Let's explore 13 different types of short pasta, looking at favorites like penne and fusilli, but also lesser-known ones, like cavatelli and casarecce. I'll show you how each pasta's shape can make a big difference in your cooking, turning simple meals into something special, especially when paired with the right sauce!
🥜 In a Nutshell
- With so many small pasta shapes available, it's easy to get lost in the pasta aisle. Each shape has its unique qualities and ideal uses, making the choice even more challenging.
- The shape of pasta isn't just about aesthetics; it influences the texture and how the pasta holds the sauce. Choosing the right type can turn a great meal into a culinary masterpiece!
- In this guide, I'll take you through the varied and exciting world of short pasta. You'll learn about the different shapes and what makes each one special. We'll cover well-known types like penne pasta and fusilli and discover lesser-known varieties like Cavatelli and Casarecce. It's all about finding the perfect pasta for your next dish!
❓ What is Short Pasta?
Short pasta refers to a variety of pasta shapes that are small and compact, as opposed to long, strand-like pasta such as spaghetti, angel hair pasta, or linguine.
This category includes shapes like penne, fusilli, rigatoni, and macaroni. These pasta types are characterized by their ability to hold sauces well due to their shapes, which often include ridges, tubes, or spirals.
🍝 Common Short Pasta Shapes
1. Penne
Originating from Italy, penne is a tube-shaped pasta with angled ends inspired by the quill of an old-style ink pen. It's ridges and hollow center make it perfect for holding sauces. (source)
In Italian cuisine, penne is commonly used in a variety of dishes, including pasta salads, baked pasta dishes, and with hearty, chunky sauces that cling to the ridges. In some stores you can find also penne lisce, which are smooth and without ridges, although, even in Italy, they are not popular.
Best Pairings: Tomato-based sauces, meaty sauces, or vegetable sauces.
Cooking Time: Approximately 10 -12 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Penne alla Vodka, Penne Arrabbiata.
Why Not Try: Tomato and Tuna Pasta.
2. Fusilli
Fusilli is a spiral-shaped pasta, originally from Southern Italy. Its name is derived from "Fuso," meaning spindle, as it was traditionally spun by pressing and rolling a small rod over thin strips of pasta to wind them around it in a corkscrew shape. Fusilli is versatile and works well with both light and heavy sauces, as well as in pasta salads, as the shape really help trap sauce.
Best Pairings: Thick sauces, salads, or baked in casseroles.
Cooking Time: Around 10 -12 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Fusilli with Pesto and Cherry Tomatoes, Fusilli Bucati Corti.
Why Not Try: Serve fusilli with delicious Bolognese sauce.
3. Rotini
Similar to fusilli, rotini is a type of helical pasta but with a tighter spiral. It's great for holding onto sauces. The name comes from the Italian word "rotini" (plural of "rotino"), meaning "small wheels" or "twists," which aptly describes its appearance. Its shape allows it to hold onto sauces and ingredients in pasta salads. It is pronounced as "ro-TEE-nee."
Best Pairings: Tomato-based or creamy sauces, salads.
Cooking Time: Around 7 - 9 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Rotini Pasta Salad, Rotini with Marinara Sauce.
4. Farfalle (Bow Tie Pasta)
Farfalle, often called bow tie pasta due to its shape, is a type of Italian pasta that resembles a butterfly or bow tie. The word "farfalle" actually means butterflies in Italian.
It is made by cutting fresh pasta into small rectangles and then pinching them in the middle to create the famous shape. It is thought to have originated in the 16th century in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy.
Best Pairings: Light sauces, dairy-based sauces, or in pasta salads.
Cooking Time: About 10 -12 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Farfalle with Spinach and Ricotta Cheese, Farfalle Salad.
5. Rigatoni
Rigatoni is a large tube-shaped pasta wth ridges. Its name comes from the Italian word "rigato," which means ridged or lined, referring to its textured surface that's great for holding sauces.
It originates from Southern Italy, particularly Sicily. Rigatoni is typically made from durum wheat and is well-suited for meat sauces and cheese-based dishes due to its large size and ridges.
Best Pairings: Hearty meat sauces, baked pasta dishes.
Cooking Time: Typically 10 -12 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Baked Rigatoni, Rigatoni with Bolognese Sauce.
Why Not Try: Rigatoni Arrabbiata.
6. Macaroni (or Elbow Macaroni)
Macaroni, particularly in its "elbow" form, is a type of pasta that is shaped like narrow tubes. The elbow shape is more common in American cuisine, especially in dishes like macaroni and cheese. Traditional Italian macaroni is typically straight. The name comes from the Italian "maccheroni," referring to various kinds of pasta.
Best Pairings: Cheese sauces, soups, salads.
Cooking Time: About 7 - 9 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Classic Macaroni and Cheese, Macaroni Salad.
7. Ziti
Ziti is a long, tube-shaped pasta that is similar to penne but with straight-cut ends. It is a classic pasta type from Southern Italy, particularly from the Campania region. The name "ziti" is derived from the word "zita," meaning bride, as it's traditionally served at Italian weddings. Ziti is often used in baked pasta dishes and is well-suited for holding rich, thick sauces.
