For the Love of Pasta

03 Apr For the Love of Pasta

My name is Susan. And I am a pasta-holic. So when I came across these mouthwatering recipes, my first impulse was to share, because I know my addiction is not unique.

Nor is pasta itself. 

Pasta is one of the world’s most accessible foods.

All-American meatballs & spaghetti (image, HuffPost)

Nearly every country has its own unique version of this popular, inexpensive staple. Germany and Hungary have spaetzle. In Greeze, it’s orzo. In Poland, everyone enjoys pocket-like pierogi. Ashkenazi Jewish families make kreplach dumplings. And in America, pasta is prepared and served similarly to the way it is found in Italy– with the exception of all-American spaghetti and meatballs. In fact, when many of us think of pasta we think of Italian food, and most people believe that it originated in that part of the world.  Or China…

Pasta is likely the descendent of ancient Asian noodles and possibly brought to Italy from China by Marco Polo during the 13th century. In his book, “The Travels of Marco Polo,” a passage briefly mentions his introduction to a plant that produced flour (possibly a “breadfruit tree”). The Chinese used this plant to create a meal similar to barley flour. The barley-like meal Polo mentioned was used to make several pasta-like dishes, including one described as “lagana” (lasagna). Since Polo’s original text no longer exists, however, the book relies heavily on retellings by various authors and experts.

And now let me introduce you to my recipe finds from the HuffPost, all high on the “yum” chart.

Paglia e Feino, “Straw & Hay,” image, HuffPost

Oh pasta, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways: orecchiette, linguine, spaghetti, bucatini… The list goes on and on. With so many varieties and so many ways to eat pasta, we could eat a different pasta every day for the rest of our lives and never get bored.

While we love getting creative with our pasta dishes, the classics are often where it’s at. From spaghetti alla carbonara and bucatini all’amatriciana to fettuccine alfredo and penne alla vodka, the quintessential Italian pasta dishes win us over every time. They’re iconic because they’re traditional in Italy or have become some so through Italian American convention. They’re all tried and true.

Comforting and exciting all at once, these classic pasta dishes will never let us down and will never get old. Here are 22 quintessential pasta recipes we love with all our hearts…

Continue reading here for the recipe links.