dressing:

½ cup                    Japanese mayonnaise

½ cup                    teriyaki sauce

4 tbsp                    Good Life Sesame Oil

1 tsp                      sesame seeds, toasted and chopped

To taste                ground black pepper

Procedure:

1.       Combine all the dressing ingredients. Store in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator.

2.       Place the cooked Doña Elena AL DENTE Fusilli noodles in a bowl together with the sliced lettuce then drizzle some of the dressing until all the ingredients are well coated.

3.       Arrange the prawns and tomatoes on top of the salad and garnish with toasted sesame seeds.

4.       Serve chilled.

Here’s a tip to all pasta lovers: Don’t put oil on your pasta when boiling to see the quality of your pasta. Doña Elena Al Dente does not require oil because it doesn’t stick together. While oil is needed in most pasta sauces, you don’t need the extra oil when boiling.

Doña Elena variants include Spaghetti (500g), Fettuccine (500g), Lasagna (500g), Penne Rigate (500g and 250g) and Fusilli (500g and 250g).



Doña Elena Al Dente Fettuccini

- (from the Italian word feta, meaning ribbon)Fettuccine is great for cream-based sauces.

Available in 500g



Doña Elena Al Dente Fusilli

(“Twisted Spaghetti”) This long, spiraled shape can be topped with any sauce, broken in half and added to soups, or turned into a beautiful salad. Fusilli also bakes well in casseroles. Available in 250g and 500g

 

Doña E500glena Al Dente Lasagna

(From “lasanum,” Latin for pot) – Create original Lasagna casseroles by using chopped vegetables, cheeses and any kind of sauce.  Available in 500g

 

Doña Elena Al Dente Penne Rigate

 (“Quills” or “Feathers”) - Penne compliments virtually every sauce and are exceptional when paired with a chunky sauce. Penne Rigate are ridged and ideal to lock-in flavor. Penne Rigate pairs nicely with chunky meat, chunky vegetable, cream, or oil based sauces. Also, these shapes are great for baking dishes.
Available in 250g and 500g


Doña Elena Al Dente Spaghetti



(“A length of Cord”) –A crowd favourite. Spaghetti is the perfect choice for nearly any sauce, or it can be used to make casseroles or stir-fry dishes. Go beyond tomato sauce and see what your favourite becomes.

Available in 500g



Celebrate the National Pasta Month by taking your pasta experience to the next level with Doña Elena Al Dente!

 

Now, go and be merry pasta lovers! The next time someone asks you how you like your pasta, simply say, “Al Dente!”

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Learn more about Doña Elena Al Dente at http://www.flyacecorp.com/.