If you’re a pasta lover, you understand that enjoying pasta never gets old. Seriously, even if you had it for lunch, there’s another type waiting to enjoy for dinner! Pasta is loved around the world and has been for quite some time. Before you can be a true pasta lover though, there are a few facts you need to know.
There are Over 600 Types of Pasta
That number isn’t a typo, there really are over 600 types of pasta worldwide! It may be thought of as a traditional Italian dish, but pasta doesn’t stop with spaghetti and fettuccine. Cous cous, fusilli, and tortellini are just a few types of pasta that go underappreciated here in America. Next time you’re at the grocery store, really pay attention in the pasta aisle. You’ll probably see a few types you’ve never tried before, and now is as good of a time as any to start broadening your pasta horizons!
Pasta is Ancient
Pasta dates back much further than just old Italy. In fact, there’s evidence that shows that ancient Romans used to enjoy pasta just as much as we do today! Their pasta was made from a simple recipe of flour and water, but it still had a similar texture and flavor of what we enjoy today.
Different Pasta Requires Different Sauce
Red sauce is not fitting for every type of pasta. The different shapes of pasta are actually made to hold onto different sauces differently to give the best dining experience. For example, fettuccine is best served with a creamy white sauce because the wide, flat noodles are able to hold it. Do a little investigating before you decide what sauce to make with your next pasta dish.
Fresh and Dry Pasta is Different
Pasta comes in two major variations: fresh and dry. Fresh pasta contains wheat, water, and eggs. Dry pasta, however, is made of just wheat and water. The addition of egg tends to slightly change the flavor of the pasta and shortens the time that the pasta is good for. Fresh or dry pasta is a personal choice, one is not necessarily better than the other.
Now that you’ve brushed up on all your pasta facts, feel free to go out and enjoy! No matter what type of pasta you love or how you choose to prepare it, just know that you’re one of the millions of pasta lovers all around the globe.