October 17 is National Pasta Day. Pasta is a classic comfort foods and can be prepared in many ways. The use of pasta dates back to 1154 in Sicily, Italy and remains popular to the present day.
Not only is the 17th of October honored as National Pasta Day, but the entire month of October is National Pasta Month! You can celebrate this delicious food all month long!
This means that it’s time to dig into some fun facts, and recipes to honor this day.
Keep reading to celebrate National Pasta Day by learning some fun facts about pasta, and getting a list of recipes to honor this October food holidays in October!
Our love affair with pasta
What is not to love about a comfort food like pasta that brings back so many childhood memories? The recipes are timeless, tasty and traditional in many homes around the world.
Pasta can be enjoyed by beginning cooks as well as those with generations of experience. It can be used in Asian, Italian and many other cuisines. One of my family’s favorite pasta meals is my brother in laws American Chop Suey recipe!
Fun facts about pasta
Pasta has an interesting origin that dates back centuries with many thoughts as to its origin. Check out these pasta fun facts:
- Contrary to popular folklore, Marco Polo did not discover pasta in Asia and bring it to Italy. It was used long before he arrived!
- Thomas Jefferson had a recipe for macaroni that he introduced to the United States but is likely not the first to talk about it.
- Dry pasta is made with wheat and water. Fresh pasta adds eggs to the recipe!
- In addition to National Pasta Day, there’s also a World Pasta Day which falls on October 25.
- Pasta manufacturing machines have been made since the 1600s.
- Italians eat about 60 pounds of pasta per person a year!
- The first mention of a red sauce for pasta appeared in a 1790 cookbook called L’Apicio Moderno.
- There are over 300 forms and 1300 names of pasta.
How to celebrate National Pasta Day
With all the forms and shapes of pasta available – macaroni, noodles, lasagna, linguine, spaghetti, and more, it’s easy to find a way to celebrate this October national day!
- Visit your favorite Italian restaurant and order a bowl of pasta.
- Take a cooking class to learn how to make fresh pasta.
- Host an Italian dinner party.
- Invest in a pasta making machine.
- Make your own new form of fresh pasta with tiny cookie cutters.
- Get cooking! What better way to celebrate than to make pasta for dinner tonight?
Recipes for National Pasta Day
Pasta became a common North American staple late in the 19th century when our country had an influx of Italian immigration. Many pasta recipes have an Italian flair to them, but pasta can also be used in many cuisines.
It’s easy to incorporate pasta in meal planning from savory to sweet dishes. Why not try one of these recipes to celebrate National Pasta Day?
- This Sausage Garlic Parmesan Recipe is made with fettuccine.
- Make Chunky Roasted Tomatoes and Vegetable pasta with rotini.
- This yummy Italian sausage bake uses ravioli as the pasta.
- Use rigatoni for this creamy baked sausage recipe.
- This Ground Beef Penne Pasta Recipe is one of my favorite easy family dinners.
- Like mac and cheese? Try this copycat macaroni and cheese recipe.
- Got an appetite? Try these taco stuffed shells tonight.
- This 15 minute Thai green curry soup uses vermicelli for the pasta.
- Spaghetti forms the base of this amazing (and light!) seafood piccata recipe.
- Either spaghetti of fettuccine can be used to make this spicy shrimp and tomato pasta recipe.
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Make sure to watch this YouTube video to learn about more national food days in October.