al dente

American  

[al den-tey, -tee, ahl den-te] / æl ˈdɛn teɪ, -ti, ɑl ˈdɛn tɛ /

adjective

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

   spaghetti al dente.

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al dente British  

/ al ˈdɛnte /

adjective

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

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Etymology

Origin of al dente

1945–50; Italian: literally, to the tooth

Example Sentences

Make low glycemic index carbohydrates such as parboiled rice, whole grain bread and al dente pasta dietary staples and be mindful of how many high glycemic index carbohydrates you consume.

From Salon • Aug. 20, 2024

Meanwhile, bring pasta water to a boil, and cook the orecchiette until it’s al dente.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024

Cook, adding ¼ cup of the broth at a time, until the rice is al dente and loose but not soupy, another 8 to 10 minutes.

From Washington Times • Sep. 18, 2023

Durum, the hardest wheat, produces pasta with the prized "al dente" firm texture, unlike soft wheat.

From Reuters • Aug. 30, 2023

They resembled noodles that had been cooked al dente.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston