Interesting History of Popular Pasta Sauces

There is no doubt that Pasta meals are everyone’s favourite because of their distinct flavours and breath-taking aroma. These days, there is an abundance of delightful sauces that accompany pasta. Almost all sauces are quite different from each other with distinct flavours even though prepared with similar ingredients.

We are sure that you must be aware of these different types of sauces, so don’t worry; this blog is not directed towards repeating the same thing. What you might not know is the history behind these popular sauces and their origin.

The recipes of different sauces for instant pasta, wheat pasta, etc., have passed from generation to generation. However their origin hasn’t been emphasized enough yet; hence, we have compiled a list of stories that dig deep into the background of five favourite pasta sauces.

Marinara Sauce:

Marinara is a classic Italian tomato based sauce that originated in the regions of Naples. Its exact period of origin cannot be traced accurately, but it is sure that it could not have been invented before the 16th century because the cultivation of tomatoes begun only then. However, some sources suggest that it came into existence only in the 19th century.

Marinara literally means ‘sailor-style,’ and hence only a few ingredients go into making. It is said that the ingredients of marinara sauces could be assembled easily; thus it became a popular and inexpensive option for men at sea during the 19th century, from where its popularity spread to different countries.

Alfredo Sauce

Of all the sauces, the discovery of Alfredo is quite unique. It is believed that a man named Alfredo di Lelio, who ran a restaurant, discovered the sauce. His wife had terrible nausea when she was pregnant, and Alfredo wanted to cook something that would not aggravate her tummy. So he tossed the fresh-made pasta with butter and parmesan. From then, he added this dish to his restaurant’s menu, and the sauce gained popularity worldwide later on.

Pesto Sauce

While you may know that the distinct, vibrant green colour is ascribed to fresh basil leaves, you might not be aware of its origin. This sauce was originated in Genoa, Liguria and the word ‘pesto’ translates to crushed- referring to the method of preparation. It is possible that the temperate climate of Liguria made the pesto sauce popular among the residents.

The interesting fact here is that there are many variants of pesto sauce and it is not always green. Some varieties of pesto sauce use red bell pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, etc.

Arabiatta Sauce:

Arabiatta credits its popularity due to — one: it gives a distinct flavour to the pasta that is easily enjoyed by most second: because of our undying love for tomatoes and hot peppers, this sauce is loved by many. No wonder it is given priority by whole wheat pasta brands in India. Arabiatta means “angry” in Italian. Before you think that it was co-incidentally made out of anger, let us tell you that the sauce got its name due to the spiciness of the sauce. Since the spiciness of chili pepper is indicated by the intense red colour, which is, in turn, a symbolism of anger, the sauce happened to get its name.

Carbonara Sauce

Carbonara means “charcoal markers’ style,” and lately, it has become a student’s staple food in Italy. The sauce is believed to be invented by a delivery boy in the late 1930s or towards the end of Second World War.

It is said that the food shortage after the liberation of Rome led to the formation of carbonara because the military rations consisted of limited options. The delivery boy created a sauce with limited available options, and it became an instant hit.

These mouth-watering Italian sauces have been enjoyed for several generations. Thanks to their originators and creators, we can thoroughly enjoy our pasta meals that are satisfying, delicious and comforting.