Pasta Shapes for Every Sauce
Ranked #2,463 in Food & Cooking, #48,901 overall
Different Types of Pasta
recipes.(Mixing pasta like in the picture is probably a real no-no, but I don't mind!)
Short or Long Pasta?
Knowing what kind of pasta to use with which sauce can be great fun. Most of the time it is for a good reason a certain pasta shape is chosen. In general, thicker sauces go better with shaped pasta. These will hold the sauce, so you don't end up with just sauce on your plate. Thinner sauce goes better with thin, long pasta. Of course, everyone has their own preferences.Again, different parts of Italy have their own opinions on the shape of pasta (as for anything else that concerns food). Most of the suggestions here are from Rome and the Lazio region.
Hundreds of Different Shapes of Pasta
The Geometry of Pasta
Amazon Price: $6.89 (as of 06/03/2012)
This book gives an excellent introduction to the different kinds of pasta used in Italy. Tasteful and informative.
Does It Really Matter?
Spaghetti Puttanesca
The name of this food literally means the Harlot's sauce. It is said to come from the fact that this quick pasta sauce was prepared in brothels to attract customers. Whatever the origin of the name, this sauce is quick and very tasty. Apart from spaghetti, it will also go well with linguine- another long pasta.
Ingredients
- 8 fillets pickled anchovies- washed and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic- crushed or chopped
- 1 tbsp capers- washed and chopped
- 100 g black olives without stones-sliced
- 1 lb fresh tomatoes- peeled and cut in cubes
- Chilipepper- fresh or dry-chopped in small pieces
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- olive oil and salt
Instructions
Start out by frying the garlic, chilli and anchovies in a bit of olive oil. Add the olives and capers, frying it a couple of minutes while stirring.Add the tomatoes and let it all boil together for about 15 minutes. Towards the end, add salt and half the parsley. Boil the spaghetti until it's al dente- almost cooked. Add it to the frying pan, mix well and add the remaining parsle. Serve immediately- enjoy!
Picture by Panos55
What is the origin behind the name?
Spaghetti Puttanesca
Spaghetti Puttanesca literally means The Harlot's Spaghetti. There are different suggestions as to where this name originates from. What do you think?
Perfect for boiling long pasta!
Rachael Ray Hard Anodized Nonstick 8-Quart Oval Pasta Pot with Glass Lid, Orange
Amazon Price: $65.00 (as of 06/03/2012)
No need to break the pasta, it will fit very well in this specially designed pasta-pot. Spout on the side makes it easy to pour off the water when ready.
Bavette with Pesto
Basil and Cheese
- Serves: 4
- Total Time: 20 min
Pesto is one of the most well-known pasta sauces. These days, fresh basil is available almost everywhere, and making pesto at home is very common. There are many different varieties of pesto, here is a basic recipe. Traditionally, pesto is eaten with bavette, but, as everybody knows, it goes well with almost any kind of pasta.
Ingredients
- 2 packed cups of fresh basil-leaves
- 3 cloves garlic- crushed
- 1 tbsp pine nuts
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated pecorino romano cheese
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- a little bit of salt
- 500 g pasta
Instructions
For a really authentic taste, prepare the pesto in a marble mortar with a wooden pestle. This will really bring out the individual flavors, and give the best consistency to the pesto. But chopping it all in the food-processor is also great. Start by pulsing the basil with the pine nuts. (If you don't have pine-nuts, walnuts are a great alternative). When it starts getting mixed- add the garlic. Then, it is time for the cheese. Mix it all briefly, then add olive oil in a steady stream and keep mixing. You might not need all the oil. Taste, then add salt. Since the cheese is quite salty, you need to be careful not to overdo it.
Boil the bavette in salted water, keeping some of the pasta water to mix with the sauce. When al-dente, rinse in cold water and toss with pesto mixed with the pasta water. Enjoy!
