Italian cuisine is considered one of the best and most popular in the world. The basis for most dishes is pasta - Italy has more than 400 varieties, from simple spaghetti to shaped penne or farfalle to stuffed ravioli or tortellini.
Italians refer to all pasta collectively as pasta, the freshest and tastiest being pasta fresca. It is made from semolina flour (a type of durum wheat) and water, sometimes with eggs added.
Italian pasta
Types of Italian pasta
Italy boasts an incredible variety of pasta varieties that vary in shape, size and texture. Each region has its own favourite variations, served with local ingredients and sauces.
- Spaghetti - One of the most famous types of pasta, long, thin and smooth. Most often served with tomato sauce or meat ragout.
- Fettuccine - A wide, flat pasta that is especially popular in Tuscany. They are often found in creamy sauces, such as with mushrooms or Alfredo sauce.
- Penne - A tubular pasta that is ideal for capturing sauces due to its shape. They are popular throughout Italy and are used in a variety of variations, from baked penne to the traditional penne all'arrabbiata.
- Lasagne - Large, flat sheets of pasta that are folded into layers and baked with sauces and fillings such as minced meat, ricotta, spinach or béchamel sauce.
- Tortellini - Small, twisted pasta filled with various ingredients such as cheese, meat or vegetables. tortellini originate from the Emilia-Romagna region and are often served in soup or with creamy sauces.
- Ravioli - Stuffed pasta that can contain a variety of fillings, from cheese to meat and vegetables. Ravioli are usually served with butter or tomato sauces.
- Orecchiette - A small, eared pasta typical of the Puglia region. Orecchiette is often served with vegetable-based sauces such as broccoli or spinach.
Italian pasta with seafood
In Italy, pasta is served as a separate course, rarely as a side dish. It is cooked 'al dente', which means that it should not be cooked completely soft. They are most often served with tomato (ragout) or cream-based sauces, seasoned with fresh herbs(basil, rosemary, thyme, parsley or oregano) and sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese.
