al dente

[ al den-tey, -tee; Italian ahl den-te ]

adjective

1. (especially of pasta) cooked so as not to be too soft; firm to the bite:

   spaghetti al dente.

al dente

/ al ˈdɛnte /

adjective

1. (of a pasta dish) cooked so as to be firm when eaten

Word History and Origins

Origin of al dente¹

1945–50; Italian: literally, to the tooth

Word History and Origins

Origin of al dente¹

literally: to the tooth

Example Sentences

Cook for 6-8 minutes; you want them al-dente, because they'll keep cooking in the hot soup.

From The Daily Beast

Add the spaghetti and cook for eight  minutes, testing it regularly toward the end to ensure it remains al dente.

From The Daily Beast

The rich, tangy sauce is a perfect foil for the tender green stalks, which should be cooked until just al dente.

From The Daily Beast