History of Italian Pasta
History of Italian Pasta
Italian pasta is one of the most recognized dishes in the entire world. So recognized, in fact, that there are countless variations of it. Almost every day, a new pasta recipe is invented, each with a very unique flavor that stands out amongst the rest. But while we enjoy consuming such a popular and versatile dish, more and more by the day we tend to stray away from learning about the history of this amazing food item. So if you’re curious to know about the history of Italian pasta, continue reading below. You’ll be surprised by the mysterious and long rich history Italian pasta has.
History of Italian Pasta
Where Did it Come From?
While we often think pasta originated in Italy, nobody actually knows for sure where it came from. And with very few documented texts indicating its exact origins, historians and other experts are left to concoct theories of their own. One common belief – probably the most popular belief – is that Italian pasta was inspired by the noodle-making recipe/technique from China. It’s theorized that Marco Polo brought the idea of pasta to Italy when he ventured back from China.
In his book, The Adventures of Marco Polo, there’s a passage where it’s briefly mentioned that the adventurer was introduced to a plant that produced flour. This flour, as is mentioned in the book, was used to create many different pasta-like dishes, including one that was described as lasagna.
The issue with the theory about pasta originating in China, however, is that pasta was already gaining plenty of popularity in other areas of Italy during the 13th century. So it’s very unlikely that Marco Polo was the first to introduce this food item to Italy.
In the end, no one really knows where Italian pasta originated. But considering that China may have had some influence on the dish, some food historians have concluded that an amalgam of recipes and techniques from different cultures would eventually lead to this signature Italian food item.
How is Italian Pasta Made?
While Italian pasta was likely inspired by a wide myriad of cultures, the two things that Italian cuisine did to differentiate this food item from other countries was the use of durum wheat and tomatoes.
Italian pasta noodles are made from unleavened dough involving durum wheat and water or eggs. With durum wheat’s high gluten content and low moisture quality, Italian pasta is able to set itself apart from other forms of noodles. And thanks to the versatility of dough, it’s able to be pressed into different shapes and sizes.
Because of the richness of Italian soil being able to farm many different agricultural products, Italians had found that they could use many different vegetables to create different pasta dishes. Tomatoes, however, had become the most popular vegetable for Italian pasta recipes. And it’s still popularly used today.
Contact Cannoli Kitchen Today For Their Premier Boca Raton Pasta
While there are countless amazing Italian pasta dishes out in the world, you can get the best one offered in South Florida by Cannoli Kitchen. Cannoli Kitchen has provided its quality services to numerous South Florida residents for many years. Our restaurant is highly-renowned for its authentic and high-end Italian dishes. We feel more than confident that when you choose us for our Italian pasta, you’ll only come back for more. For any inquiries, you may call us at (561) 955-8880 or visit our contact page.