What is tagliatelle? If you don’t know what it is, you don’t have to dumb about it because you are definitely not alone. I didn’t know what it is until I saw it on the menu of an Italian restaurant.
Since I didn’t want to miss out in this wonderful dish, I wanted to know what it is exactly. I asked my friends about it, but none had given me a concrete answer yet. So I took the initiative to learn more about it and I have discovered came as a great surprise to me. If you’re curious to know what it is, check it out below.
What is Tagliatelle?
Tagliatelle is an Italian word which literally means “to cut” in English. In Italian cuisine, this is a type of pasta that resembles the long, flat ribbon-cut shape of fettuccine. Typically, it has a width of 6.5 mm-10 mm.
Instead of water and flour, the tagliatelle is created with one egg in every 100 grams of flour. Since this type of pasta is a great absorbent pasta, it remains firm when cooked with dense, meaty sauces, like the bolognese sauce. This is also commonly served with meat dishes that contain pork, beef, or rabbit.
Tagliatelle vs Tagliolini
Tagliolini is a variety of tagliatelle. Although, both of these egg pastas are made of long strands, you can tell the difference in their shape. While the tagliatelle has a flat shape, the tagliolini has somewhat a cylindrical shape.
Both pastas differ in use, too. While the tagliatelle best fits for heavy sauces, the tagliolini works best for smooth, thin sauces.
Making Your Own Tagliatelle
You can buy tagliatelle in supermarkets, but you can also enjoy making it at home. All you need are eggs, pasta flour, water, and salt. Just mix all ingredients and knead it until you formed a smooth dough.
You can check the ingredients and directions here.
As you have formed the dough, you can flatten it with a rolling pin. Continue rolling the pin until you can see the shadow of your hand when you position it behind the flat dough. To get a visual reference of what I’m saying, you can check it in this video below.
Selecting the Best Tagliatelle Pasta at the Grocery Store
If you wish to buy a pack of tagliatelle pasta at the grocery store, look for a matte texture. The rougher the texture, the better the sauce clings to it. Actually, this kind of pasta is a bit pricey because it is specially made by a traditional bronze die.
The best pasta should be made from semolina or durum wheat. If you like your pasta to be coarser, then choose a brand that’s made from semolina flour, just like this.
However, if you want a finer texture, choose a brand that’s made from durum wheat, just like this.
Preparation Ideas for Tagliatelle
To use tagliatelle for your recipes, you need to cook it in a large pot of boiling water that is seasoned with salt. Cook it for about 8-10 minutes or until tender. Make sure that it is still al dente or firm.
Tagliatelle goes well with heavy sauces and meat dishes. Here are some recipe ideas that you can try at home.
1. Bolognese
The most common recipe that you can do with tagliatelle is to make bolognese, a pasta dish created with bolognese sauce. In this pasta dish, you need tagliatelle pasta, ground pork, ground beef, spices, herbs, milk, crushed tomatoes, and red wine. Make the sauce, add the cooked tagliatelle pasta, and serve with fresh ricotta cheese.
2. Braised Pork Pasta
Via foodandwine.com
The braised pork pasta dish can be a great comfort food with its warm and heavy sauce. All you need are pork ribs, sausage, pork shoulder, stock, seasonings, spices, bacon, apple juice, thick cream, and tagliatelle pasta. Prepare the pork and pasta, and mix them all together in a saute pan until sauce thickens.
3. Creamy Chicken Pasta
This creamy chicken pasta calls for several ingredients, such as chicken fillets, spices, herbs, and cheese. To cook, just stir fry the chicken with bacon and simmer with the chicken stock. As the tagliatelle pasta is done, add it to the simmered chicken and cream.
Try to Cook Some Tagliatelle Pasta Today!
Tagliatelle is a great pasta for heavy sauces and meat dishes. You can make your own or buy a pack in a supermarket. Remember that you if you want a coarser pasta, choose any semolina-made pasta or if you want a finer texture, choose any durum-made pasta.
For any questions or suggestions, leave it in the comments section below. Help spread the wonder of tagliatelle pasta by sharing this with your friends and family.
