Here’s a fun one for the “did you know?” file: there are more than 600 varieties of pasta! Even though all plain pasta is made from the same basic ingredients, different shapes and sizes have evolved over the years. But does it really matter what shape of pasta you use in your recipe?
Turns out, it does. The type of sauce you are putting on top should dictate which pasta you use. Here’s a rundown of the basic shapes, and what recipes they are typically best in:
Sheets – You’ll find these most commonly in casserole-type dishes like lasagna. They often feature ruffles on the edges to help retain sauce. These sheets are far too thick to be eaten twirled around a fork, but they make the perfect layering component for layers of cheese, sauce or meat.
Strands – These all share a basic shape, but the key difference is in their thickness. Thin strands are perfect for light sauces. Think angel hair with olive oil and garlic or a thin tomato sauce. Thick strands, on the other hand, are best for heavy sauces. That’s why we have fettucine alfredo, instead of angel hair alfredo. A thinner strand would get lost in all that sauce. Spaghetti, America’s favorite pasta, falls somewhere in the middle and hence makes a nice all-purpose pasta.
Small tubes and shapes – These tiny little pastas — like orzo, alphabet letters or ditalini — are meant primarily for soup. The delicate shapes can’t hold anything much heavier than a broth.
Larger shapes and tubes – Again, the bigger the pasta, the heartier sauce you can serve it with. Cheese sauce sticks perfectly in the crook of elbow macaroni, and a chunky bolognese sauce works great with ziti or rigatoni. Many of these pastas also feature ridges on the outside, giving them even more sauce-sticking power.
Giant shapes – These are meant for stuffing. Think ravioli stuffed with cheese, veggies or seafood. Or large shells stuffed with cheese, slathered with sauce and baked. The size is dictated by how much filling you are putting inside.
Now that you know which types of pastas should be used for which recipe, what sounds good for dinner tonight? And remember, if you don’t feel like cooking, we can help you out!