Spaghetti Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Spaghetti
Kids eating spaghetti
Type	Pasta
Place of origin	Italy
Main ingredients	Semolina or flour, water

Spaghetti in a bowl

Spaghetti is a long, string-shaped type of pasta. It is a very popular food around the world.

The word spaghetti comes from the Italian word spaghetto. This word means "string" or "thin string." The word was first used in English in 1849.

Spaghetti is made from wheat noodles. These noodles are boiled in water for a short time until they are ready to eat.

You can eat spaghetti as a side dish or as the main part of a meal. When it's a main dish, people usually add a sauce. There are many different kinds of sauces! Some are simple, like just butter. Others are more complex, with tomatos, garlic, olive oil, and different herbs. You can also find spaghetti with mussels, fish, or meat. Often, people sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top.

In Italy, the sauce is usually mixed with the spaghetti while it is being cooked or just before serving. Most Italians eat spaghetti using only a fork, or sometimes a fork and a spoon. For very young children, spaghetti might be cut with a knife. However, many Italians think it is bad manners to use a knife to eat spaghetti, unless it's for a small child.

There is a famous story about how spaghetti came to Italy. The legend says that Marco Polo found spaghetti in China during his travels in 1295. He then supposedly brought it back to Italy.

Today, spaghetti is eaten all over the world. In the United States and Canada, for example, meatballs are often served with spaghetti sauce.

Cooked spaghetti with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese.

The History of Spaghetti
How Spaghetti Is Made
Images for kids
See also

The History of Spaghetti

The idea of dried pasta that could be boiled and carried easily was mentioned in ancient writings around 500 AD. Some historians believe that Arab traders brought pasta to Europe when they conquered Sicily.

In the Western world, long, thin pasta like spaghetti might have first appeared in Sicily around the 12th century. An old book from that time, the Tabula Rogeriana, talks about pasta traditions in the Sicilian kingdom.

Spaghetti became very popular across Italy after factories started making it in the 1800s. This allowed large amounts of spaghetti to be made quickly for everyone.

When spaghetti first came to the United States in the late 1800s, restaurants called it Spaghetti Italienne. It was often served with a mild tomato sauce that had spices like cloves, bay leaves, and garlic. It wasn't until many years later that people commonly started using oregano or basil in spaghetti sauces.

How Spaghetti Is Made

In some parts of China, spaghetti is still often made by hand. But in Italy, spaghetti is made using special machines. This allows factories to produce huge amounts of spaghetti very quickly. Italy is the biggest producer and consumer of spaghetti in the world.

Spaghetti can also have different thicknesses. When it's thinner, it's called "spaghettini." The most common type is just "spaghetti." If it's thicker, it's called "spaghettoni."