Dried pasta. Assortment of pasta shapes with a metal spoon. Pasta is a flour-based food product, and so it contains lots of carbohydrates from the cereal grains ground up to make the flour. It is made in many different shapes and can be dried and stored for later use. It is boiled in water and is a staple part of some diets. Carbohydrates provide energy, and are an essential part of the diet.