| Lunch in an Italian bistro is simply not complete | | | | butterfly-shaped farfalle are examples of short pasta. |
| without a delicious plate of spinach lasagna or | | | | Minute pastas are small pasta mixed with soup. Such |
| spaghetti bolognese. Pasta is one of best things to | | | | examples are the square-shaped quadretti and the |
| come out of Italy. Although it is renowned to be an | | | | star-like stelline. Lasgana and ziti are types of al |
| Italian specialty, its origins are still debated. There are | | | | forno, which are made especially for baking. |
| some suggestions that say pasta originated from | | | | Sauce is another major factor for making different |
| China and North Africa. Until today, it is still unclear | | | | types of pasta. There are various types of sauces, |
| where this wheat-based wonder was born. | | | | all having a unique taste. Puttanesca and marinara are |
| Although the origin of pasta is unclear until today, it | | | | examples of red, tomato-based sauces. Alfredo and |
| cannot be denied that the art of pasta making has | | | | carbonara, on the other hand, are lighter, |
| been mastered by the Italians. Italians even have a | | | | cream-based white sauces. Depending on the taste |
| law stating dry pasta can only be made with the | | | | one would want to achieve, a variety of other |
| durum wheat flour or semolina. This is to assure that | | | | ingredients can be mixed. Spices, vegetables, seafood |
| all the different types of pasta they make are of the | | | | and meat are examples of ingredients that can give |
| highest caliber. | | | | your sauce that extra kick. |
| Pasta-making has become an art for Italians. So much | | | | Another factor that makes pasta diverse is how it's |
| that it became so diverse. There are a hundred | | | | cooked. The only common rule in pasta making is to |
| types of pasta to choose from, thanks to them. | | | | boil the noodles until firm, or as the Italians call it, al |
| There are actually three things that make pasta | | | | dente. Traditionally, one would mix the cooked sauce |
| types different: Noodles, sauce and cooking. | | | | into the noodles. But one can certainly do whatever |
| Noodles can basically be grouped into four: Long and | | | | they want to the pasta they cook. Lasagna and ziti |
| short pasta, minute pasta and baking pasta or al | | | | can be baked. Minute pastas are mixed with soups |
| forno. The first two are the most commonly ones. | | | | and are boiled together with the broth. And macaroni |
| Spaghetti, vermicelli and linguine are examples of long | | | | can be mixed with some salads. However the dish is |
| pasta. The spiral rotini, the shell-like conchigle and the | | | | made is basically up to your taste. |