Pasta

The English word pasta generally refers to noodles and other food products made from a flour and water paste, often including also egg and salt. Less frequently, the term macaroni is used for the same products.

History

Pasta was developed independently in a number of places around the globe (though some anthropologists dispute this). In each of these places, the local grain was the primary starch in the diet. Grains had normally been consumed as a gruel or grain paste. Pasta noodles were developed as an alternative to a gruel or bread. Pasta noodles can be created in places where there is no oven, nor enough fuel to support an oven. In contrast, bread requires a great investment in time and effort to create. Any place you can have something dry, you can have pasta noodles.

Related Topics:
Anthropologists - Starch - Gruel - Bread

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The earliest known records of noodles in Europe are found on Etruscan tomb decorations from the 4th century BC. Utensils that are thought to have been used to make pasta were also found in the ruins of 79 AD Pompeii, where other Chinese objects as mirror was found, the silk road was extended to Rome in 30 BC. Thus we know the popular legend of Marco Polo bringing back pasta to Italy from China is absolutely false - though he certainly may have brought back an assortment of Chinese noodle recipes with him. Note, however, that Chinese noodles are always used fresh, never dried before industrialisation; and they are comprised of one giant noodle mass through the cooking process because it is considered bad luck in China to cut noodles before serving them to eat.

Related Topics:
Europe - Etruscan - 4th century BC - 79 AD - Pompeii - Silk road - Rome - 30 BC - Marco Polo - Italy - China - Luck

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Thomas Jefferson is credited with bringing the first macaroni machine to America in 1789 when he returned home after serving as ambassador to France.

Related Topics:
Thomas Jefferson - Macaroni - 1789 - Ambassador - France

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