Spaghetti pasta is created in many different forms.
Merriam-Webster's online dictionary describes spaghetti as solid, thin strands of pasta. There are many different types of spaghetti-like pasta made from flour, water and salt, then pressed through a machine that separates the dough into long strands. The strands are later boiled and served with any type of sauce. "Best of Sicily" magazine says spaghetti was introduced into Sicily by Marco Polo, but the idea for spaghetti was developed in China.
Traditional Spaghetti
The term "spaghetti" refers to a thin strand of solid pasta approximately 12 inches long. Dried spaghetti, which is most common, is found in long boxes on your grocery store shelves. It is made from mixing semolina flour, egg and water. The semolina flour is made from durum wheat. Dried spaghetti is typically boiled in water anywhere from eight to 10 minutes, depending on your preference of texture. It is served with a sauce such as Alfredo sauce, tomato-based sauce or olive oil-based sauce.
Spaghetti-like Pastas
Spaghettini, fedelini and vermicelli are types of pastas that resemble traditional spaghetti but are thinner. Capellini d'angelo, also referred to as angel hair pasta, is an even thinner type of pasta. Thicker in diameter than spaghetti is spaghetoni. Buchatini is a hollow type of spaghetti. Also hollow is perciatelli, which is thicker than spaghetti.
Whole Wheat Pasta
Spaghetti pasta is also available using whole wheat flour instead of semolina flour or unbleached white flour. Whole wheat flour is made from whole wheat grains and gives the pasta a nuttier flavor. It is a bit heavier than other varieties but is a healthier option for many pasta-eaters. That's especially true for those with Celiac's disease or allergies, or those who cannot tolerate the gluten found in more traditional dried spaghetti noodles.
Veggie Spaghetti
Some organic pasta manufacturers make powdered vegetable-based spaghetti pastas. Flavors include spinach, carrot, annatto and beet. Vegetable pasta manufacturer PIVAR International claim that these pastas contain a half-serving of the daily suggested intake of vegetables.
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