What am I doing wrong? I have a pot luck I’m going to in 2 weeks. My plan was to bring veggie pasta. I feel like I messed up. This is now my second attempt! Inspiration is the 3rd picture

by ExplanationDazzling1

19 Comments

  1. Priest1969

    Not from the way it looks. I bet it’s yummy 😋

  2. Lionheart1224

    Why do you feel you messed up when they look identical? Just add the actual veggies and you’re fine.

  3. WillowandWisk

    In what way do you feel you may have messed up? How does it taste – that is really the only thing that matters.

  4. Jestapilot

    The only difference I see is your pasta looks cooked past al dente.

  5. Gooseloff

    It just doesn’t “look as good” because the third picture is professionally plated and photographed, probably with a food stylist involved. If you look at the pasta itself it looks pretty identical. And as someone else here pointed out, the taste matters the most. If it tastes nice, you’re all set.

  6. Glorfindel910

    Too high “sauce to pasta” ratio in my opinion.

  7. stivinladria

    Another advice I’d give: check that the pasta is bronze die, al bronzo. It’ll hold up a lot better, look less mushy, etc.
    Overall this ain’t bad, just looks a little overcooked.

  8. Reasonable-Word6729

    This might be the one time to not overlook the pasta, rinse out the starch and stir in a spoonful of marinara for color along with the fresh veggies and mix in some simple olive oil and vinegar with herbs to taste…served chilled as shown.

    E: overcook

  9. Chances are they didn’t use a pasta sauce. I’ve seen videos where they cook tomatos peel them, mash them, add in cream, cheese and seasoning then mix in the pasta.

  10. Better-Park8752

    Your pasta seems overcooked? Sauce looks nice though.
    I would plate it up in a nice serving bowl. A scatter of cherry tomatoes and some rocket dressed in olive oil, salt and balsamic vinegar could work nicely.

  11. Sarah-himmelfarb

    It looks a little overcooked and too much sauce to pasta ratio

  12. Aside of the overcooking everyone else is mentioning, I noticed you’re pasta looks whiter and grayish, meanwhile the reference is definitely yellow. This could.be due to overcooking, but also could be lighting or pasta quality.

    Try changing all three.

    Take out your pasta 2 minutes before al frente (according to package) and put it in the sauce using a slotted spoon to finish cooking. Maybe that way it will gain some color.

  13. RutabagaChance5382

    Looks like you overcooked the pasta and that’s why some of the noodles are falling apart. I’d try cooking them 2 minutes less, since they’re going to continue absorbing liquid from the sauce the longer it sits.

  14. ComradeElephent

    I think maybe a little bit overcooked and you could add a garnish, Parm or some green leafy thing or both or cherry tomatoes. Just something to give a little pop