October 25, 2012 - World Pasta Day

The word “pasta” refers to the noodles used in Italian cuisine, but of course these days, Italian food is eaten the world over. And noodles—pasta by other names—make an important part of many different cuisines. Whether its ramen or spatzle, pho or reshte, noodles are especially important in Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, German, and Vietnamese cooking.

But let's get back to Italian pasta:

What is pasta made of?

Unleavened dough (that means dough that does NOT have yeast or baking powder, and so do not rise and expand) made from wheat flour and water.

(Pasta can be made from other grains, or can use eggs rather than water. Also, some pasta is flavored and colored with spinach, say, or tomatoes.)

What shapes does pasta come in?

Such a variety! The long, skinny noodles (spaghetti, linguini, or vermicelli) are most common, but people make and eat shells, tubes, spirals, bow-ties, wheels, and wide ribbons like fettuccine or even wider noodles like the ruffle-edged lasagna.

Plus more.

How is pasta made?

Most pasta is made through extrusion. The dough is forced through a die with a hole designed for the shape desired, making a long, continuous noodle that is cut to the desired size by rotating blades. Take a look!

Celebrate World Pasta Day!

Go to the grocery store and really look at the pastas and other noodles available to you. (Hint: Check out the Asian foods section and the refrigerated section as well as the pasta section.)

Try a kind of pasta (or three or four!) that you've never eaten before.

Try a noodle dish from a cuisine you have never sampled before. I really love pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) and kaese spatzle (German macaroni and cheese).




Also on this date:







1 comment:

  1. Actual pasta names v/s what we call them in our head. Go on, order some pasta @ zaykedaar.com

    ReplyDelete