What is Pasta? Let’s uncover the History of Pasta
One of the most famous foods on the planet would be pasta. Almost every country has its variant of this beloved, low-cost staple. Spaetzle is a dish popular in Germany and Hungary. Orzo in Greece, in Poland, people eat pocket-sized pierogi. Kreplach dumplings are made by Ashkenazi Jewish families.
And, except for all-American spaghetti and meatballs, pasta in America is prepared and served in the same way as it is in Italy. In reality, many of us associate pasta with Italian cuisine, and most people assume that it originated there. While pasta is historically Italian, it has a very long history that makes it nearly hard to determine who invented the dish initially.
Pasta’s history is difficult to trace for various reasons. The word itself means “paste” in Italian. This is a reference to the dough, which is created from a combination of flour and water or eggs, both of which are simple ingredients that have been around for ages. This makes it difficult to distinguish pasta from other ancient recipes created with the same components. Furthermore, because pasta has long been a common people dish, it has not garnered as much attention as more extravagant foods, which is a shame because it is one of the most popular foods on the planet! Talking about popular, you can get the best pasta Geelong, in Australia.
Before we can talk about pasta, we must first define the word. Pasta is the common name for traditional Italian noodles, which distinguishes them from other types of noodles that may be found all over the world. Pasta is formed with an unleavened dough that contains ground durum wheat, water, or eggs. Due to the usage of durum wheat in its production, pasta is distinct from other forms of noodles. Durum wheat’s high gluten content and low moisture content make it perfect for creating pasta. The durum wheat dough is rolled out into sheets and cut into different shapes before heating and serving.
Even though we tend to associate pasta with Italian culture, it originated as an early form of Asian noodles. It’s a common misunderstanding that Marco Polo brought pasta from China to Italy in the 13th century. There is a section in The Travels of Marco Polo that recalls his introduction to a mill that made flour. The Chinese used this plant to make a meal similar to barley flour. Polo described a barley-like meal used to make a variety of pasta-like dishes, including lasagna. Because Polo’s original work is no longer existing, the book relies heavily on retellings by other authors and professionals. Given this, as well as the fact that pasta was already popular in other parts of the country by the 13th century, it seems highly unlikely that Marco Polo brought it to Italy at first.
Pasta is a soothing food. One of its most comforting qualities is the fact that it hasn’t changed much over time. It is still made using the same basic ingredients and procedures as in the past. When we eat pasta, we may be sure that our predecessors likely ate a dish that is similar to it. Due to its extensive, multi-cultural heritage, pasta is a dish that helps us feel connected to the past.