A process for preparing a self-contained single serving pasta food product includes: cooking a predetermined amount of pasta until hydrated to 45%-50% of its specific weight; cooling the pasta in water at a temperature between 20 and 40 degrees Celsius; creating a plasticizing water-based film surrounding the cooked pasta; adding an accompaniment to the pasta to create a mixture; adding the mixture to a mold; heating the molded mixture; and removing the heated molded mixture from the mold.