Best Pairings: Baked pasta dishes, hearty sauces.
Cooking Time: Approximately 10 -12 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Baked Ziti, Ziti al Forno.
8. Orzo
Orzo, which means "barley" in Italian due to its grain-like shape, is a small, rice-shaped pasta. It is traditionally made from white flour but can also be made from whole grain. Orzo is versatile and can be used in soups, salads, broths, and even as a side dish similar to rice.
Best Pairings: Light sauces, broths, or as a side dish.
Cooking Time: About 8 -10 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Orzo with Parmesan and Basil, Lemon Orzo Salad.
✨ Lesser Known Short Pasta Types
9. Cavatelli
Cavatelli are small pasta shells that resemble tiny hot dog buns. They originate from Southern Italy. Unlike gnocchi, which is often made with potato, cavatelli is typically made from semolina dough. The dough is rolled out, cut into pieces, and then shaped using a wooden board or the fingers to create a hollow cavity.
Best Pairings: Tomato-based or creamy sauces, soups.
Cooking Time: Around 10 -12 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Cavatelli with Broccoli, Cavatelli Bolognese.
Why Not Try: Follow this pasta with broccoli recipe using cavatelli pasta.
10. Casarecce
Casarecce pasta is short, twisted, and rolled into a tube-like shape. It comes from Sicily. The name "casarecce" means "homemade" in Italian and is pronounced as "cah-sah-RECH-chee." The pasta is made by rolling small rectangles of dough and curling them around a thin rod to create the unique shape.
Best Pairings: Chunky vegetable or meat sauces, pesto.
Cooking Time: Typically 9 -11 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Casarecce Bolognese, Casarecce alla Norma.
11. Fregola Sarda
Fregola Sarda is a type of pasta from Sardinia, Italy. It is made of semolina dough that has been rolled into small balls and toasted, giving it a nutty flavor. Fregola is similar to couscous in appearance but is larger in size and has a chewier texture due to the toasting process.
Best Pairings: Seafood dishes, tomato-based sauces.
Cooking Time: Approximately 10 -12 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Fregola Sarda with Clams and Tomato Sauce, Fregola Salad with Grilled Vegetables.
12. Creste di Galli (Creste di Gallo)
Creste di Galli, which means "rooster's crest" in Italian, is a medium-sized, curved pasta with a ruffled edge. It resembles a rooster's comb, which is how it gets its name. The pronunciation is "KRES-teh dee GAH-lee." This pasta is often used in hearty sauces and casseroles.
Best Pairings: Thick, hearty sauces, casseroles.
Cooking Time: Typically 10 -12 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Creole Pasta with Chicken and Sausage, Creste di Galli with Pancetta and Peas in a Creamy Sauce.
Why Not Try: Follow this lemon, zucchini and feta pasta recipe using this pasta shape!
13. Gemelli
Gemelli pasta consists of two strands of pasta twisted together, resembling a double helix. The name "gemelli" means "twins" in Italian and is pronounced as "jeh-MEL-lee."
This pasta type pairs well with a variety of sauces, including light tomato sauces, cream-based sauces, or pesto, and is also great in salads.
Best Pairings: Various sauces, pasta salads.
Cooking Time: Around 11 -12 minutes.
Famous Dishes: Gemelli Pomodoro, Creamy Gemelli with Chicken and Broccoli.
🙋♀️ People Also Ask [FAQs]
The shape of pasta can significantly influence how it's used in dishes. For instance, hollow pastas like Penne and Rigatoni are excellent at holding sauces. Conversely, twisted pastas like Fusilli and Rotini are ideal for salads or casseroles
When cooking short pasta, the recommended method is cooking in boiling salted water until it reaches your desired level of doneness. Remember that the cooking times can vary based on the specific type of pasta. I recommend checking the package's instructions for perfect timing. Note that the times offered as guidelines are for dried pasta, as fresh pasta requires only a couple of minutes to be ready.
Short pasta like fusilli, penne, or rotini are perfect for cold salads. Their shapes are great for holding dressings and mingling with other ingredients. Just cook them al dente, cool them down, and mix with your favorite veggies and dressing.
Yes, there's a good range of gluten-free and whole grain short pasta out there. You'll find gluten-free options made from rice, corn, or quinoa, perfect for those with gluten sensitivities. And if you're into whole grain pasta, you'll appreciate its extra fiber and nuttier taste. Both are great, healthier alternatives to regular pasta and easy to find in stores.
🔑 Key Takeaways: Short Pasta Shapes
Each pasta shape has its own role, transforming meals from simple to spectacular. Choosing the perfect shape from the many types of pasta available is important, as each will work differently with the sauce or dressing prepared.
We have created great guides for pasta lovers about long pasta types [have you ever tried thin spaghetti?], stuffed pasta, and even pasta for soup.
Whether you enjoy traditional pasta with simple olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes, or prefer delicious rigatoni with Bolognese sauce made with ground meat, these guides are essential. Moreover, they will ensure you pair them the right way.
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