Who doesn’t love pasta? It is an entree that is always a hit on the menu and of course, it’s one of the easiest and most relished dishes of all time you can cook just in no time.
But the thing is, You must know a little secret to make your pasta dishes stand out!
And the secret is choosing the right types of pasta. Believe me, It is not just a spur-of-the-moment decision—it’s an art because pasta comes in hundreds of shapes and sizes and it’s quite easy to stumble when faced with names like bucatini or Rigatoni on a menu.. Some fuse perfectly with heavy sauces, while others taste best in a simple, light dish. So, with many types of pasta and its shapes, you can cook various finger-licking dishes that stand out!
In this article, We’ve come up with a comprehensive noodle guide containing a list of some of the most common pasta names so you know what type of pasta to use for your desired dish. Oh, and don’t forget to check out our favorite Goody’s premium range of Pasta.
Let’s talk about Ditalini Rigate, or as we like to call it, the little thimble pasta. These are tiny, tube-shaped noodles with ridges, and the best thing is that they’re incredibly versatile! The type was once thought of only as soup pasta but now you can see them in all kinds of dishes, from pasta salads to creamy bakes.
Ditalini tastes really good in classic soups like Minestrone and Pasta Fagioli because it soaks up the sauces or broth very well. It’s also perfect for cold pasta salads, adding a fun texture to creamy macaroni salads, and even cheesy baked pasta dishes. It’s a top pick for heartier soups like Tuscan White Bean Soup or Minestrone, where its little tubes grab onto every flavor.
Spaghetti is the most classic and versatile of all kinds! The long, thin, and cylindrical spaghetti is the favorite pasta of all households. Whether it is a heavy saucy dish or a simple minimalist one like Aglio e Olio, Spahegetti noodles are everyone’s all-time favorite. It pairs perfectly with a variety of sauces, from classic marinara and meat-based Bolognese to creamy Alfredo. Spahegetti coats evenly with all types of sauces so it's a popular type of pasta no matter what you are cooking. It is also used in various seafood dishes like Spaghetti alle Vongole, which combines clams, white wine, and parsley.
Penne Rigate is another famous type of pasta that is perfect for baked dishes, pasta salads, and saucy treats. The one-and-a-half-inch cylindrical shape pasta has a ridged surface and diagonal cuts at both ends. Penne means "quills’’ in Italian. The pasta is named Penne because it resembles the quill pen. It is versatile and you can use it to cook numerous tasty cuisines. You can savor it with Veggies, minced meat, and different hearty sauces like Arrabbiata or Puttanesca that slide into the pasta and make your dish flavorful.
If you like to make colorful pasta salads, Go to the Pasta market and get your hands on Fusilli Tricolor. A vibrant, spiral-shaped Fusilli pasta comes in three colors green, white, and red representing spinach, plain, and tomato flavors. This pasta holds the thick sauces excellently and works great in salads and casseroles. The dishes look more delicious and visually appealing with grilled veggies and thick creamy sauces.
Farfalle Pasta’s fun bow-tie shape can make any pasta dish look cute and more appetizing. Farfalle pasta should be your go-to choice if you want your pasta dish to look visually appealing and more fulfilling. This type of pasta holds creamy sauces very well. It has a wide surface area and a hollow center so it absorbs the sauces and tastes delicious in cold salads. Farfalle can also be used in baked dishes like a cheesy Farfalle Bake with spinach and chicken where it gives a flavorful creamy bit.
If you are preparing a heavy saucy pasta dish, I can bet, Rigatoni Pasta can pair great with it!
The large size and tubular shape make it great for recipes like Baked Rigatoni with Sausage and Peppers, where the pasta can hold chunks of meat, vegetables, and thick tomato sauce exceptionally. The word "Rigatoni" is derived from the Italian word "rigato," meaning "ridged," which describes the pasta's ribbed exterior. It holds and absorbs thick sauces quite well.
Casarecce is an Italian word that means “homemade. It is a unique pasta that looks like a rolled-up scroll or twisted tube. It holds sauces within its curves and gives you a flavorful bite. It is crafted by wrapping dough around a metal rod and made using either Teflon or bronze dies. While Teflon creates a smooth finish, the bronze die gives the pasta a rough, porous texture that holds sauces exceptionally. This pasta is perfect for pasta dishes containing rich, heavy sauces like ragù or pesto. This pasta is quite popular in Sicilian and southern Italian cuisine. Whether baked, tossed in a creamy sauce, or paired with a chunky meat sauce, Casarecce is a versatile pasta that brings an authentic Italian touch to pasta cuisine.
The word ‘’Orecchiette’’ means "little ears" in Italian. It is called Orecchiette because it is a small, round pasta with a concave shape. If you don't like large pasta chunks,This pasta is an ideal choice for you. It is perfect for dishes that require a shape that can hold sauces and small vegetables. Orecchiette pairs well with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage, where the pasta’s cup-like shape captures bits of sausage and vegetables. It is versatile and goes well in pasta salads with beans and vegetables.
If you want to try a unique variant of traditional spaghetti pasta this time, You should definitely add Treva Spaghetti to your must-buy list. We would recommend you to choose this type of pasta when you are making a recipe containing thick and heavy sauce. You will see how well it holds the creamy sauce and makes your bites more flavorful. You can make a variety of dishes using this pasta including Spaghetti Carbonara and enjoy a classic taste. Plus, it also tastes great in seafood-based dishes like Spaghetti alle Vongole, which combines fresh clams, white wine, garlic, and parsley. The thicker texture makes each bite flavorful and fulfilling.
If you are a foodie and a pasta lover, you better know that a certain type of pasta does not go well with any kind of dish. You must know when and how to use a certain pasta type to savor the pasta cuisine to the fullest so we put together this comprehensive list of pasta types.
I hope this noodle guide will help you make the finger-licking pasta recipes that stand out. Cheers.
