THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

PASTA SHAPES
& SAUCES

From simple spaghetti dishes to hearty and comforting lasagne, pasta is one of Italy’s most beloved exports. It’s a culinary staple across many cultures and its versatility means it can be as healthy and nutri- tious or as indulgent and comforting as you like. But did you know that there are so many different types of pasta that you could quite easily try a new one every day of the year?

With so many shapes to choose from, it can be hard to know your penne from your paccheri, let alone which sauces to pair them with. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of our favourite shapes to give you a crash course in pasta.

PASTA SHAPES PASTA SAUCES

PASTA TYPES

There are two main types of pasta – pasta fresca (fresh) and pasta secca (dried). From here there are hundreds of unique shapes, from long flat ribbons and tubes, to twists, shells, sheets and stuffed varieties. Add to this the fact that different shapes go better with different sauces and it can all get a little confusing.

To help you get your head around it, we’ve put together a series of guides on our favourite types of pasta shapes with arange of tasty recipes you can try at home.

WANT TO MAKE YOUR OWN PASTA?

MAGARI

/ma.gà.ri/
Maybe, if only, I wish, lit.

When you’ve just finished your Tagliatelle and it was so good you wish you had a second stomach for another portion,you say: Magari!

WATCH OUR VIDEO

HOW TO MAKE
TAGLIATELLE PASTA

Prep Time: 60 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Skill level/Difficulty: Easy
Chef’s Tip: When learning how to make tagliatelle by hand, what is our best advice? Don’t think about it too much! Try it for yourself, and experience learning how to make pasta with our helpful guide.

READ FULL RECIPE

PASTA FAQs

HOW DO YOU PAIR PASTA WITH A SAUCE?

Combining your sauce with the right pasta shape makes a huge difference to your dish. Much depends on the shape of the pasta. For example, the nooks and crannies of twisted pasta like fusilli are ideal for capturing sauces with finely chopped ingredients, such as pesto, whereas the wider surface area and porous surface of ribbon-shaped pasta like pappardelle is a good match for meaty sauces like ragù.

WHAT IS THE BEST ITALIAN CHEESE TO USE FOR PASTA?

Similar to sauces, your choice of cheese can transform your dish in a variety of ways. Pecorino Romano, Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano are three of the best Italian cheeses to use in a pasta dish. Which of these you choose in your pasta should depend on which sauces are involved. For instance, Pecorino Romano provides an ideal contrast with rich and earthy flavours.

PASTA SAUCES

If there is one thing that can make pasta even better, it’s the sauces that go with it. That said, it’s very tempting to choose a sauce and then serve it with whatever pasta you happen to have in your kitchen. Big mistake. We mean it when we say the sauce can make or break the dish.

Each type of pasta interacts with sauces in different ways, so the shape of your pasta will make a huge difference to thefinal dish. To make sure you’re getting your pasta pairings right, we’ve put together some guides on our favourite sauces.

PASTA PAIRING FAQs

HOW DO YOU PAIR PASTA WITH A SAUCE?

Combining your sauce with the right pasta shape makes a huge difference to your dish. Much depends on the shape of the pasta. For example, the nooks and crannies of twisted pasta like fusilli are ideal for capturing sauces with finely chopped ingredients, such as pesto, whereas the wider surface area and porous surface of ribbon-shaped pasta like pappardelle is a good match for meaty sauces like ragù.

WHAT IS THE BEST ITALIAN CHEESE TO USE FOR PASTA?

Similar to sauces, your choice of cheese can transform your dish in a variety of ways. Pecorino Romano, Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano are three of the best Italian cheeses to use in a pasta dish. Which of these you choose in your pasta should depend on which sauces are involved. For instance, Pecorino Romano provides an ideal contrast with rich and earthy flavours.

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