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Original poster

to ask if Italians and any of you eat brown pasta

126 replies

MoYerBoat · 13/03/2013 20:28

because, according to many a Mumsnetter, white pasta is the work of the devil.

So do they eat white or brown pasta in Italy - home of pasta.

And what about brown rice - who eats that?

(Badly worded OP but really would like answers)

OP posts:
ceres · 13/03/2013 20:30

i'm not italian but i eat wholemeal pasta.

i also eat brown rice.

intheshed · 13/03/2013 20:31

Brown rice- yes it's great with chilli.
Brown pasta- yuck! Quite partial to tricolore pasta though.

Kids shouldn't have too much fibre anyway.

TWinklyLittleStar · 13/03/2013 20:32

I'm not Italian but I like brown pasta. It has a nice firm texture instead of going all floppy like white pasta.

aldiwhore · 13/03/2013 20:34

I love brown rice, I eat it through preference (although I like Basmati white a bit).

I make my own pasta occassionally, it's not something I eat a lot, and often use wholemeal flour and it's lovely... the dried stuff is a bit YAK in my opinion, though the white stuff is alright.

I may sound like a smug twat making my own pasta, but it's really easy and I don't own a pasta roller (yet)...

Pontouf · 13/03/2013 20:34

Not keen on brown pasta - it's a little too al dente for my tastes. Love brown rice though, I think it has a lot more flavour than white rice.

Crawling · 13/03/2013 20:35

I love brown pasta hate brown rice.

ZZZenAgain · 13/03/2013 20:36

I'm not Italian. Dd has brown pasta sometimes and she also has white other times.

Bearcrumble · 13/03/2013 20:36

I am half Italian. Have never seen wholemeal pasta served in Italy and rarely brown bread.

CremeEggThief · 13/03/2013 20:37

I'm not Italian, but I love wholemeal pasta. White makes me feel lethargic.

I like white Basmati rice though, as well as brown.

Jeezimacasalinga · 13/03/2013 20:37

Married to an Italian here and he'd throw the plate at the wall if you gave him brown pasta. Never ever seen it in Italy. White pasta isn't floppy if it's cooked properly....

catlady1 · 13/03/2013 20:38

I'm not Italian but I'd just as soon eat brown pasta or rice as white. DP is funny about anything remotely healthy though so I rarely cook brown.

ImpatientOne · 13/03/2013 20:39

My DH is Italian and neither he or any of his family eat brown pasta.

Before we met I always used it but he will not entertain it, always white. My MIL (who lives in Italy) makes pasta but not the basic stuff only ravioli or tortellini which is usually egg pasta with spinach added.

In Italian supermarkets there are literally aisles of the stuff, when you buy spaghetti it comes in thicknesses from 1 like angel hair right through to thick stuff then tagliatelle etc. There is a tiny section of brown or tricoloure in comparison to the white, I would say 90% of what is sold is white - this is in Southern Italy.

niceupthedance · 13/03/2013 20:39

Yep, former housemate was Italian and all her pasta was white.

DesperatelyChasingBloodyDog · 13/03/2013 20:39

Not Italian, but love wholewheat fusilli with cavolo nero, pancetta and feta.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 13/03/2013 20:40

Married to an Italian here and he'd throw the plate at the wall if you gave him brown pasta

LTB Shock

actually, don't bother, he's right, brown pasta is an abomination unto the God of food Grin

OldBeanbagz · 13/03/2013 20:42

I'm not Italian and never eat wholemeal pasta but i do eat brown rice and always eat brown bread in preference to white.

I've never had wholemeal pasta served in an Italian resaurant, either in Italy or here in the UK.

OzmaofOz · 13/03/2013 20:42

I don't like brown pasta, love brown rice and brown bread. Not Italian.

Xales · 13/03/2013 20:44

Married to an Italian here and he'd throw the plate at the wall if you gave him brown pasta.

Italian BF says that sounds about the right reaction if you served in a restaurant over there...

Annunziata · 13/03/2013 20:44

No, it's shite.

Montybojangles · 13/03/2013 20:44

Sister in law and her parents are Italian, they only eat white de cecco pasta. That sold it for me.
Only eat white basmati or wild rice ( which I think isn't actually rice?). That's a taste thing.
Get plenty of fibre in other aspects of diet so not really worried.

Glimmerberry · 13/03/2013 20:44

I only have wholemeal pasta and find the white stuff slimy, bloaty and overly sweet.

White rice is nicer than brown so tend the mix the two rather than have 100% either.

squeakytoy · 13/03/2013 20:45

I have been to Italy many times, and plenty of italian restaurants, and never seen anyone eating brown pasta.

IAmLouisWalsh · 13/03/2013 20:45

Brown pasta is just horrible.

I do like brown rice though (adds to shopping list)

LaFataTurchina · 13/03/2013 20:46

Italian here - I've only ever had wholemeal pasta in England. I don't think I've ever seen it in Italy (apart from maybe special pasta for coelics).

Apparantly, 60% of Italians eat pasta (presumably white) every day, and we're a pretty healthy bunch!

rhondajean · 13/03/2013 20:46

I'm not italian but I've never seen wholemeal pasta when I've been. In Italy...

At home though I only eat wholemeal pasta and brown rice, I try to be careful about refined carbs. Likewise with bread, wholemeal only.

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