September 15th is National Linguine Day. This flat, long pasta is hearty and is popular among pasta lovers. Each year around 6 billion pounds of pasta is consumed in the United States, with linguine counting for a good portion of that amount. So how much do you know about linguine?
Fun Facts About Linguine
- Linguine is wider than fettuccine, but not as wide as spaghetti. There is actually a thinner version of linguine called linguettine.
- Linguine gets its origins rom both Liguria and Genoa, Italy.
- The word linguine means “little tongues” in Italian. In Italy it is sometimes called bavette or trenette.
- Linguine is often served with either pesto or seafood while spaghetti is usually served with tomato or meat dishes.
- The word linguine is often misspelled. Many people spell it with an “i” at the end instead of an “e”.
- Linguine can be made with either wheat or white flour. Whole-wheat linguine is more popular in Italy than linguine made with white flour.
- Fresh linguine is not necessarily better or worse than dried linguine. It is made using different ingredients and does taste differently. Fresh linguine is made with flour, water and egg. Dry linguine is made with just water and flour.
- The sauce most often served with linguine, pesto, originates from Genoa as well. It’s made from basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts and a cheese made from sheep’s milk.
- Linguine wasn’t introduce in the U.S. until sometime around the 19th century. Thomas Jefferson was an American Ambassador to France during that time and he first tasted the dish when he went on a trip to Italy. He actually brought the first pasta machine over from Italy along with many crates of macaroni. Pasta became a common household staple after a surge of Italian Immigration occurred later in the century.
About Genoa, Italy
It’s pretty fitting that Genoa is the birthplace of Linguine as it’s a foodie’s paradise. Not only is fresh pasta with pesto sauce popular in the region, so are dishes like minestrone, ravioli and pizza with a cheese filled crust. Genoa is considered to be a historical city and not as popular of a tourist destination as cities like Venice or Rome. Travelers who visit the area are often pleasantly surprised by the historical sights, beautiful houses, intriguing seaside and of course the food. Genoa is a great city to visit for those travelers that want to experience Italy without as many crowds as some of the larger cities.
In honor of national linguine day, why don’t you make a simple pasta dish? If you are feeling traditional, top your linguine with some pesto or a little bit of salt and olive oil. If you’re in the mood to try something new, throw in some tomato sauce, sausage and freshly grated cheese. Happy eating!
Why not plan an escorted Italy tour to taste authentic pasta and enjoy the all of the beauty, history and tradition Italy has to offer.
