Pasta is a staple food that has been enjoyed by people all over the world for centuries.
Though pastas origins do not start with Italy, the dish however is synonymous with Italy of today. The origins of pasta though, are tangled in an entertaining web of historical theories and unreliable anecdotal evidence.
It is worthy of taking note of the information gathered.
The History Of Pasta
It is thought that the Etruscans were the first to develop the technique of grinding wheat and mixing it with water to form a dough and then rolling it out and cutting it into strips to make pasta.
The earliest known forms of pasta was also found in Etruscan tombs dating back to 400 B.C.
The Arabs introduced dried pasta to Italy in the 8th century, after their conquest of Sicily.
From there, pasta began to spread throughout Italy and became a popular dish in various regions.
In the 13th century, Marco Polo brought noodles back to Italy from China, which further popularized pasta throughout Europe.
Cook’s Notes
There is often confusion between pasta and noodles. Pasta, the signature dish of Italy, is made from durum semolina, a tetraploid species of wheat with a yellow endosperm and a coarser texture than common wheat.
Italian Pasta
Whereas, noodles are associated with Asian dishes. They are made with flour milled from common wheat, rice flour, or starch from a tuber or bean.
Asian Noodles
Read More Here In This Recipe Article – Lo Mein Noodles & Beef Stir-Fry.
While there is no definitive answer as to who exactly invented pasta, we can thank the various cultures and civilizations that contributed to its creation and evolution over time.
One thing we do know to be a fact, is that pasta is a staple dish of Italian cuisine.
The first industrial pasta factory was established in Naples, Italy in 1785.
Map of Italy’s Famous Pasta Dishes
With that established pasta factory, pasta began its journey from being a regional delicacy to a national symbol of Italian cuisine.
Moreover, industrialisation led to the proliferation of pasta shapes we find in markets today.
The inventions of Italian pasta makers, combined with the precision of machines, gave birth to hundreds of unique pasta shapes, each with its specific sauce pairings and cooking techniques.
Pasta can be found in many recipes not native to Italian cuisine. With Italy popularizing pasta to the world, it has become a versatile ingredient.
Here are some of those recipes:
One Skillet Tortellini With Pizza Sauce & Fontina
Turkish Inspired Chicken And Orzo Soup With Garlic And Paprika
Instant Pot Bacon Alfredo Mac & Cheese
Bacon & Vegetable Tortellini
Orecchiette With Andouille Sausage & Pesto Chipotle Sauce
More Pasta Recipes
- Cannellini White Bean Soup with Swiss Chard – With Ditalini Pasta
- Spaghetti Carbonara – With Spaghetti Pasta
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- Roasted Sweet Potatoes And Chickpeas with Feta, Pomegranate And Maple Tahini
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Great information, I never knew there was a difference from pasta and noodles!
Me neither until I looked it up.