Pasta is a generic term for noodles made from an unleaveneddough of wheat or buckwheatflour and water, sometimes with other ingredients such as eggs and vegetable extracts. Pastas include varieties, such as ravioli and tortellini, that are filled with other ingredients, such as ground meat or cheese. Dishes using the noodles are often prepared with a variety of sauces and meats like chicken, beef, or sausage.
Pasta is typical of different cultures and countries, but the most famous varieties and recipes come from Italy. There are hundreds of different shapes of pasta with at least locally recognised names.[1] Examples include spaghetti (thin strings), maccheroni (tubes or cylinders), fusilli (swirls), and lasagne (sheets). Gnocchi and spätzle are sometimes considered pasta; they are both traditional in parts of Italy.
Pasta is categorised in two basic styles: dried and fresh. Dried pasta made without eggs can be stored for up to two years under ideal conditions, while fresh pasta will keep for a few days under refrigeration.[2][3] Pasta is generally cooked by boiling.