1 August, 2014
All About Elbow Macaroni
This article was written by Phin Upham
Macaroni is a type of pasta that is made of durum wheat, and dried and cut into hollow shapes that are usually short. Americans commonly call them elbow macaroni, named after their elbow-like shape. Elbow macaroni is distinctly North American, European macaroni tends to be straight.
Macaroni can be made in the home, but is usually found in boxed form as a commercially produced product.
Common misconceptions put elbow macaroni in Italy in 1292. This misconception pins Marco Polo as the one to discover and popularize the pasta. According to this legend, Polo discovered macaroni in China, but macaroni was discovered and used in Italy upwards of a century before that legend took place.
Macaroni, the word, can trace its origins back to the Greek word “makaria.” Makaria is a kind of barley broth that was served in commemoration of the dead. The name is related to “makares,” which means “blessed dead.”
Elbow macaroni is found in all kinds of American dishes. The most common is macaroni and cheese, which is usually served as a casserole containing different kinds of cheeses, and often breadcrumbs and other ingredients for taste. Macaroni salad is another popular dish, which combines mayonnaise and various vegetables with cooked macaroni. It’s served cold at barbecues, making it a favorite summer treat.
The Chinese have also adopted macaroni to create dishes that suit the palates of Westerners living in places like Hong Kong. You will often find macaroni served in a clear broth with other meats, like ham or sausage.
About the Author: Phin Upham is an investor at a family office/hedgefund, where he focuses on special situation illiquid investing. Before this position, Phin Upham was working at Morgan Stanley in the Media & Technology group. You may contact Phin on his Phin Upham website