Noodles
Written by Asinus Asinum Fricat on April 23, 2008 – 7:49 am -Much has been written about the origins of the humble noodle. WHO invented the noodle is a hotly contested topic - with the Chinese, Italians and Arabs all staking a claim.
But the discovery of a pot of thin yellow noodles preserved for 4000 years in Yellow River silt may have tipped the bowl in China’s favor. It suggests that people were eating noodles at least 1000 years earlier than previously thought, and many centuries before such dishes were documented in Europe. This is the earliest empirical evidence of noodles ever found.
Other theories suggest noodles were first made in the Middle East and introduced to Italy by the Arabs. Italians are widely credited for popularizing the food in Europe and spreading it around the world.
Here is a time-line that I think is more or less accurate (depending on your search engine, no less!)
Scientists determined the noodles found in the Yellow River were made from two kinds of millet, a grain indigenous to China and widely cultivated there 7,000 years ago. Modern North American and European noodles are usually made with wheat which was cultivated around 5,000 years ago.
500-600
Amidst numerous cultural exchanges, China shares Buddhism and the art of noodle-making with Japan. Buckwheat noodles become a staple of the Japanese tea ceremony.
1138
Arab geographer, Idrisi, travels to Sicily and writes about “triyah,” a food resembling threads and produced in large quantities.
1700
The very first spaghetti is produced in Napoli, Italy.
1800
Japanese specialty shops create noodles, similar to those eaten today, but requiring considerable preparation time and effort.
The relationship between noodles and pasta also goes back more than 700 years. It is believed that in the late 13th century, Marco Polo traveled to China and brought noodles back to Italy to add to his country’s repertoire of pasta, and that, my friends, is also debatable. What do you think?
Tags: China, Italy, Noodles, Wheat
Posted in Food |
10 Comments
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I think the Chinese have invented it, and the Italians perfected it.
And this Irish lass loves to eat them.
Thanks great information.
As I do! Couldn’t live without pasta. And bread. And salami, and cheese, and wine. one thing always leads into another…
And it always ends with the wine!
I’m a Jesus follower, so wine is important!
I’m so tempted to say something here about The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. But I’ll refrain. Though noodles come very near divinity and are almost worthy of worship.
Oh dear. That’s one of those comments that was intended in good fun but comes off as awfully disrespectful. Even with my mighty editorial powers I could find no way to delete it, so I’ll ask your forgiveness. My apologies.
it doesn’t need to be edited, it’s quite funny…
As far as I am concerned, I could eat noodles in one form or another with any meal - including breakfast! Think scrambled eggs with rice noodles and Salsa Cruda…
Noodles are the perfect “meat extender”….
Oh yeah, drchelo, you got that right. I make a savory Israeli kugle and have been known to have it for breakfast. I’m working on a miso/soba soup for breakfast also.
Noodles are so underrated at all hours of the day and in savory/sweet dishes. Here is a really good recipe kinda savory kinda sweet….
YERASALMI KUGEL
8oz wide egg noodles
1 C sugar
¾ T black pepper
1 T salt
½ C oil
2 eggs, beaten
Heat oven to 350.
Boil noodles in salted water until al dente, drain. Place noodles in 8×8 glass baking dish that has been buttered. Add ½ C sugar, black pepper & salt. Mix.
In frying pan mix ½ C sugar & ½ C oil. Stir once until mixed and let sit on medium heat until golden brown. Pour over noodle mixture & stir in eggs. Sprinkle with black pepper.
Bake 40-50 minutes until brown on top.