Bring two medium-sized pots of water to the boil. In one, stir in about 1tsp of salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, timing it so it's done just before you start cooking the sauce.

Pasta may seem like a straightforward dish to whip up, but there's always room for improvement. Over time, numerous chefs have pointed out the blunders we Brits often make when preparing this ...