Recent Posts
Culture August 9, 2017
Life wouldn't be life without pasta.
Photo via Twitter / @FOXLAPasta lovers, this is our time to unite on such an important day. Yes, we mean National Pasta Day!
National Pasta Day is celebrated on Oct. 17th, but it really should be celebrated every day of the year.
And to commemorate such a tasty holiday, we wanted to give you everything you needed to know about National Pasta Day.
Yes it tastes good, but do you know how it’s made?
Pasta is made from dough and consists of water mixed with wheat flour. Depending on whether your pasta is dry or fresh, they can be formed into sheets or into various shapes.
The difference between dry pasta and fresh pasta is that dry pastas are made with just wheat and water. Fresh pastas, on the other hand, need egg in the dough to be considered fresh. Fresh pasta isn’t necessarily better than dried pasta; it’s just made differently and tastes differently. And although the Italians would probably disagree, liking dry pasta better than fresh pasta just depends on your pasta preferences.
One thing is for sure, though: your spaghetti squash does not count as pasta.
When you think of pasta, your probably automatically thinks of Italians. We know we do. But were they the genius minds behind this incredible dish? Not exactly.
While pasta is traditionally Italian, it did not originate there.
Ancient cultures were making and cooking pasta noodles long before they were introduced to Italy and other parts of Europe.
According to PBS, “Archaeologists believe that central Asia is most likely the first area to have produced noodles thousands of years ago. From Asia, it traveled westward.”
Although no one really knows how it reached Europe, there are many theories.
Marco Polo is one of the theories. He has been highly praised and credited for bringing pasta into the East during the 13th century. However, there are historical records showing otherwise. They show that Arab cultures were selling dried spaghetti-like noodles in open markets in the early 1200s.
Today I Found Out also states that by the 12th century, Italians had learned how to preserve pasta while traveling, something they picked up from Arab methods of drying pasta.
There are even theories saying the Chinese were the first to make pasta, cooking pasta noodles as far back as 5,000 B.C.
So really, there’s no clear answer to the question of who created pasta. But who ever did was a genius and we are forever grateful for them.
There’s not much on how Oct. 17 became dubbed as National Pasta Day. But we do know that it was made to celebrate this delicious source of carbohydrates.
This special day encourages people to try new pastas and different restaurants they haven’t gone to before. And for those of you who want to go all out, you can even make your own fresh pasta.
There are approximately 350 different types of pasta around the world, but we are highlighting some of the most popular kinds.
Spaghetti is a long, thin pasta that can be paired with so many sauces. Classic spaghetti consists of diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, onions, garlic and herbs.
And if you’re a meat lover, you can throw in some meatballs, too.
Fettuccini pasta is more of a flat, thick paste.
This pasta is mainly used for Fettuccini Alfredo, a white cream dish usually made with butter, Parmesan and cream. It’s simple and delicious.
It can also be paired with shrimp or chicken to add extra flavor.
Lasagna, or as some people call it, the spaghetti flavored cake.
Obviously the biggest difference between lasagna and spaghetti is the pasta. Spaghetti is stringy while lasagna is a wide, flat-shaped pasta. Lasagna dishes are also layered. To make lasagna, the pasta sheets are alternated between sauces and other ingredients. People typically place the pasta sheet down, spread the ricotta, pour the sauce and then drizzle cheese on top.
But really, there’s no wrong way to stack your lasagna. It’ll all taste good at the end of the day, so just have fun with it.
Another fan-favorite is macaroni pasta.
Macaroni is a dry pasta that is traditionally shaped into curved, narrow tubes.
While there are many possibilities when making a dish with this pasta, mac and cheese is a wonderful and simple go-to meal.
Ravioli is a type of pasta that’s filled and sealed with two layers of thin pasta dough. It’s typically served in soup or with a pasta sauce.
This pasta is a traditional food item in Italian cuisine, but it is also a very popular dish all over the world. Like all other pastas, you can pair ravioli with marinara sauce or you can mix it up with some spinach or pesto.
And if you don’t want to celebrate with the pasta above, you can always try and make your own! Get creative. Making – and eating – pasta should be a blast.
