{"id":20233,"date":"2022-02-03T17:20:17","date_gmt":"2022-02-03T17:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=20233"},"modified":"2022-03-07T17:39:12","modified_gmt":"2022-03-07T17:39:12","slug":"tuscan-pasta-dishes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/tuscan-pasta-dishes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Surprising Truth About Tuscan Pasta Dishes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ubiquity of Italian restaurants around the world can be both a blessing and a curse. On the plus side, a very basic understanding of Italian food terms gives travelers something of a confidence boost before they visit Italy. The problem, however, is that this same basic understanding may also bring a false sense of security.<\/span> <\/span>

Take, for instance, the assumption in the title of this very article—that Tuscan cuisine is full of unique pasta dishes. As it turns out, most traditional Tuscan cuisine is not about pasta.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

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If you’re coming to Tuscany in search of plentiful pasta, you might be in for a surprise.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Many Italophiles (including this author) argue that <\/span>there’s no such thing as “Italian food,”<\/span><\/a> since it’s intensely regional—and pasta is no exception. There are some Italian regions that are well-known for their pasta dishes (Emilia-Romagna and Campania spring to mind), but Tuscany is not one of them. There are a few notable Tuscan pasta dishes, which we’ll cover here, but for the most part Tuscan cuisine is not a pasta-heavy one.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

Why You Won’t Find Many Tuscan Pasta Dishes in Florence<\/h2>

Tuscany’s main <\/span>culinary contributions<\/span><\/a> have roots in <\/span>cucina povera<\/span><\/i><\/a>, one-time peasant food that is often dressed up quite fancily these days. Think hearty bean soups thickened with Tuscany’s traditional salt-free bread (<\/span>ribollita<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>pappa al pomodoro<\/span><\/i> are two great examples), or cheaper meat cuts the Tuscan nobility used to discard (Florence’s famous <\/span>lampredotto<\/span><\/i><\/a> sandwiches are made with tripe).<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

Of course, in any tourist destination as popular as Tuscany, there will be local restaurants that endeavor to give the paying public what it wants. So, yes, you will find plenty of restaurants in Florence and elsewhere in Tuscany that routinely offer multiple <\/span>pasta dishes<\/span><\/a> on their menus. And plenty of those will be superb, even if they’re not quintessentially Tuscan.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>

Travel Tip:<\/span><\/b> Since Tuscany isn’t known for its many pasta <\/span>shapes<\/span><\/i>, a great way to eat truly Tuscan pasta dishes is to concentrate on the <\/span>sauce<\/span><\/i>. And one of the easiest ways to find out what sauce ingredients are local and in season is to browse an outdoor <\/span>market<\/span><\/a>. Make a mental note of whatever is in profusion among the stalls and then keep an eye out for that ingredient on local menus.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>

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You can still find great pasta in Florence if you know where to look and what to look for.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Tuscan Pasta Shapes and Sauces<\/span> <\/span><\/h2>

Truly Tuscan Pasta<\/span> <\/span><\/h3>

While most Tuscan dishes aren’t pasta-centric, there are several types of pasta that have origins in Tuscany. Some of them remain so localized that they can be challenging to find outside their hometown.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>