pasta types
Who knew there were so many types of pasta! From bucatini to ziti, a pasta primer to help you with identification.
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Ingredients
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How To Make pasta types
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Step 1Bucatini: These long, hollow spaghetti-like tubes are unusual and fun! Try them in casseroles or Asian stir-fries, or tossed with a fresh tomato sauce.
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Step 2Cannelloni: "Large reeds" in Italian, this is a large, tubular pasta with a smooth texture. It is usually boiled, stuffed with a cheese or meat filling, and baked in a sauce. Cannelloni are larger than manicotti.
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Step 3Capellini: Also known as "angel hair" pasta, the long, delicate strands are an appropriate match for almost any sauce. Try serving capellini with a walnut, garlic, and mushroom cream sauce, for an exceptional side.
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Step 4Conchiglie: This pasta takes its name from the Italian "conch shell." It comes in several sizes, and can be used in a striking variety of presentations. Stuff large shells (try a ricotta, pine nut, and spinach mixture, smothered with marinara sauce), toss mid-sized shells with chunky sauces, and use the tiniest ones in soups or casseroles.
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Step 5Couscous: Many people assume couscous is a grain, but it is actually granular little pearls of semolina pasta. It is a staple in North African cuisine, where it is often used to scoop up stew-like dishes. You can purchase couscous in Middle Eastern and health food stores and most supermarkets.
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Step 6Ditali: Italian for "thimbles," ditali are medium-sized, short tubes with smooth sides. Like most short pasta shapes, ditali are excellent used in soups, pasta salads, and to stand up to chunky sauces.
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Step 7Elbow macaroni: This short, curved, tubular pasta is a favorite for macaroni and cheese and cold salads.
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Step 8Farfalle: "Butterfly" in Italian, farfalle is also known as bow-tie pasta. It can be used in any dish that calls for small pasta shapes, such as penne or shells.
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Step 9Fettuccia: Wider than fettuccine, with one ruffled edge, fettuccia looks like half a lasagna noodle. Substitute fettucia in your favorite lasagna recipes for an elegant touch, or pair this substantial noodle with any sauce that has a lot of body.
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Step 10Fettuccine: Fettuccine is an egg pasta cut into long, narrow ribbons. It is wider than linguine, but is a fine as a substitute for linguine in most recipes. It is often served with cream sauces, as in the classic Fettuccine Alfredo.
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Step 11Fusille: Also known as rotelle, which means "small wheels" in Italian, this pasta has more of a spiral shape. It comes in several varieties: short and thick, short and thin, and long and thin.
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Step 12Gnocchi: These "little dumplings" are typically made from a potato or semolina dough. They are boiled and served with rich sauces; tomato-based or herb and butter sauces also work well.
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Step 13Lasagna: This term refers to both a long, wide noodle and to the baked dish made with these noodles. The pasta is flat with either straight or curly edges. It is usually boiled, then layered with cheese, meat, and either a tomato-based or cream-based sauce. The casserole is then baked.
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Step 14Linguine: These long, flat noodles are somewhat thicker than spaghetti. The name means "little tongues" in Italian.
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Step 15Manicotti: These noodles are large and tubular; they can have either a ridged or smooth texture. Manicotti are filled with cheese or meat fillings, and then baked. The term also refers to a dish of stuffed manicotti, usually with a tomato sauce.
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Step 16Orzo: Orzo means "barley," which is what this distinctive, tiny rice-like pasta resembles. Orzo is wonderful in soups and salads. Season the cooked orzo with salt and pepper, lemon, olive oil, and dill, and serve chilled for a tangy Mediterranean side salad.
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Step 17Penne: These two-inch long tubular macaroni are sometimes referred to as mostaccioli. The noodles are diagonally cut at the ends, and very much resemble the "quill pen" for which they are named. This pasta is good with chunky meat or vegetable sauces.
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Step 18Radiatore: Radiatore is Italian for "radiator," which is what these thick, ruffled pasta segments resemble. Like most sturdy pasta shapes, radiatore stand out when served with hearty, chunky sauces, or tossed with veggies in a fresh pasta salad.
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Step 19Ravioli: Ravioli are little square pillows of dough filled with finely ground or chopped fillings. The Italian name translates as "little turnip." The ever-popular ravioli can be served with a sauce or in soups.
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Step 20Rigatoni: These short, grooved tubes can be used in casseroles and pasta salads, and are suitable for almost any sauce.
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Step 21Rotine: This kid favorite resembles short corkscrews. Bits of cheese, meat, or vegetables will cling to the grooves in rotini, so this is a great pasta to serve with chunky sauces.
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Step 22Ruote: This wagon-wheel-shaped pasta is a fun way to liven up goulash or mac and cheese. Since the "spokes" can hold lots of sauce or vegetables, try pairing ruote with thick, chunky sauces.
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Step 23Stelline: These dainty little star shapes perk up any broth. Use them in your favorite chicken noodle soup recipe T
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Step 24Tortellini: These versatile rings of pasta can be stuffed with many types of savory fillings. The pasta is then folded in half, and the two ends are brought together to make a ring shape. Multi-colored pasta indicates the addition of beets, tomatoes, spinach, or squid ink for color and flavor. Tortellini can be drizzled with good olive oil, garlic, herbs, and parmesan cheese, paired with hearty sauces, or served in soups.
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Step 25Vermicelli: "Little worms" in Italian, vermicelli are fine strands of spaghetti. Use as a bed for sauced meat dishes, or toss with either a creamy or tomato-based sauce.
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Step 26Ziti: A slender, tubular pasta, ziti stands up to hearty sauces and is well-suited for use in baked pasta dishes.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
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Italian
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#pasta types
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