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National Pasta Day

Food · October 17

A day for pasta in all its shapes, from long strands to small tubes, and the simple sauces and home meals that go with them.

National Pasta Day falls on Sunday, October 17, 2027. That is 355 days away.

Pasta is a dough of wheat flour and water, sometimes enriched with egg, shaped and then cooked in boiling water. That short description covers an enormous family, from thin strands of spaghetti to ridged tubes of penne to the little ears called orecchiette.

Shape matters more than it first appears. Ridges and hollows catch sauce, so chunky sauces tend to go with tubes and twists, while smooth, light sauces cling well to long strands. Dried pasta, made from durum wheat semolina, keeps for a long time in the cupboard. Fresh pasta is softer, cooks in a few minutes, and is often made with eggs.

Most people mark the day the obvious way, by cooking a bowl of it. Some keep it plain, with butter, cheese and black pepper. Others take the afternoon to roll out dough by hand, which needs little more than flour, eggs, a rolling pin and a clean counter. A pot of salted water and a timer handle most of the rest, though plenty of cooks still test a strand by biting it.

One habit from Italian kitchens is saving a cup of the starchy cooking water before draining. A splash stirred into the sauce helps it turn glossy and coat the pasta evenly, and it costs nothing at all.

Ways to celebrate

• Try a pasta shape you have never cooked before.
• Make fresh pasta by hand with flour and eggs.
• Save some cooking water and stir it into your sauce.
• Share a simple pasta dinner with friends or neighbors.
• Look up which sauce traditionally pairs with your favorite shape.

Dates

All national days on October 17

Also on October 17

• National Mulligan Day
• Wear Something Gaudy Day

Categories: Food days