Spaghetti

Spaghetti (Italian: [spaˈɡetti] 'little strings' plural diminutive of spago 'string'; similarly spaghetto is a single strand) is a long, thin, solid, cylindrical pasta. It serves as a staple food of Italian cuisine and is made of milled wheat and water (sometimes enriched with vitamins and minerals), with the standard Italian version using durum-wheat semolina. The pasta is usually white because refined flour is used, but whole wheat flour may be added. Spaghettoni is a thicker form of spaghetti, while spaghettini is a thinner form. Capellini is a very thin spaghetti, while vermicelli is intermediate. Originally, spaghetti was notably long, but shorter lengths gained popularity during the second half of the 20th century. Today, it is most commonly available in lengths of 25–30 cm (10–12 in). Various pasta dishes are based on it, and it is frequently served with tomato sauce, meat or vegetables.