Tagliatelle

Tagliatelle are a type of pasta consisting of wheat flour and eggs, or formerly flour and water or whole-wheat flour and water. The wider noodles are called tagliatelle, while the thinner variety is called tagliolini.

The name is derived from the word tagliare, meaning to cut. Tagliatelle were reserved for special occasions in the past, but today they are served any day of the week. According to a very popular legend, they were invented in 1487 by Maestro Zafirano, a cook from Bentivoglio, for the marriage between Duke of Ferrara and Lucrezia Borgia.

He was supposedly inspired by the bride's beautiful blonde hair. However, the truth is different, since there are pictorial representations of tagliatelle before this date in Tacuinum Sanitatis, an 11th-century Arab health manual that was translated to Italian and illustrated in the 14th century.

Regardless of their origin, tagliatelle are still one of the most popular Italian pasta types, typically served with a meat sauce or Bolognese sauce.