Pasta, the cornerstone of Italian cooking. I feel like when it comes to food in general, it tends to get a bad name. Their reputation precedes them. Often described as comfort food, the Italian dish has been through quite a lot. As one of the best outdoor dining in NYC, you can trust us when we say people are really leaning towards this dish.
The timeless Italian dish has been slated to rise in the consumption cycle. Just in the last year alone 14.5 million tons of pasta was produced which in numerical terms is a 56 % rise over a period of 15 years.
This upward trend has been credited to the increasing interest in wellness and a rejection of the fad of clean eating. As a plant-based dish. pasta has been proven to have a lower environmental impact making it a very attractive option for all age groups concerned with the planet.
The initial decline of the pasta was because of consumer preferences shifting away from carb and sugar-heavy dishes but now that the dish has been tweaked it has come right back into the spotlight where it belongs.
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Why Should You Have Pasta?
Pasta is an essential part of a balanced diet as it provides a large chunk of our complex carbohydrate recommended daily intake.
From a personal point of view, dropping pasta from your diet is a bad idea but even when we step out and look from a purely commercial perspective it still doesn’t make sense to eliminate pasta.
Seafood costs are rising but still, the US is importing about 90 % of the seafood consumed. Cultivating a gluten-free menu just doesn’t seem worth it as they are expensive and in actuality less than 1% of the population has a gluten intolerance.
Extreme dieting is next to impossible to sustain.
Pasta has also proven to be a powerful vehicle to carry flavors and is extremely adaptable no matter what you pair with it. This has made chefs all around the world come up with variations to market it to a more Instagram-oriented generation.
It’s just that good
Let it be your palette and for your health too. Carbohydrates provide sustained energy that is crucial fuel for your brain and muscles. Also because pasta is a great source of complex carbs the spike in energy does not take place keeping your mood more or less constant.
Low in sodium
If cholesterol is the issue you’re facing then pasta is your best friend. It is low in sodium and completely devoid of cholesterol. Furthermore, it is enriched with essential nutrients consisting of iron and B-vitamins.
High in Folic Acid
Pasta is fortified with folic acid which is an extremely important daily intake vitamin.
Variations You Should Give a Try
Now, if you are still not sure about pasta in its original form. We have a list of variations you can give a try.
Breakfast Pasta
Described as a version of bacon and eggs on toast, where the guanciale (Italian cured meat ) is the bacon, the slow-cooked egg and pasta is the carb fix. Topped with mint and peas it is fresh and different but still familiar enough to be truly appreciated by the diners.
In Brisbane, another twist on the dish is a pappardelle carbonara with Italian cured meat, pecorino Romano cheese, field mushrooms, and a 63-degree egg.
Spaghetti Donuts
In New York mixing tradition with the innovation of the 21st century is the spaghetti donut. A perfect grab and go to lunch it consists of pasta that is mixed with cheese and egg before being baked into the shape of a donut. It has the excitement of something new along with the familiar taste of the pasta we all know and love.
Multi-Colored Pasta
Vibrant-colored pasta is all the rage. All over the world chefs are using vegetable dye to give a stunning hue to their pasta while retaining the taste.
Brown Rice Spaghetti
This gluten-free spaghetti has just one ingredient in it i.e.Brown Rice. Since the texture is very close to that of whole wheat pasta, it is easy to achieve the full-bodied taste of pasta. If brown rice is not your thing, you can always go with rice, corn or legumes as it is available in these variations as well.
Red Lentil Pasta
The name exactly defines what is inside – Red Lentil. So it has all the health benefits of those beans. Also available in black beans, green lentils & chickpeas. It has tons of protein and fiber along with nutrients calcium, iron, and vitamin B6. So it’s a great option if you are aiming to be healthy.
Quinoa Pasta
These quinoa makers have outdone themselves by pairing quinoa and legumes. The only drawback would be that you can taste the black bean, so be a little cautious while throwing together a dish with any kind of quinoa pasta.
The truth behind the rise of pasta no matter what I state will be a human beings want something comfortable and homely. What can be more homely than a warm bowl of pasta?
