Kale sauce pasta, a recipe I adapted from the chef Joshua McFadden, is still one of my most favorite things to cook. By Tejal Rao Joshua McFadden’s kale sauce pasta, adapted by Tejal Rao.Credit ...

"We salt pasta water not only for increased flavor throughout the dough itself, but also because salt reduces starch gelatinization, which improves the overall texture of the pasta," he said.

Literally meaning “cheese and pepper,” it’s a pasta dish that stands out on the menu, usually registering $5 to $10 cheaper than its noodly brethren due to its relative simplicity.