A Comprehensive Guide to Pasta Shapes

Photo by Heather Gill on Unsplash

We all know that pasta comes in lots of different shapes and sizes. But with all of these shapes and sizes comes a myriad of interesting questions, from their history to which meals they go best with. If you’re interested in learning more about pasta shapes and the meals they complement, read on!

Penne

Penne is pasta cut into tubes with a slight point at the ends. They are especially suited to dishes with thick, vegetable sauces as they help them stick evenly to the pasta.

Linguini

Long and thin with a flattened shape makes linguine great for soaking up sauces, and therefore ideal for creamy mushroom or seafood dishes.

Farfalle

This butterfly-shaped pasta is good at soaking up sauces and oils, but is especially suited to cold salads. It goes well with potato, lentil, vegetable, or tuna salads.

Spaghetti

Spaghetti has to get a mention on this list! It’s one of the most popular dishes in the world, and for good reason. It’s best suited for light tomato dishes with loose sauces, and common dishes include bolognese and red pepper sauces.

Conchiglie

Shaped like little shells, conchiglie is great at holding wet sauces. It’s perfect for tomato sauces, broths, and creamy cheese sauces.