Know your Pasta
Do you know your Pasta?
Pasta was traditionally served as a Primo Piatto, between the Antipasto (hot or cold appetizers) and the Secondo Piatto, the main dish of fish or meat served usually with a Contorno which is a side dish of salad or cooked vegetables.
Fresh pasta is usually made using soft wheat 00 (doppio zero) flour and fresh eggs.
Gnocchi are also part of the pasta family and is the Italian word for dumplings. They can be made of potato, semolina (durum wheat), flour, or ricotta cheese. Filled pasta comes in different sizes and shapes and a huge variety of filling – meat, vegetable or cheese based.
These are some of the most popular shapes of fresh filled pasta:
Tortellini
Tortellini is a variety of ring-shaped pasta. They are typically stuffed with a mix of meat (pork, prosciutto crudo, mortadella) and cheese. Originally from the Italian region of Emilia (Bologna), they are traditionally served in broth.
According to a legend, originating in medieval Italy, tells how Venus and Jupiter arrived at a tavern on the outskirts of Bologna one night. After much food and drink, they shared a room. The innkeeper, captivated by the two, followed them and peeked through the keyhole. All he could see was Venus’s navel. Spellbound, he rushed to the kitchen and created tortellini in its image.
Tortelloni are also a type of stuffed pasta, usually stuffed with Ricotta cheese and vegetables, such as spinach. Many variants exist such as porcini, broccoli or tomato. Another common filling for tortelloni is pumpkin. Tortelloni are usually served with melted butter and sage leaves.
Ravioli
Ravioli - The word ravioli derives from the Italian verb ravvolgere, meaning 'to wrap'. This popular type of pasta, comprised of a filling sealed between two layers of thin pasta dough. Ravioli are commonly square in shape.
Cappelletti
Cappelletti - The word cappelletto means “little hat,” which is what this pasta should resemble; they are from Modena. They are traditionally served in broth, like the tortellini.
Agnolotti
Agnolotti are Piemontese stuffed pasta, and come in a great many different varieties, some filled with cheese and others meat. They are square and small. They also are often made from cooked meat.
There is a huge variety of unfilled pasta, from the popular Spaghetti or Tagliatelle to the more unusual Orecchiette.