The History of Capellini Pasta

Capellini is a long, thin pasta shape with roots in Naples. While it has long been enjoyed in Italy, it became more popular and accessible after industrialization, as pasta factories could create its extremely thin strands with ease. In addition to making the pasta more accessible for many Italians, dried and packaged versions were soon being shipped around the world. Capellini and other pasta shapes slowly became popular in other countries, especially in areas with significant Italian immigrant populations. Capellini pasta gets its name from the Italian word capelli, meaning “hair,” referencing the pasta shape’s resemblance to thin strands of hair. In the United States, capellini is often called "angel hair" pasta; the two are generally interchangeable in the U.S. market, but in Italy, angel hair is slightly thinner than capellini and is often sold in portioned bundles. Due to its thin strands, capellini pasta cooks quickly and is typically paired with light sauces and ingredients like delicate vegetables or seafood. Today, it remains popular both in its native Italy and in many other countries around the world, including the United States.