Capellini facts for kids
Capellini with baked beef and cheese and vegetables in a Hong Kong café
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| Type | Pasta |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Variations | Capelli d'angelo |
Capellini (say "kah-peh-LEE-nee") is a super thin type of Italian pasta. Its name means "little hairs" in Italian, which makes sense because it looks like very fine strands.
This pasta is shaped like long, thin rods, similar to spaghetti. But capellini is much thinner! It usually has a diameter, or thickness, of about 0.85 to 0.92 millimeters. That's less than a millimeter thick!
Capelli d'angelo (say "kah-PEL-lee DAHN-jeh-loh") is an even thinner version of capellini. Its name means "angel hair" in Italian, which is why you might know it as "angel hair pasta" in English. This pasta is usually between 0.78 and 0.88 millimeters thick.
Angel hair pasta is often sold in cool, nest-like shapes. This helps keep the delicate strands from breaking.
Discovering Capellini Pasta
Capellini and angel hair pasta are both very popular in Italy. People have been enjoying angel hair pasta since at least the 14th century, which is over 600 years ago! Imagine pasta being around for that long!
How Thin Is It?
To give you an idea of how thin capellini is, think about a regular pencil. The lead inside a pencil is much thicker than a single strand of capellini. It's one of the thinnest pastas you can find!
How to Enjoy Capellini
Because capellini and angel hair are so light and delicate, they are perfect for certain kinds of meals.
- They go really well in soups. The thin strands cook quickly and are easy to eat with a spoon.
- They are also great with seafood. The light pasta won't overpower the delicate taste of fish or shrimp.
- You can also enjoy them with light sauces. Heavy, thick sauces might be too much for such thin pasta. Simple sauces, like a light tomato sauce or a drizzle of olive oil, are perfect.
Next time you see capellini or angel hair pasta, you'll know all about these "little hairs" and "angel hairs" from Italy!
