For many, fresh pasta is a favorite dish. The Italian food staple comes in a wide range of sizes and shapes, with different types used for different dishes. Learn about some of the most popular pasta shapes below and how they make various Italian cuisines extra sumptuous. 

What Are Some of the Most Common Pasta Shapes?

1. Penne

A tubular option with ridges and angled ends, penne is designed to help marinara, Alfredo, vodka, or other sauce remain on the pasta. It is considered some of the easiest pasta to eat, since its edges slide onto fork tines without problems. Penne is often used for thick sauces, such as penne alla vodka dishes, as well as as baked pasta. 

2. Spaghetti

The classic long, thin pasta, spaghetti is most famously paired with meatballs and marinara sauce. Diners typically spin the pasta around their forks, with some using large spoons to move the spaghetti from plate to utensil. Spaghetti is thicker than angel hair pasta but still round, unlike linguini, or long, flat pasta. 

3. Farfalle

Often referred to as “bow tie” pasta, farfalle is a favorite Italian food for children. It is easy to eat and the “bow tie” or “butterfly” shapes are fun. Common farfalle pairings include butter or oil, pesto, chunky sauce, assorted cooked vegetables, and marinara sauce. This pasta is also used in soups and cold pasta salads. 

4. Ravioli 

A square-shaped pasta, ravioli is actually two pieces of pasta stuffed with cheese, meat, or vegetables and fused together. Many diners enjoy cheese ravioli, which consists of ricotta cheese “stuffing” combined with marinara and melted mozzarella toppings. Others enjoy meat and even seafood-based ravioli dishes, such as lobster ravioli that is often served with a vodka-type sauce.

Enjoy these and other pasta shapes at Paul’s Pasta Shop, the Italian food establishment serving residents throughout Southeastern Connecticut for over 30 years. This family-owned Italian restaurant only serves fresh pasta made from scratch and offers daily specials. Call (860) 445-5276 with menu questions or review Italian food offerings online. Get the latest restaurant updates on Facebook.