Exploring Tagliatelle and the Italian Pasta Tradition

 

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Guest Blogger: GeGe Tan

October is not just the Italian American Heritage and Culture Month, but it also marks the National Pasta Month. Moreover, October 25 is World Past Day! During this special pasta time, people all over the world enjoy this popular food known for its versatility.

Shapes

Pasta comes in so many different shapes and forms, there are rotini, rigatoni, ziti, tortellini, spaghetti, lasagna…you name it. You can serve pasta as either a main dish or a side dish, you can also choose from a wide range of vegetables and meats to add to your pasta, makes it a dish loaded with nutrients.

Family

“Pasta brings family together because it can be a shared meal,” said Maria. “Sitting at the dinner table on Sunday passing around a large dish of spaghetti and meatballs bring a smile to everyone’s face.”

Pasta Recipe

If you are looking for a pasta recipe, don’t forget to checkout Maria’s website, marialiberati.com, or her book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking, where she also includes an interesting Tuscany pasta recipe called Pici pasta.

National Pasta Month

In honor of the National Pasta Month, Maria is going to teach you how to make fresh tagliatelle pasta, with dough made from scratch.

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs,

• 1 and ½ cup of flour

Instructions:

1. Place flour on wooden board, make a well in center and add in eggs one at a time.

2. Knead dough with eggs for approximately 15 minutes, till a smooth dough is formed.

3. Divide dough into pieces, then roll out into long pieces of dough and cut into tagliatelle, or use a pasta machine to cut.

4. Let tagliatelle dry for a few hours before cooking.

Lorraine Rinalli, Author

Lorraine Ranalli, the author of Italian cookbook Gravy Wars, describes herself as “the cook next door” because she was not a professional cook by the time she wrote the book, all she wanted to do was to capture authentic Italian family recipes.

Just like music, Lorraine believes food is an universal language that brings people together, “It doesn’t matter what ethnic food it is, there’s a universality…we all have an attraction, we all appreciate it, we all have a definite taste, like or dislike,” said Lorraine.

Favorite Recipes

Lorraine said one of her favorites recipes from the book is Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, served with extra Pecorino Romano cheese on top of it.

What does Food Mean to You?

Food means comradery and family to Lorraine, so to other Italian families. Maria said her grandparents also had the tradition of serving Spaghetti Aglio e Olio on New Year’s Eve. Everyone gathers around and make a big pot of pasta and enjoy it together at midnight. On Christmas Eve, Italians celebrate La Vigilia, or the Feast of Seven Fish, with variety of seafood and pasta dishes.

Listen to The Maria Liberati Show wherever you get your podcasts

For more recipes, get your copy of the Gourmand World Award Winning Book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking:Holidays and Special Occasions