Who doesn’t love to eat pasta? Whether you have it with a pesto or alfredo sauce, it doesn’t matter. Pasta has become a restaurant favorite of many people. Pasta is the staple food of Italy and can be either fresh or dried. Dried pasta is usually produced commercially whereas fresh pasta is made fresh and are usually handmade.
Despite all the pasta dishes, there are many more different types of pasta which are differentiated by length, shape, and places of origin.
Here, we will talk about the most common types of pasta that is used in the modern world. Because of its big and diverse variety and also the fact that there are over 100 types of pasta.
There are six types of pasta which are –
- Long and medium length pasta
- Short cut Pasta
- Stretched Pasta
- Soup Pasta
- Pasta with filling, and
- Gnocchi and gnocchetti
Here are types of pasta that are more commonly used in culinary dishes.
Penne
Penne is short cut pasta that is widely popular with pasta dishes and can be enjoyed with a variety of different types of pasta sauce. It is a medium-sized pasta with a hollowed tube and has a diagonal end at both sides. Penne can be either lisce, smooth, or rigate, grooved.
Spaghetti
Spaghetti is a long, thin and strand-like pasta which looks very similar to noodles or ramen. For dishes, usually, tomato and meat- based sauces are preferred with this type of pasta
Fusilli
Fusilli is a short-cut pasta which is shaped in the form of a corkscrew. These types of pasta have a spiral shape and the name comes from an Italian word Fuso which means spindle.
Tagliatelle
Tagliatelle is a long length pasta from the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche in Italy. This pasta is shaped as flat ribbons and is quite similar to fettuccine. While it may be served with a variety of sauces, the best options for this type of pasta is to serve it with meat or bolognese sauce.
Linguine
Linguine is a long length pasta and is made by flattening spaghetti. It is also known as trenette or bavette.
Agnolotti
Agnolotti falls under types of pasta with fillings. They are flattened pieces of pasta which are then filled with roasted meat or vegetables and are usually eaten as appetizer or entree.
Farfalle
Farfalle is a pasta which has been cut into bow shapes or butterfly shapes. Its name comes from the word farfalla which means butterfly in Italian, hence the name.
Fettuccini
Fettuccini is a long length pasta and the name translates into little ribbons. The pasta has a long and thin shape similar to tagliatelle. It is more commonly used in Roman and Tuscan cuisine.
Conchiglie
Conchiglie is also called seashell pasta due to its shape looking like a conch shell. A smaller variation of this pasta is also available called conchigliette. This type of pasta is also served with soups.
Lasagna
Lasagna is a medium length pasta which is flattened and cut in rectangular shapes. Lasagna is usually eaten with layers of fillings of choice which is served as a sort of casseroles. While lasagna can also be served as small rolls or even soup.
Macaroni
Macaroni or known as Maccheroni in Italy is pasta cut into small tubes. One of the most famous dishes made using macaroni is mac and cheese.
Pappardelle
Pappardelle is a long length pasta which is cut into long, flat and broad strings. They are similar to fettuccine and have originated from the region of Tuscany.
Ravioli
Ravioli are pasta which is cut into small rectangles which are filled with cheese, meats or other assortments. Ravioli is usually served with a sauce or a broth.
Gnocchi
Gnocchi is a pasta which is also a type of dumpling. Made from a mixture of dough, cheese, potatoes and breadcrumbs, the mixture is beaten and cut into small pieces and cooked in boiling water. Gnocchi is mainly served as an entree but is also sometimes, served as a side.
Canneloni
This type of pasta is cut into shapes of a tube. And due to its bigger size, it is usually filled with an assortment of fillings or layered like a casserole dish.
Vermicelli
Vermicelli is a long length pasta which has different shapes. In Italy, it is thicker than spaghetti whereas, in USA and India, it is much thinner and is more delicate.
Tortellini
Originated from the region of Emilia, tortellini is a ring-shaped pasta, also described as navel-shaped due to its similarities with the belly button. It is usually stuffed with a mixture of meats along with cheese, eggs, and nutmeg. It is also traditionally served in a chicken broth.
