Who doesn't like noodles and pasta? We slurp them up in soups, we top them with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese, we fry them up with soy sauce and veggies, we bake them with ricotta and meat sauce, we stuff them with mushrooms and spinach. Whether you make them yourself and buy them at the store, the possibilities with noodles are endless. And with so many variations to choose from there's something for everyone. So go ahead and get creative!
Noodle Variations
With so many different varieties, where does one begin? Well first ask yourself, what type of food am I making. Japanese noodle variations include ramen, soba, shirataki, somen, and udon. Italian noodles (commonly referred to as pasta) include penne, fusilli, rigatoni, spaghetti, and linguine, to name a few. In terms of preparation, cooking noodles is one of the easier activities in the kitchen. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, drop in pasta and let cook. Cooking time varies depending on the density of the noodle, with short noodles and whole wheat varieties taking longer. It also depends on if you like your noodles al dente, which is still a little firm, or fully cooked with a softer texture.
Different Dishes
In many different countries and cultures, noodles are the backbone of their cuisine and are prepared in several different ways. Italian cooking is often the first thing many of us think of when we mention noodles, with popular pasta dishes including lasagna, spaghetti carbonara, spaghetti bolognese, baked ziti, and fettucini alfredo, to name only a few. But Asian cooking employs noodles just as often. Think of your favorite Thai noodle dishes like pad thai, pad see ew, and woo sen, or Japanese varieties like miso ramen, yakisoba, yakiudon, and cold somen. So grab yourself a few recipes and try out some different dishes, because when noodles are involved you can't go wrong!
