Encyclopedia of Pasta

Have you ever stood in the pasta aisle at the grocery store and thought to yourself, “why are there so many damn pasta shapes?” If so, you’re not alone. But before I answer that question (hint: the answer is sauce – spoiler alert), let’s look at where pasta came from, and what makes up pasta.

WHAT IS PASTA

Pasta is, at its most basic, a kneaded mixture of flour and water. Pasta, at its most exuberant, is still essentially a kneaded mixture of flour and water – okay, and oil, egg, salt, and other flavorings. Like all great dishes however, the possibilities are endless. Most pastas use a semolina dough. Semolina dough and water makes a simple dough. Semolina dough with water, egg, and oil makes a rich pasta dough. Flavored and colored doughs can use herbs, vegetables, fruits, and more.