Pasta is one of the most consumed foods globally, this is due to its versatility and accessibility. But not only that, it is possible to create several delicious recipes with pasta in a matter of minutes, and it is present in the most varied cultures.
The origin of the pasta is uncertain; some claim that it originated in China and others in Egypt. But for sure, we all remember Italy when we think of the masses. And even if its origin is not Italian, it was there that the pasta was improved, with various shapes and types.
Indeed, some of the best-known shapes originated elsewhere globally, but the variety of pasta shapes that have emerged in Italy is enormous.
For a long time in Italy, industrialized masses were accessible only to people who had greater purchasing power since the manufacture of these masses and conservation methods were quite laborious. The most impoverished families only made use of these masses at festive times such as Christmas.
Due to the high cost of industrialized pasta, families produced their pasta handmade with water, flour and eggs.
The different shapes of pasta came about; families produced the pasta in the form that was most convenient for them, so each family made various types of pasta.
This pasta with different shapes was spread by local family businesses and took time to spread throughout Italy and the world.
Knowing this, the next time you consume a different pasta shape in your home or the restaurant, remember that Ali has a family history. For sure, thinking about it will make your dining experience tastier and richer.
Now that we already know how the different pasta shapes came about, let’s learn a little more about each of the best-known main shapes.
To make it easier to understand, we separate the shapes into Long, Short and stuffed.
Long pasta
Let’s meet some of the best types of pasta with a long shape!
spaghetti
One of the oldest pasta with the most significant influence on world culture is spaghetti. Despite having its origin popularly known as Italian, some archaeologists maintain that the proper basis of this type of mass is Chinese. For some of these professionals, the first contacts of Italians with spaghetti occurred in the expansion of the Eastern Roman Empire.
In this way, spaghetti must have been attached to European culture during the Roman Empire. Over the years, the conquest of the world by European culture, some aspects of this culture have been spread to various places globally. That is why spaghetti has gained so much popularity in different cultures.
Although the most popular form of preparation of this pasta is related to Italian culture, each country has found its way to use it in national dishes.
Because of this popularity, it is possible to find spaghetti with several cooking features, including the traditional American spaghetti that you can try at the best American pasta restaurant.
Noodles
There is a legend about the creation of this mass. Some say that it was created in 1487 by a cook hired for a wedding which took inspiration from the bride’s long blonde hair to make the dough.
Legends aside, everything indicates that Tagliatelle originated in northern Italy in a region called Emilia. This origin is ascertained by some sayings made by the citizens of Emilia, who quote the mass in some of these sayings.
Fettuccine
We do not know the origin of this pasta because it is similar to other pasta types, such as Tagliatelle. But some risk saying that fettuccine was created in 1908 by a man who tried to make his wife, who had just had a baby eat something since she was unwell and unwilling to eat because of the difficult birth.
This man then went to the kitchen and prepared a delicious handmade pasta to please his wife and make her not resist that beautiful plate of pasta.
We don’t know if she ate it or not, but would you resist a handmade portion of fettuccine? At least I don’t think I would fight.
Bucatini
The Bucatini pasta from the long pasta line, but has a hole in the middle for the sauce to penetrate, is of origin from the families of the region of Sicily.
Short pasta
Let’s meet some of the best types of pasta with a short shape!
Fusilli
The origin of the Fusilli was in Campania, a coastal area to the southwest of Italy. The Fusilli was produced in a handmade way with a method passed from mothers to daughters. The modelling of the pasta was done with an object called a spindle, which was similar to a knitting needle.
Farfalle
The farfalle that translated means butterfly is a mass that originated in the region of Lombardy, whose capital is the city of Milan, this mass appeared in the sixteenth century, and despite having the name translated means butterfly, many call it a tie.
Conchiglioni
The Conchiglioni is a mass with the shape of a seashell, which also comes from its name. It was created around the year 1100 and is a pasta of Sicilian origin, but the Italians who made this pasta were of Arab origin.
Penne
This pasta shape is famous throughout Italy, and in each region, it is called by a different name. But the best-known name in the whole world is penne, and this name is the most popular because the shape of the pasta resembles the structure of a bird feather.
Penne pasta is nothing more than a bucatini variation because it produces the penne; it is enough to cut the bucatini into smaller pieces and modify the tips.
Gnocchi
The gnocchi that translated the mean piece had its origin in the Middle East. Still, the Italians again embraced this pasta mainly because of the practicality and economy that this type of pasta makes possible. Low-income families mixed leftover flour and bread and whatever vegetables were available and modelled this co.
Now that you know some of the best pasta shapes, but what do you think of taste this at the American Pasta? Come visit us and taste our food, you’ll fall in love!
