From thick udon in Japan to macaroni and cheese in the US to baby fine capellini in Italy, beloved pasta and noodle dishes can be found all over the world. But is pasta actually vegan? And are noodles and pasta the same thing? Here’s everything you need to know.
Pasta versus noodles
The terms “pasta” and “noodles” are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things. Pasta is generally defined as a product made with a dough of durum wheat and water and is derived from the word paste, referring to the unleavened dough that is formed into dozens of shapes.
Noodles of Asian origin can be made with different kinds of flour, such as whole wheat or buckwheat, as well as gluten-free varieties made with rice, sweet potato starch, and shirataki made from the konjac plant.
The history of pasta and noodles
While they are celebrated the world over, the first recorded…