Roman Pasta Plating Technique

In Rome, we encountered pasta dishes that were a study in simplicity—pillowy pasta perfectly coated in sauces that were rich without heft.

The pasta may be carelessly tossed together or carefully executed, or both, but the presentation isn’t slapdash. Pasta isn’t piled on the plate, it is twirled into neat mounds.

To get this effect at home, place a ladle into the pot of pasta, then use a long fork to gather and twist the pasta into a neat mound in the ladle. Slide the mound out onto a serving plate and lift out the fork.