The water should be heavily salted (like seawater) to properly season the pasta. The pot should be large enough to allow the pasta to cook without sticking together.
Bring the water to a rolling boil, add the pasta and stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking together.
Check the cooking time on the pasta package and cook until the pasta is tender but still has a firm bite (al dente).
Before draining the pasta, reserve a cup of the starchy pasta water. This water can be used to thin out the sauce or to help it adhere better to the pasta.
Drain the pasta and toss it immediately with the sauce while it's still hot. This helps the pasta absorb the flavors of the sauce.
Top with grated Parmesan cheese or other garnishes and serve immediately.