Oh pasta! Don’t we all love it!
In all sizes, shapes, forms, and flavors. Pasta is one of the staples of our household too, and one that we often reach out for when there is nothing else to cook at home.
Pasta is one of the first things we learn to cook when we start living on our own, to impress our new date or to prove to our mother that we have finally graduated to adulthood – as proven by the undercooked spaghetti in front of her.
If you love pasta as much as we do, we thought we would put together these fun articles that will tell you more about this staple of our cuisine.
So whether you’re next time choosing a new pasta recipe to try, looking for the best Italian restaurant in town, or experimenting with new pasta sauces, you will know what a cool ingredient you have the privilege to work with.
1. Al Dente Pasta Keeps you Full for Longer
This is a fun fact that we should take advantage of more often! Because the ingredients are not fully cooked, it takes longer for your body to process the food and thus keeps you full for longer. Win on all fronts!
2. There are Around 350 Known Shapes of Pasta in Use
As unbelievable as it may sound, the shapes of pasta are not limited to the selection you normally see in the stores. There are over 350 known shapes of pasta, and you would have to head to Italy to get to experience most of this firsthand.
3. World Pasta Day is on October 25th
Mark the date in your calendar and cook up a storm!
4. The Most Popular Pasta Shapes are Spaghetti, Macaroni, and Penne
This is probably of very little surprise, but the three most popular shapes of pasta are those that are widely available in the stores, and also most commonly used in Italian restaurants.
5. Most of the Dry Pasta is Made With Only Two Ingredients
Those two ingredients are water and flour – usually semolina flour. Some fresh pasta is also made with egg, which makes the dough softer and easier to mold. It also gives the pasta a nice yellow color.
If you want to go all fancy, you can also add some natural coloring to the pasta dough like squid ink for black pasta or a bit of beet juice for a nice red pasta.
6. The ancient Romans Used to Fry Their Pasta
No one really knows why, but frying sounds like an interesting way to experiment with pasta!
7. Dry Pasta Can be Kept for Up to a Year
You probably knew that you can store your dry pasta in your cupboards for a few months, but in fact, it can be kept for as long as a year! Just make sure it’s stored in a dry cool place to keep it in good condition.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry just reading up about all of this food! So who is cooking what for dinner tonight?
