Pasta! Pasta! Pasta!
Go ahead, try it. Try to think of Italy and not to think of pasta. It's impossible, right? Good thing! Pasta is so good life without it might not be worthy of being called "life." But before I go any further, I'd like to lay to rest the myth that Marco Polo trekked back from China carrying a box of pasta, announcing to his fellow Italians: "I've found it and it's great al dente!" It's a nice story, and certainly he did encounter noodles on his voyage, however, it appears that the ingenious idea of mixing flour and water possibly sprang up in multiple corners of the globe: ancient China, Greece, Rome, and the Arab world. Yep, pasta's ancient. There's evidence, in fact, that the Etruscans (those who lived in Etruria, now called Tuscany, around 800 BC) rolled pasta around thin sticks to create the earliest forms of macaroni.
Click on me to buy Nello's Sauce! The Perfect Sauce to Top your Pasta with!
Nello's Guide to Eight Types of Pasta
There are hundreds of types of pasta, some ancient, some old, most new. No matter, one town to the next will have a different name for many of the same types of pasta, often granting room for slight variation in size or shape, certainly variation in how they are enjoyed. Here are eight of my absolute favorite types of pasta, some fresh, some dry, most of which are available at your local supermarket.
I gratefully acknowledge the National Pasta Association for the pasta images below.
Lasagne
Yes, that's an "e" at the end. Italians refer to individual pasta types in the plural, hence lasagne. Lasagne have a ribbon form and are used in that oh-so-famous baked dish we call "Lasagna." Lasagna, like gnocchi, is one of the oldest forms of pasta; one my mother always prepared for me on my birthday.
Cavatelli
Cavatelli are dear to my heart. My great grandmother prepared them and my mother, too, always served them up. Cavatelli are very common in Italian American households, as they are typically prepared in the province of Avellino, where many Italians who emigrated to America were born.
Fusilli
Should you need to drill a hole, you might try using fusilli. But these thin pasta spirals are also great for holding light sauces that would otherwise fall off the pasta, such as with spaghetti. They are especially good with Nello's Sauce, a simple, delicious tomato sauce, soon to be available for sale!
Spaghetti
We've all had it. In fact, if we ran a poll, it'd probably come out on top as the world's favorite. Spaghetti twirl perfectly around a fork. No surprise, then, "spaghetto" the singular, is the diminutive form of "spago," meaning string. Try them in a clam sauce: "Spaghetti alle vongole."
Penne
Ancient quills, modern day pens. No matter, that's what penne are--the writing implements of the pasta world. If you hold one uncooked, dab it in some sauce, you'll see it works perfectly well. Happy writing!
Orecchiette
Typical of Puglia, orecchiette in Italian means "little ears." That being the case, listen up! This is a deceptively simple pasta to make, though extremely easy to enjoy. Be sure to try them if you haven't. You'll not be sorry you did!
Tortellini
These little fresh pasta pillows stuffed with meats or cheeses are a true specialty of the city of Bologna. There you'll find tortellini often stuffed with prosciutto or ground meat and it's also common to enjoy them in broth or in a ragu'. Try it!
Linguine
Linguine in Italian means "little tongues." Linguine are best fresh, but, like most pasta, are easily found dried. Enjoy in a fresh tomato sauce or with seafood. Learn how to make linguine by watching the video below!
Care to Share a Recipe?
We've all got one tucked away, an absolute favorite sauce recipe. Or maybe an old family recipe. My question to you is simple: What's your favorite way to enjoy pasta? I invite you to share your recipes with me on either on the Nello's Italy facebook page or via e-mail. Mmm, can't wait!
Whether you understand Italian or not, you'll be sure to enjoy this video of Nonna Stella of Puglia making fettuccine at home. (Did you know, "Nonna" in Italian means "grandmother?")
Like Nonna Stella, Mamma Carolina makes her cavatelli and orecchiette for her son. Watch the speed at which she prepares them! Zooom!