I’m not Italian, but I just visited Sicily, where I believe the pasta was made with olive oil! Thanks for a fab post. Can’t wait to make pasta al burro e parmigiano!
Oh yum! That's fantastic! Thanks, Ruth. Now I am really craving a trip to Sicily! I really look forward to hearing what you think about the pasta with butter and parmigiano. I loved your post on Zion Park.
Fun Fact: In Italy, it is jokingly called "la Pasta dei cornuti" ('Cuckold's Pasta') because it is so quick to make that it is prepared by someone who didn't have time (because they were cheating, of course!). It is obviously not offensive; it’s to highlight its ease and speed. I am originally from Southern Italy and in my area, it has always been made with butter, and in my opinion, the ideal pasta is spaghetti; other types of pasta just don't work as well. But that's just my opinion. Thank you for this beautiful immersion into my childhood (actually, I still make it often even now!) :)
Ahhh I totally forgot about this nickname! 😂😂😂 yes! My ex-Italian husband had told me about it…after I made it for him for dinner one night 😅 Thanks for seconding all the pasta water thoughts and telling me you grew up making it with butter even in S Italy. Do you think my butter/oil line probably isn’t a thing anymore in Italy, Fia?
I didn't grow up with butter at home either. I only started using it after I married am American. So it's oil all the way. I agree about the pasta water. It will stop the cheese from sticking to the pasta and wash it out.
Hi Jo, That is so fascinating to me! Thank you for sharing this and for confirming about the pasta water!! Oil all the way! I use so much olive oil at home, I say I bathe with it. haha I think I might have a small addiction... ;-)
I hear you. Olive oil is so expensive right now. It's around AUD $80 for 4 litres, sometimes 3. The Australian olive company, Mount Zero, has a warehouse near me and I can take in my bottles to be refilled. It's a hair cheaper but that's not the point. They also have excellent oil. But damn those prices!
Oh is that why! I didn't realise there was a reason other than the usual price gouging.... Luckily I'll be in Sicily soon enough and my family makes their own oil from their trees...
Perfect timing! I just opened up your post at the same time as my local farm delivery sent their weekly menu for my order and at the top is garlic scapes!
No way! Donna, this is a wonderful coincidence! Please let me know what you did with your scapes. We have some more in the fridge still. Did you end up trying them on top of the butter and parmigiano pasta? Or on salad? I'm so curious! :-)
I’m not Italian, but I just visited Sicily, where I believe the pasta was made with olive oil! Thanks for a fab post. Can’t wait to make pasta al burro e parmigiano!
Oh yum! That's fantastic! Thanks, Ruth. Now I am really craving a trip to Sicily! I really look forward to hearing what you think about the pasta with butter and parmigiano. I loved your post on Zion Park.
Thank you, Lolly! Sicily was very special. Planning to write more about it soon. I’ll let you know how the pasta al burro comes out.🤗
Fun Fact: In Italy, it is jokingly called "la Pasta dei cornuti" ('Cuckold's Pasta') because it is so quick to make that it is prepared by someone who didn't have time (because they were cheating, of course!). It is obviously not offensive; it’s to highlight its ease and speed. I am originally from Southern Italy and in my area, it has always been made with butter, and in my opinion, the ideal pasta is spaghetti; other types of pasta just don't work as well. But that's just my opinion. Thank you for this beautiful immersion into my childhood (actually, I still make it often even now!) :)
Ahhh I totally forgot about this nickname! 😂😂😂 yes! My ex-Italian husband had told me about it…after I made it for him for dinner one night 😅 Thanks for seconding all the pasta water thoughts and telling me you grew up making it with butter even in S Italy. Do you think my butter/oil line probably isn’t a thing anymore in Italy, Fia?
Oops I merged yours and Jo’s comments, Fia! Do you add pasta water??
I didn't grow up with butter at home either. I only started using it after I married am American. So it's oil all the way. I agree about the pasta water. It will stop the cheese from sticking to the pasta and wash it out.
Hi Jo, That is so fascinating to me! Thank you for sharing this and for confirming about the pasta water!! Oil all the way! I use so much olive oil at home, I say I bathe with it. haha I think I might have a small addiction... ;-)
I hear you. Olive oil is so expensive right now. It's around AUD $80 for 4 litres, sometimes 3. The Australian olive company, Mount Zero, has a warehouse near me and I can take in my bottles to be refilled. It's a hair cheaper but that's not the point. They also have excellent oil. But damn those prices!
I love that you’re refilling the bottles! Similar upsweep in prices here in Italy due to drought and the bacteria outbreak in some regions.
Oh is that why! I didn't realise there was a reason other than the usual price gouging.... Luckily I'll be in Sicily soon enough and my family makes their own oil from their trees...
Perfect timing! I just opened up your post at the same time as my local farm delivery sent their weekly menu for my order and at the top is garlic scapes!
No way! Donna, this is a wonderful coincidence! Please let me know what you did with your scapes. We have some more in the fridge still. Did you end up trying them on top of the butter and parmigiano pasta? Or on salad? I'm so curious! :-)
I had already placed my farm order just before I saw your post so am going to order it next time and do the butter parm thing.
Exciting, Donna! 😍