Pasta 101

Learn To Speak The Language Of Italian Pasta

One of the first lessons in Italian cooking is learning about pasta.  Although pasta doesn't form the centerpiece of every Italian meal, it is usually somewhere on the table.  In order to understand Italian cooking, therefore, you really should get to know a little bit about pasta.  Of course, we want to learn about the varieties of pasta and which dish to use them in, but it's also fun to know what the strange names mean.  Let's start by learning a little about the most obvious term – Pasta.

In Italian, 'pasta' simply means a "paste."  A paste is formed of flour, water, salt, and sometimes eggs.  The paste is then formed into shapes and becomes the pasta we know in Italian cooking.  We may sometimes call this food item by a different term - noodles - but that is from the German word 'nudel.'  When we're talking about cooking Italian cuisine, we use the word pasta.  Now, we'll look at some specific styles of pasta to learn more:

Calamari (calamarata or calamaretti)

These rings of pasta are thick and resemble squid, or "calamari," which explains the name.  You won't find this type of pasta too often in regular grocery stores as it is only made near Naples in the region of Campania.  The pasta may be made with squid ink to give it even more of a calamari appearance.

Cannelloni

This pasta is sometimes confused with manicotti since both are stuffed and baked.  However, there is a difference in the way the pasta is formed.  Cannelloni is a sheet of dough that is filled and rolled into the tube shape we know, while manicotti is pre-made into tubes, then stuffed.  The word 'cannelloni' is Italian for "large reeds."

Capelli D'Angelo

You might know this better by the title "angel hair." This is a very fine, delicate strand of pasta. Angel hair pasta is most often used in dishes with lighter sauces, both in flavor and weight. In the more southern regions you'll find lots of shrimp, fish, and vegetables served with their capelli d'angelo.  In the northern regions you'll find recipes using basil pesto as well as creams and seasonal vegetables.

Ditalini

This "little thimble" shaped pasta originated in the Campania region of Italy.  You'll most often see ditalini used in the a hearty bean soup or minestrone. Its tubular shape holds up well and will stay al dente even floating in soup.

Farfalle (bow tie)

This pasta's name in Italian means "butterflies." It's kind of a romantic name that got translated in English to 'bow tie' after fashion changed and men started wearing bow ties.  The pasta does actually resemble a bow tie more than a butterfly, but I like calling them farfalle because it's a pretty name to match a pretty pasta. Farfalle originated in northern Italy, where it has been used for everything from soups to light salads to cream based dishes.

Fusilli
 

These "little spindles" may be more familiar to you as 'corkscrew' pasta.  There are many variations to size, but they are all twisted into corkscrew type shapes. This twisty shaped pasta is best known for holding creamy or cheesy sauces and dressings, and are very desirable in cold salads for that reason.

Lasagne

Both referring to the pasta and the dish formed from the pasta, the word lasagne is actually the plural form of lasagna.  The Romans originated this pasta, which was called "laganum" from the Latin for "pot."  This made sense since the wide flat pasta was usually used to line a pot, then adding other ingredients to form the dish.  Now we specifically refer to a layered dish of this pasta and other ingredients as lasagne or its singular, lasagna.

Linguine

This pasta originated in the Liguria region of northern Italy.  The word 'linguine' (pronounced lin-GWY-nee) means "little tongues" in Italian.  Its American spelling, linguini, is mostly for the sake of pronunciation since 'linguine' could mistakenly end up lin-GWINE in the English language.  Either spelling, this pasta is recognized as the thinner version of fettuccine; sort of a flattened spaghetti.

Orecchiette

The Italian word for 'ear' is "orecchio," so it's no surprise that this tiny ear-shaped pasta is called 'orecchiette' meaning "little ears."  Pronounced ohray-key-YA-tay, this pasta has a built in scoop, making it ideal for holding heavy sauces, vegetables, and meat.

Orzo

Don't mistake this pasta for rice or barley, although the Italian translation for orzo is "barley."  This tiny pasta resembles a grain of rice or barley, but it is made from semolina. You can use orzo in many of the same ways you would rice or barley; in pilafs, soups, salads, and side dishes.  When cooked properly, and cooled, this pasta makes a lovely cold salad mixed with fresh ingredients.

Penne
 

The word 'penne' translates in Italian to "quills." This tubular pasta has the ends trimmed on the diagonal, similar to a quill pen. Penne that has ridges (rigate) will hold sauce well.  Penne pasta is so popular in all sizes and variations, you'll find it featured in many recipes.  One classic you will see often is Penne all'Arrabbiata which suggests a very hot spicy dish since 'arrabbiata' means "angry" in Italian. Using a hot chile sauce would be appropriate in this dish.  Penne holds up very well with heavy sauces, vegetables, and meats and is very often used in baked dishes for this reason.

Spaghetti
 

When we refer to spaghetti in America, we have to make the distinction clear that we are talking about the pasta, not the dish. The word 'spaghetti' in Italian is the diminutive of "spago," which means 'cord or string.'  In Italy you will find a variety of thicknesses of spaghetti used, specified with the names 'spaghettini and spaghettoni.'  Spaghetti is believed to be the oldest shape of pasta known.

Ziti

This popular pasta, prounounced ZEE-tee, is a thin tubular design that holds up well to heavy sauces, cheese, meats, and vegetables.  Traditionally served baked in various dishes for Italian weddings, the term 'maccheroni di zita' translates to "bride's macaroni" making the term 'zita' a convenient and understandable word for this pasta.

Now that you know more about the word origins of some of your favorite pastas, are you ready to dig in and start speaking the language?  Well, you may not be speaking fluent Italian, but at least you'll have an opportunity to drop a few Italian pasta names with ease around the dinner table.