GIRASOLE

Girasole (GEE-rah-so-LAY) is the Italian word for sunflower. In pasta, the word refers to ravioli made in a sunflower shape. The girasole in the photo, from Nuovo Pasta (a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week), is filled with osso bucco. So, more than the shape is creative and delectable.

GLASS NOODLES

Glass noodles are mung bean threads, translucent, gelatin-like noodles cooked in the same manner as rice noodles (but different from them). Glass noodles are opaque when dried but become translucent when reconstituted.

They are made from starch and water. The starch can be mung bean, potato starch, sweet potato starch, tapioca, or canna (canna lily). They are usually sold in dried form, soaked to reconstitute, then used in soups, stir-fried dishes, or spring rolls.

While the Chinese word, fensi, translates as threads, note that the translation of spaghetti is similar: cords or strings.

Chinese varieties made from mung bean starch are also known in English as Chinese vermicelli, bean threads, or bean thread noodles.



Dried glass noodles. Photo © Glass or Cellophane Noodles |Amazon).

Glass noodles (photo © Hannah Kaminsky | Bittersweet Blog).

Glass noodles, shiitake mushrooms, and poached fish in broth: delicious and low in calories (photo © Sun Basket).

GNOCCHI

Italian for dumplings, gnocchi (NYO-kee) can be made of flour, semolina, potatoes, or sweet potatoes, boiled or baked, and served with butter and grated Parmesan cheese or a savory sauce. Eggs or cheese can be added to the dough. Common flavorings include spinach, basil, tomato, and saffron (the latter is Sardinian-style). Gnocchi are generally shaped into little balls or ovals. The dough can also be chilled and sliced, then either baked or fried. Gnocchi are usually served as a side dish with meat or poultry. Potato dumplings have been a staple of both northern and southern Italian cooking since the early 19th century. 
 

GRAMIGNA

Specially cut semolina pasta twirls (grah-MEE-nya).

INTEGRALE

See whole wheat pasta.

KAMUT

Kamut® (kah-MOOT) is the manufacturer and brand name of Khorasan wheat that is available in the U.S. Khorasan is an ancient wheat, the grain of which is two times larger than modern wheat. It has a rich, nutty flavor.

As produced by Kamut®, it’s organic and whole grain—just as it was in the time of the Pharaohs.

It’s better for you than modern wheat: higher in protein and minerals, especially magnesium, selenium, and zinc. It has a higher percentage of lipids, which produce more energy in the body than wheat’s carbohydrates.

Think of Khorasan as high-energy wheat, better for athletes and anyone looking for high-energy food. No one will notice that it isn’t conventional pasta.

Here’s more about it.

Lasagna, (la-ZAHN-yeh) the plural form of lasagna, originated in the Emilia-Romagna region of north-central Italy. The plural form is lasagne.

The wide, flat sheets of pasta were originally made by the Romans, who called them laganum. The word comes from lasanum, the Latin word for pot, i.e., the vessel in which this dish was baked.

Lasagne later came to refer to the specific layered-type baked dish we know today, with the long flat, pasta sheets alternating with minced meat, cheese, and tomatoes.

The Romans lacked tomatoes, which originated in Peru and did not come to Italy until the Spanish Conquistadors brought them back in the early 16th century. Even then, the cherry tomato, which was the “original” tomato, was considered houseplant and not eaten until the 18th century.

LASAGNETTE

Lasagnette is a shorter version of lasagnotte.


LASAGNOTTE

Wide ribbons of pasta, like lasagna, that are typical of the Puglia region. Different variations have different edges: a wavy (frilly) cut on both sides or one side with a straight cut and the other with a wavy cut.

LIGURIA

Bordering the coast in northwestern Italy, Liguria is the third smallest of the Italian regions. It borders France to the west, Piedmont to the north, and Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany to the east. It lies on the Ligurian Sea, a part of the Tyrrhenian Sea (the northern Mediterranean Sea). The capital is Genoa, the birthplace of pesto sauce (pesto alla Genovese). Liguria is also the birthplace of linguine and trenette pasta.

LINGUINE or LINGUINI

This pasta is accurately called linguine, its Italian name, but the word became Americanized to linguini. Show you’re a food connoisseur and use the original Italian!

Originating in the Liguria region of northern Italy, linguine (lin-GWEE-nay), Italian for “little tongues,” is a narrow, flat version of round spaghetti (it is sometimes referred to as flat spaghetti). It is a narrower version of fettuccine.

Linguine is often paired with white or red clam sauce, butter and cheese, or cream sauces; but it is so versatile that it works with almost any type of pasta sauce.

Pesto al Genovese (basil, pine nuts, Pecorino cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and garlic) is popularly served with linguine; as is a sauce made of cream, peas, and prosciutto. By the way, basil pesto is also a creation of the Liguria region.
 

LOMBARDY

The most northern central region in Italy, Lombardy lies between the Alps and the Po River valley. It borders the Italian regions of Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, and Trentino-South Tyrol, as well as Switzerland. The capital is Milan, the largest city in Italy. Other well-known provinces include Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Mantua, and Pavia.

LIGURIA

Bordering the coast in northwestern Italy, Liguria is the third smallest of the Italian regions. It borders France to the west, Piedmont to the north, and Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany to the east. It lies on the Ligurian Sea, a part of the Tyrrhenian Sea (the northern Mediterranean Sea). The capital is Genoa, the birthplace of pesto sauce (pesto alla Genovese).

LUMACONI

Lumaconi (loo-mah-COE-nee), also known as lumache were named for their resemblance to the shell of a snail (in Italian “lumaca”). They are giant, basket-shaped shells that are stuffed with cheese and vegetables. The shape is ideal for traditional baked pasta recipes, as a large amount of sauce can nestle inside of each shell.

LYCOPENE

A natural antioxidant found in tomatoes. Research suggests that lycopene helps inhibit certain cancers, including prostate cancer and cervical cancer.