Penne, angel hair, linguine-there are many kinds of pasta that differs in shape, sizes and did you know that these variations have something to do with the perfect sauce to pair with it?
Follow this pasta + sauce pairings definitive guide drafted by the Food Network!
Thin Long Noodles-Angel Hair, Cappelini and Spaghettini
These delicate hair-like strands are perfect for light sauces, like tomato or oil-based sauces. This is because so that the sauce can completely coat each pasta piece and won't get weighed down by the fork when eating. Best to add fresh herbs, lots of garlic and crisp pancetta.
Flat Long Noodles-Fettuccine, Linguine, Tagliatelle and Parppadelle
For creamy sauce lovers, this kind of pasta is perfect for your craving. The flat surface of these pasta variations allows it to stand up against the hemp of the heavy sauce. As a general rule, always make sure to use wider surfaced pasta when you plan to pair it with thicker sauces, for example, the ribbon shaped pasta-Parppadelle is best cooked with with, meaty sauces. Relatively thinner pasta such as Fettuccine or Linguine is best when paired with simple cream-based sauces like the alfredo or marinara.
Long Tube Noodles-Perciatelli and Bucatini
These may resemble the usual spaghetti, but it is kind of hollow inside. They may have an extra heft to their bite, making it ideal for 'louder' and brighter flavors such as red pepper flakes and pancetta. When cooked, this kind of pasta allows the sauce to flow inside the center, making every bite more concentrated and delicious!
Short Tube Noodles-Penne, Ziti, Rigatoni and Campanelle
This may be the most versatile kind of pasta-great for soups, salads and casseroles as well. The perfect sauce pairing is kind of versatile too. You can incorporate these with creamy to hearty sauces, studded with bits of meat or veggies.
Small Tube Noodles-Macaroni and Ditalini
The narrow dimensions of this kind of pasta makes it perfect as a baked dish, flooding with cream and cheese. But it won't be good if paired with hearty sauces, making the flavor profile imbalanced.
Short Shaped Noodles-Farfalle (Bow Tie), Rotini and Rotelle (Wagon Wheels)
Ruffles, ridges, curls and cones define this pasta group, making it perfect for rich sauces with texture brought in by protein or vegetable bite sized pieces.