Pasta with pesto-picture available at Allposters
The most common pesto is called Genovese. Depending on the region in Italy, they might add something to the pesto. It could be:
- Ricotta Cheese
- Bell Peppers
- Walnuts
- Tomatoes, fresh or sun-dried
Bucatini alla Matriciana
- Serves: 4
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 40 min
Bucatini alla matriciana is not a dish I would recommend on the first date, for the simple reason that bucatini ar long, thick pasta which is very difficcult to eat without getting a spot on your shirt! Some claim it should be spaghetti alla matriciana, not bucatini, try both and judge for yourselves! Guanciale is from the head of the pork, with a distinct flavor. If you don't find it, by all means use pancetta. The same goes for the cheese, choose the one that is available where you live.
Ingredients
- 1/4 pound guanciale-cut in cubes or stripse
- 1 pound fresh mature tomatoes- peeled and chopped
- 1 cup freshly ground Pecorino
- 1/2 glass of dry
- white wine
- a little bit of chilipepper- optional
- olive oil or lard for frying
- salt and pepper
- 1 pound bucatini
Instructions
Fry the pork in a little bit of oil, it should get a little bit of color. Add the wine and let it evaporate. When ready, remove the pork and leave to drain on a kitchen paper. Add the tomatoes and the chili to the same pan, let them cook together on a high heat for about five minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. return the pork to the pot and add freshly cooked pasta together with the pecorino cheese, mixing it all. Enjoy!
Picture by erg48
Rome, Italy
Penne all'Arrabiata
- Serves: 4
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 25 min
Arrabiata means angry in Italian, and this is truly a hot dish! Regulate the heat with the chillies-it is up to you. This is another fast food pasta, often used as a night snack when you sit up with your friends.
Ingredients
- 2 chilipeppers-fresh or dry-chopped in smaller pieces
- 3 cloves garlic- chopped
- 1 pound mature tomatoes- peeled and cubed
- oil for frying
- salt
- 1 pound penne
- 100 g pecorino cheese- freshly grated
- 2-3 tbsp chopped parsley
Instructions
Fry chili and garlic in a little oil. Add the tomatoes and let it all boil together for about five minutes on a high heat. Salt to taste. Mix with freshly cooked pasta, cheese and parsley. Enjoy!
Picture by LPC2009
Did you hear about the Italian Chef that died? He pasta way.
Home-made pasta
Make your own pasta
- Serves: 1 person
Making your own pasta dough is not difficult at all. Basically, calculate one egg and 100 g flour per person. Once you have tried home-made pasta you will stick to it forever. The flavor and texture of the pasta is completely different to the one bought in the store.
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 100 g flour
- salt and water
Instructions
Pile flour in a mound on our worktop. Make a well in the center, and put the egg with a large pinch of salt in the well. Whisk the eggs with a fork, slowly incorporating them into the flour. After a while it is easier done with your hands. Continue kneading until dough is smooth and elastic. you might need to add a little bit of water to obtain the right texture. Cover with a dry cloth and let the dough rest before you start shaping it. All of this can be done in a food processor, as well.
If you don't have a pasta machine, simply roll out the pasta with a rolling pin. If making filled pasta (like ravioli) use it immediately, otherwise the edges will be too dry to seal properly. For fettucine, fold the sheet of pasta lengthways and cut stripes with a sharp knife. For lasagna, put the pasta in boiling water for a couple of minutes.
Buy picture from AllPosters
More Pasta Recipes
- Allrecipes
- Farfalle (Bow Tie) Pasta with Salmon
- My Recipes
- Bucatini with Chunky Tomato Sauce
- CDKitchen
- Rigatoni with Goat Cheese
- Delish
- Penne alla Vodka
- Food Network
- Spagetti with Meatballs
Do you have a favourite pasta recipe?
Share it with us.
If you have a lens or blog with a really good pasta recipe, feel free to post it here. To avoid spam, I will personally approve every contribution. Give us a nice recipe for a pasta dinner!
