Wierd Pasta Recipies

[l.schot]

Why are all these pasta recipies so complicated now a days?
Wherever i look i'm finding recipies with water, olive oil, salt and all
that kinda stuff...

If you go to italy, you'll notice that the pasta only has 2 ingredients...

Flour and eggs.

Off course they use tipo 00 flour, and fresh free range eggs.

The salt is only added in the water... alot
And yeah, offcourse there is no ONE pasta recipie thats the best,
and it differs from the location in italy, but still...
The original is just 2 ingredients...

Luckilly.. if found the "original" recipie at jamie oliver's website
and at makefreshpasta.com
All is not lost! ;)

[Dough Boy]

You don't have to make your pasta with all the 'weird' stuff if you don't want to. The different recipes are just that...different. I put basil in my pasta recipe because I like the added flavor. There is right or wrong way to make pasta when it comes to personal taste, just different ways. If you think there are too many variations for pasta, have you ever Googled "Spaghetti Sauce Recipe?" Everyone seems to have their own "secret recipe" that is "the best."

[l.schot]

hi!

I know what you mean.. and your right, but..
i dont get it when people post a pasta recipie with they
call "the basic" recipie, and they add all this extra stuff..

I like variations, but the basics should be basic ;)
Italian cooking is all about keeping it simple.. i just hope
people know that, and keep knowing that :)

L

[Dough Boy]

I see your point, but keep in mind that most people have been taught basic cooking and baking from a family member, and if Aunt Suzi made pasta with flour, water, eggs, oil and oregano, then that is their frame of reference for a "basic" pasta dough. It's all about what people's initial exposure to a particular recipe is. Unless they have done a historical check, then that is "basic" for them, and that's what they will share with other people.

Also, I believe that some of the basic recipes lack the flavor that "enhanced" recipes have. For my pasta, I like having a bit of basil or other herb that will compliment my main course.

If you would like to preserve the basic recipes from different ethnicities, then perhaps you could start a website just for that purpose. It's a lot of work, but there may be a niche for it.

[TheAutomaton]

Dough Boy nailed it on the head, I think. One person's "basic" is another person's "advanced".
You seem to be pretty well read on Italian cooking and the history of pasta, so I'm not sure why you're even looking for a two-ingredient pasta recipe...maybe this thread was an excuse to pimp that website or maybe you wanted to educate us on what you think is the correct way to make Italian food.
Either way, the simplest answer to your question is that when people are posting a recipe they usually want to post something amazing and wow-worthy. They don't want to post the same, old "flour and eggs" recipe that everyone else has already posted 60 times.

[Dough Boy]

Either way, the simplest answer to your question is that when people are posting a recipe they usually want to post something amazing and wow-worthy. They don't want to post the same, old "flour and eggs" recipe that everyone else has already posted 60 times.

There are two ways of looking at this thought. Yes amazing recipes are just that...amazing. They are meant to captivate the palette
and give pleasure to both the chef and the patron. On the other hand, simplistic foods that most of us grew up on are meant to give us "comfort," and a sense of home. I bake many kinds of bread that get a "WOW" reaction like this rich Challah bread filled with eggs and olive oil..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flyfishohio/Breads/Challah-2-041109.jpg

But for everyday eating I make a simple no-knead bread made from flour, water, salt & yeast, with a bit of whole grains to top it off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flyfishohio/Breads/ab-5.jpg

Both have their place, just like the various pasta recipes. It all depends on what your ultimate goal for the meal is. Are you trying to WOW someone, or are you trying to make someone feel warm and welcome.