The Nutritional Benefits of Making Tagliatelle from Scratch

While some might think all pasta tastes the same, true pasta lovers know each type has its own unique qualities. Farfalle, fettuccine, or fusilli may appear alike at first glance, but each is ideal for specific dishes. Tagliatelle (pronounced tah-lya-TELL-eh) works especially well with rich, hearty sauces. By carefully selecting your favourite ingredients or pairing tagliatelle with low calorie foods, you can turn it into a more nutritious meal.

Consequently, making your tagliatelle from scratch is an exciting and fun activity. The advantage of making it at home is that you will be using fresh and better ingredients, which are healthy for your body. However, all you need is concentration, the right ingredients, and patience, and there you go!

What is Tagliatelle?

The word "tagliatelle" comes from the Italian verb "tagliare," meaning "to cut." This pasta speciality originated in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, where people traditionally serve it with "tagliatelle con ragù," a beef sauce. It is made in long, flat ribbons, resembling fettuccine but slightly narrower, typically measuring between 5 and 10 mm in width.

As a ribbon-shaped pasta, it is also commonly known as ribbon pasta, flat pasta strips, and Italian ribbon noodles.

According to the Italian Nobleman, the magnificent hairstyle of Italian noblewoman Lucrezia Borgia inspired the wide pasta dough. In 1847, chef Maestro Zafirano created a dish called "Tagliolini di pasta e sugo alla maniera di zafiran" to mimic her hairstyle. Whether true or not, this story adds charm to the rich history of tagliatelle.

Nutritional Facts

• Calories: 140 kcal per 100g
• Nutrients: 26.3g carbohydrates, 1.3g fibre, 1.0g fat, 5.0g protein per 100 g
• Storage: store dried tagliatelle in a cool, dry place
• Shelf Life: up to three years

As you may observe, low-calorie foods like tagliatelle offer a balanced option to enjoy delicious meals.

Why Making Your Own Tagliatelle Boosts Nutritional Value?

Mindful Cooking with Pasta

Making the ribbon-shaped pasta is surprisingly mindful and calming. At first, you might feel like this is hectic work, including kneading the dough, but as you start the repetitive motions, you will quickly settle into a relaxed rhythm. Then comes shaping thin pasta sheets into tiny, intricate forms. It’s a quiet, focused task, and you might realise it is so soothing and calming in the process.

Bringing People Together Through Pasta

The next best thing about making Tagliatelle is enjoying the experience with your closest friends or family. Yes, you read that right—making these flat pasta strips isn’t just a solo activity; it’s a social experience.

Can you imagine a sunny day with your family, gathered around the table, shaping pasta and sharing lively conversations? It’s all about enjoying laughter and creating priceless memories.

There’s something about making pasta that brings people together, creating a sense of connection.

Health Benefits of Eating Ribbon Pasta :

After being both a calming and social activity, it’s vital to understand its health benefits.

Firstly, creating pasta from scratch lets you control the ingredients to fit your dietary needs, i.e., you can choose what to add!. Are you vegan or allergic to eggs? You can make egg-free pasta! Looking for a healthier option? Try whole grain flour or add extra bran. On a high-protein diet? Some durum wheat flours have up to 22% protein. Need low-gluten or gluten-free? Ancient grains like spelt or gluten-free flours are great alternatives.

Also Read: A Guide to Choosing Low Calorie Foods

Eco-Friendly Cooking:

In a society where the conservation of our planet is becoming more important, we are all working towards contributing to environmental protection. A method to become more environmentally conscious is by preparing our own pasta from basic ingredients. Making pasta at home removes the necessity of plastic wrapping and cuts down on the transportation linked to buying pasta from stores.

Even though you will have to buy flour and eggs, these items usually come in paper packaging, which can be recycled or composted. To further reduce your environmental footprint, think about using locally sourced ingredients. A local miller or farmer can likely supply the items you are looking for.

Save Money by making Tagliatelle at Home:

Making pasta from scratch is budget-friendly, with simple ingredients costing little. While dry pasta can be as cheap as £0.5 ($0.6), the quality is often questionable, and cheap processed food may contain unwanted contaminants.

Let’s do the maths: a 500g packet of pasta costs around £1 ($1.2), while 1 kg of good flour, costing about £3 ($3.77), makes 1.5kg of fresh pasta. For the same price, you can enjoy homemade, high-quality, egg-free pasta. If you prefer egg pasta, factor in the cost of about 10 eggs for 1kg of flour, and you’ll still have a fresh, healthier option.

How to Cook Tagliatelle Correctly?

You can purchase ribbon pasta in a nest shape, either fresh or dried. When cooked, it loosens. Gluten-free tagliatelle is made using rice and maize. Tagliatelle can also be made fresh at home. It is usually made using eggs and refined flour, with one egg required for every 100 grams. Add salt to the boiling water, not to the dough.

When making pasta as a main meal, calculate 100g per piece. After that, heat some salted water in a large pot, then add the pasta dough when it boils. The cooking time varies according to the pasta, so always read the back of the package. Test a pasta ribbon to see if it's done, then drain it in a sieve. Instead of cooling it in cold water, top it with sauce and serve it hot.

Final Thoughts

Having several advantages, making Tagliatelle from scratch cannot always go right; instead, it will give a fresh, authentic flavour and especially the joy of making a homemade dish.

However, nowadays, it can be challenging to make pasta from scratch due to the busy schedules we all face. So, what can you do when you don’t feel like making it yourself? The solution is to opt for Eat Water’s low calorie foods, offering healthy, ready-made meals delivered across the UK. They provide delicious and nutritious alternatives to homemade pasta.