Gourmet Pasta
You need this if making your own pasta
CucinaPro 150 Imperia Pasta Machine
Amazon Price: $50.80 (as of 06/03/2012)
Unless you have a supplement to your food processor, this pasta machine is very useful. Put it on your table or work-top and let the fresh pasta dough pass through it. Step by step you can make it thinner, until perfect. This is the machine I have used for many years, and I am really satisfied with it.
Would you like to return to any topic?
If you liked this lens, please give it a thumbs-up
For Squidoo members
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Do you like pasta?
Do you make it at home?
-
-
Pinkchic18
May 24, 2012 @ 11:22 am | delete
- YUM. This lens made me sooo hungry for pasta. It's one of my many food weaknesses. Blessed by a squid angel!
-
-
-
bechand
Apr 15, 2012 @ 7:40 am | delete
- My son made home made pasta in class - and they absolutely loved it - it was done a few times during the year due to overwhelming intrest (1st grade - 2 male teachers - totally not expected ... ) Son thinks bought stuff is crap ...LOL - I do not have that much time or energy though - so that is what we eat - Boxed stuff.
-
-
-
pawpaw911
Apr 10, 2012 @ 8:50 am | delete
- I love pasta of every shape.
-
-
-
MelonyVaughan
Apr 4, 2012 @ 12:35 pm | delete
- I've learned a lot from your lens. You have lot of interesting and important information here. Well done!
-
-
-
ElizabethJeanAllen
Mar 17, 2012 @ 12:00 pm | delete
- We don't eat as much pasta as we used to, but we still love it.
-
-
-
poddys Mar 17, 2012 @ 5:07 am | delete
- I have never made my own pasta, but I think it would be great to do, so much better than dried store bought pasta. I love Italian food, "real" Italian food not just American Italian food, and I love different types and shapes of pasta too. I really enjoyed this lens, you have some wonderful recipes here that we must try, blessed.
-
-
-
hntrssthmpsn
Mar 11, 2012 @ 3:41 am | delete
- I love pasta in all its forms! A pasta machine is high on my wish list, but kitchen space is an issue right now, thanks to my kitchen tool and gadget infatuation :)
-
-
-
Irenemaria
Mar 1, 2012 @ 3:59 pm | delete
- I remember the long long rows of different pasta when I was shopping in Rome. I love pasta and hope I will come back to buy some more.
-
-
-
kiwinana71
Feb 29, 2012 @ 8:06 pm | delete
- Nice lens. I love pasta any way, would never say no to any pasta meal. Thanks for sharing.
-
-
-
---Chazz Feb 24, 2012 @ 1:05 pm | delete
- Okay. Now I know what I want for dinner tonite. Don't have time for homemade but I've got some in the freezer (and the "gravy" too!)
-
- Load More
Pasta sauces
My top ten!
Some of my articles on Bukisa
Louisa Dembul-Mujjen
by Mujjen
Pasta is a favorite food in many countries. In Italy there are many traditions and customs surrounding pasta. For example, with different shapes of pasta... more »
- 116 featured lenses
- Winner of 30 trophies!
- Top lens » People of Africa: The Hamer Tribe in Ethiopia
Explore related pages
Pasta Serving Dishes
Certified International Garden of Olives 5-Piece Pasta Sets
Amazon Price: $52.99 (as of 06/03/2012)
Serving food in nice dishes enhances the flavor. This set is great for serving pasta, mix it with the sauce in the big bowl.
Want to know more about pasta?
The Pasta Bible: The Definitive Sourcebook, With Over 1,000 Illustrations
Amazon Price: $5.98 (as of 06/03/2012)
Some great recipes with a lot of fantastic pictures.
Pasta Pot
Al dente pasta
Cuisinart 77-412 Chef's Classic Stainless Steel 4-Piece 12-Quart Pasta/Steamer Set
Amazon Price: $70.28 (as of 06/03/2012)
This is a great pot for boiling pasta. It has a pasta insert, which you just lift out of the water when the pasta is fully boiled.
