Mike, it is always 'påtes' in the plural for 'pasta', unless you are specifically referring to 'just one piece of pasta' (using 'une'), an unusual occurrence ! Hence it is 'des' as Jim notes. 

The lesson you linked uses the example of 'les/des épinards', another uncountable plural noun.

"La pâte" in culinary terms is pastry/dough/batter - and therefore 'de la pâte' is 'some pastry/dough/batter', not pasta

https://www.wordreference.com/fren/p%C3%A2tes

Bonjour Mike

Pasta is uncountable and so "des pâtes' means "some" pasta where "des" is a partitive article.

Not to be confused with the compound definite article de + les -> des

Bonne continuation

Jim

In French Pâtes is always used in the plural to designate Pasta in English referring to spaghetti, vermicelli or whatever type of pasta. So it's always les Pâtes or des Pâtes