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Pasta

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The English word pasta generally means noodles and other food products made from a flour and water paste, often including also egg and salt. The word comes from Italian pasta which means basically "paste", and by extension "dough", "pasta", or "pastry" as in "small cake".

Wheat noodles are by far the most common noodles in Asia (c.f., Chinese men and the Japanese udon and somen) and Europe (c.f., spaghetti), while rice noodles tend to be rare outside of Asia. In English-speaking countries, Italian noodles are the kind most often referred to as "pasta". In Italy, pasta with sauce (sugo) is often called "pastasciutta" ("asciutta" means "dry," indicating that the pasta is not served in broth).

While it is often said that Marco Polo brought the concept of long-thin shaped pasta back with him from China, while other forms of pasta had been known in Europe for many centuries before his voyage. The earliest known records are found on Etruscan tomb decorations from the 4th century BC.

Thomas Jefferson is credited with bringing the first macaroni machine to America in 1789 when he returned home after serving as ambassador to France.

Common pasta sauces include pesto, spaghetti sauce, and alfredo.

Pasta varieties

Shaped Pasta:

Tubular Pasta:

Strand Noodles:

Ribbon Pasta Noodles:

Soup Pasta:

Stuffed Pasta:

Asian Noodles:

Commercial Pasta:

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