al dente

adjective

al den·​te äl-ˈden-(ˌ)tā How to pronounce al dente (audio)
al-
: cooked just enough to retain a somewhat firm texture
al dente pasta
al dente adverb
pasta cooked al dente

Examples of al dente in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web By the end of the 45-minute flight, the pasta was well past al dente. Andrew Chapman, Scientific American, 18 July 2024 Add the soba noodles and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until just al dente. Laura McLively, The Mercury News, 26 June 2024 The edamame dumplings were simple, steamed dumplings, filled to the brim with buttery, nutty, al dente edamame. Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2024 The grains of rice should be al dente, not mushy, and the mixture should be creamy. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for al dente 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'al dente.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian; literally, to the tooth

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of al dente was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near al dente

Cite this Entry

“Al dente.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/al%20dente. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

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