Types of Pasta: What you need to know to make the perfect pasta

Who doesn’t like to gather the family around the table with a tasty and succulent pasta? The dish is a traditional lunch and loved all over the world. But to make everyone’s mouth water even more, there are a few little secrets.

There are several types of pasta on the market and, if you combine it with the right sauce, it will be even more irresistible! Discover here the different types of pasta and which sauce to make the perfect combination.

noodle varieties

On the supermarket shelves you will find a huge variety of pasta noodles. With eggs, semolina, wholemeal, grains durum… but do you know the difference between each one of them? All of them are dry pasta, that is, they go through a drying process to be marketed. It is this processing that differentiates them from fresh pasta, which is made with the same ingredients, however, without going through the industrial process. Find out about the types of dry pasta available here and know how to choose yours!

common dough

It’s the simplest recipe, made from wheat, water and salt, and it’s the cheapest in the supermarkets.

Pasta with eggs

In addition to the same ingredients as regular pasta, this one takes egg during preparation, which gives the pasta a more yellowish appearance. In addition to being more nutritious due to the presence of the egg, it doesn’t stick and makes the noodles not break easily.

Pasta with durum wheat

This dough is prepared with grano durum wheat flour, which makes the dough looser. The use of this more specific wheat makes the product more expensive than regular pasta, but also more flavorful and nutritious, making it ideal for demanding palates.

Wholemeal pasta

Prepared with whole wheat flour and rich in fiber, it is the most sought after pasta by supporters of a healthy diet and by people with dietary restrictions. Even so, pasta can be used in any type of recipe, just like regular pasta.

semolina pasta

This is a pasta prepared with a noble wheat called semolina, called type 1. It has a lighter color and a soft consistency. It has a slightly higher value than the common mass.

homemade pasta

You can get the family together on Sunday and make your own pasta! Thus, you will have a fresh dough that will surely please everyone. The advantage of this type of pasta is that it absorbs the sauce better and is much tastier!

Choose the ideal pasta and gather the family around the table to taste this dish so loved by all!

Types of pasta noodles

Once the dough has been chosen, now it’s time to choose the shape of the noodles. Pastas are divided into short, long or soup and each of them goes well with a specific type of sauce. Get to know some of the existing formats on the market and the best sauce to garnish with the dish.

short pasta

Short masses are those that are less than 10 centimeters in length. Get to know the types in the infographic and how to serve the main ones:

Farfalle or tie: this is that pasta that is shaped like a bow tie – or butterfly – that you may have seen in the supermarket. The pasta can be used in the preparation of hot or cold dishes, such as pasta salads – a great choice for summer – in soups and with sauces enriched with various ingredients.
Fusilli or screw: screw noodles are one of the best known types among short pasta. Its shape makes the sauce have better adhesion and goes very well when served with more consistent sauces, such as bolognese, or with lighter sauces, such as sugo.
Penne: Penne is another well-known type of pasta that doesn’t disappoint. The pasta is delicious with simpler sauces, such as sugo, béchamel and even garlic and oil.
Rigatoni: Rigatoni is a tube-shaped pasta – the difference between it and penne, in addition to the length, is the end cut into a straight shape. Because it is well opened, it is very good to be stuffed and goes well with creamy and full-bodied sauces, such as those based on cheese.

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Short pasta can be used in hot or cold dishes and combine with creamier and full-bodied sauces and even sauces with chunks, such as ragu. It makes your mouth water just thinking about it!

long pasta

Find out which types of long pasta there are and which sauces to use with the most popular ones:

Spaghetti: this is the most popular of pasta and needs no introduction. It can be found in sizes 8 and 9, which differentiates the thickness of the wires. It goes well with almost all types of sauces and is delicious with pesto, carbonara, bolognese, sugo or with seafood. Another delicious option with this pasta is to make it with garlic and oil. Try it!

Linguine: Linguine is a cousin of spaghetti noodles, but differs in its thin, flat shape. It combines with more liquid and full-bodied sauces, but not as creamy, such as pesto, sugo, bolognese and seafood-based preparations.

Tagliatelle and fettuccine: tagliatelle and fettuccine are two pastas that are easily confused. When buying, pay attention to the size of each one: while the noodles have threads of up to one centimeter, the fettuccine has a little wider strips.

Both are versatile pasta and combine with both simpler and more elaborate sauces. Try preparing them with recipes that include meat, such as ragu, sugo sauce, white sauce, Alfredo or carbonara.

Angel hair: capellini, better known as angel hair, is a long pasta most commonly used for preparing soups. But the thread, for its fine and delicate appearance, is also used in the decoration of sweets.

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Long pasta goes very well with sauces with a more fluid texture because they involve the pasta better and come together when you turn the fork on the plate, as is the Italian tradition.

noodles for soup

A well-chosen noodle can make the soup cozier. See the types and characteristics of the two most darlings:

Alphabet pasta: for children who are hard-pressed to eat, how about turning mealtimes into a time of play and learning? Letter noodles are perfect for preparing soups and are a hit with the little ones!
Conchinha: the conchinha macaroni is part of the short pasta and, as the name implies, has the shape of small shells. Its opening in the center makes it ideal to be consumed with creamy sauces and soups.

There’s no mistake when choosing soup noodles, as they are much smaller than the others. Other formats are ring, star and fideli.

Now that you know the different types of pasta and the ideal combination for each of them, check out 122 homemade sauce recipes here to boost your dishes and make your meals more delicious! Hands on and bon appetit!