Pasta: Quick Glossary
Not sure which pasta sauce to serve with what noodle? Check out this handy pasta glossary!
Long Varieties:
Capellini, Fettuccine, Vermicelli, Tagliatelle, Spaghettini, Papardelle, Spaghetti, Lasagna, Linguine, Bucatini- Thin varieties are best served with light-bodied tomato or broth based sauces, which will just coat the noodles.
- Wider noodles, like fettuccine, are excellent with medium-bodied or heavy sauces like Alfredo because they are able to hold up to the weightier sauce.
- Lasagna, the widest noodles, aren't for twirling: use them for layered, baked dishes.
Short Varieties:
Penne, Cavatelli, Rigatoni, Rotelle, Orecchietti, Canelloni, Farfalle, Manicotti, Macaroni, Shells, Fusilli, Ziti- Great match for any sauce!
- Some short pastas have ridges where the sauce can gather, so every bite is full of flavor.
- Molded pastas come in all kinds of shapes, including bow ties, shells and elbows.
- Cannelloni and manicotti, also molded, are designed to be filled with a meat or cheese-based mixture, covered in a sauce and baked.
Enjoy these great pasta recipes!