Despite its name, pasta alla Genovese is a traditional dish of Neapolitan cuisine. The dish, also referred to simply as la Genovese, is characterized by its white sauce made from onions and beef, and it is commonly used to dress pasta, particularly ziti or mezzane.

The true origin of Pasta alla Genovese is surrounded by various theories, many of which dismiss the idea that it comes from Genoa. The most popular, but far from being certain, is that it was brought to Naples by anonymous Genoese cooks working in the port city between the 14th and 15th centuries. Curiously, though, the dish is unknown in Genoa despite its name.