Pasta

Small description

Pasta is a traditional Italian food made from a dough of wheat flour (usually durum wheat semolina) mixed with water or eggs, and formed into various shapes. It is typically cooked by boiling or baking.

Types of Pasta

Pasta comes in over 350 different shapes, and is categorized into two main types:

Fresh Pasta

Softer and made with eggs.Cooks faster.Often used for dishes like lasagna, ravioli, or fettuccine.

Dried Pasta

Made without eggs and dried for long storage.Common shapes include spaghetti, penne, macaroni, fusilli, and more.

 Ingredients

Typical pasta dough contains:

Semolina (from durum wheat)Water
Optional: eggs, salt, vegetable extracts (like spinach or tomato for color)

Gluten-free pastas may use rice, corn, quinoa, or legumes instead.

 Nutritional Info

Pasta is a good source of carbohydrates, which provide energy. It also contains:

Protein (especially in whole wheat or legume pasta)
B-vitaminsFiber (more in whole grain pasta)

 Overeating refined pasta can raise blood sugar levels, so portion control is key.

 Popular Pasta Dishes

Spaghetti Bolognese – with meat sauce

Fettuccine Alfredo – creamy cheese sauce

Pasta Carbonara – eggs, cheese, pancetta

Lasagna – layered with sauce, meat, cheese

Macaroni and Cheese – cheesy baked comfort food

History

Pasta is thought to have originated in ancient Italy, but it may have been influenced by early noodles in Asia. It became a staple of Mediterranean cuisine and spread globally.