Why does Britain love pasta?
Post categories: pasta
| 16:30 UK time, Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Nigella Lawson likes it slathered in Marmite and goes for a cheeky translation of it ‘alla puttanesca’; Rick Stein’s keen on carbonara (the classic Italian version without cream); while Nigel Slater makes it with a mean mustardy sausage sauce. Yes we’re talking pasta. How on earth did we ever cope without the stuff?
Pasta has arguably been in Britain longer than you might think. Indeed – it seems the court of Richard II was making it back in the 14th Century (and just for the record from China). However its current omnipresence would have shocked previous generations of home-cooks. It’s even starting to be produced in this country: durum wheat, its key ingredient, is now being made in Cornwall.
Many of our everyday pasta dishes have become almost unrecognisable from original Italian versions - good old pub lasagne and chips, macaroni cheese and spag bol to name a few. Many British chefs from to Delia Smith have championed simple Italian pasta dishes, but in recent years we’ve seen the with his endless ‘’.
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So why do Britons love pasta so much? It’s : tomatoey or creamy sauces can create the base to all kinds of different dishes. Dried pasta has a long-shelf life and often makes the most of other storecupboard ingredients like tinned tomatoes, olives, anchovies, chorizo or frozen peas.
Pasta’s cheap (even with ), quick, easy to make in bulk and a crowd-pleaser that kids generally love, so perfect for time-pressed parents. There are endless variations and plenty of vegetarian options. But pasta doesn’t just have to be for speedy mid-week dinners: making pasta dough by hand is quicker than making your own bread - you just need to get yourself a pasta machine. This side of our love affair with pasta isn’t about convenience; here we’re reaching out for a little Italian romance and sunshine into our kitchens.
What’s your favourite pasta recipe? Are you stuck on studenty pasta bakes or Ready Steady Cook-style meaty suppers? Why do you think the British love pasta so much?
Ramona Andrews is the host of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Food Q&A blog and messageboard.
Comment number 1.
At 15th Jun 2011, looksalot wrote:Why do we love pasta? Well... the list is endless. It's a cheap, easy, storecupboard ingredient, kids love it and most important - it is so versatile. My son couldn't live without good old spag bol and my grandaughter adores macaroni cheese!
I love pasta with seafood. My favourite is king prawn linguine with lemon and chilli, with spaghetti vongole coming in a close second.
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Comment number 2.
At 15th Jun 2011, John Price wrote:I practically live on pasta. I saw on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ website that Italy, on average per head consume 26kg of pasta. I probably consume half of that, and it's not because I have a big appetite. Italian food is my favourite and it's suited with any meat, even on its own!
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Comment number 3.
At 13th Sep 2011, teddymorice wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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