It is hard to resist pasta, as it is the ultimate comfort food, the most loved food of all time, and the best choice for a meal. Pasta dishes have become the third most favourite evening meal, after roast beef with vegetables and roast potatoes.
Pasta is versatile, with many pasta shapes that work well with different recipes, you can definitely derive hundreds of flavour combinations. It also means that there are always new flavours to discover and enjoy, regardless of whether you use it with different sauces or ingredients or simply by following the classic recipes.
Classic pasta dishes such as spaghetti or linguine with tomato sauce are some of the best-loved pasta dishes around the globe, and, perhaps, the pasta dish with the most savoury. But aside from these pasta dishes, there are many different varieties of pasta types and cuisine that you can try – each with its own delicious flavour, texture, and colour. Here are some of the more popular pasta types:
Fusilli is a type of pasta that has a crumbly, chewy texture. It is made from wheat or potato flour and egg white and is usually served warm. Fusilli pasta is typically seasoned with herbs and olive oil, then coated with salt and herb dressing.
Ravioli is the pasta type that may be served on its own with drizzles of olive oil or with a sauce of your choice. This is because it is stuffed with cheese, vegetables, seafood, or meat.
Conchiglie is another popular pasta choice and is usually found in Italian restaurants. Italian conchiglie is also sometimes called “pasta shells” because of their shape, which closely resembles the seashell.
Macaroni pasta is small tubes in the shape of a C. The tube is narrow and is cut into very short lengths. Although this pasta can be used in many dishes, it is most well-known for its use in Macaroni and Cheese. Moreover, macaroni can also be used to make butter and cheese, and chicken soup for appetizers.
Penne is a tube pasta that is an unleavened long strand of dough rolled out and cut into pieces. As a base, a sauce of your choice is rolled out onto the dough and baked until crisp and golden. Usually, penne pasta is combined with meat sauce, cheese, mushrooms, garlic, onion and any other ingredients you wish. Leftover pasta is sometimes also used in other meat and pasta dishes; for example, it is often combined with lasagna.
Another example of the many different types of pasta dishes available is linguine. A long thin strand of dough is rolled out, then cut into long pieces. It is served with tomato sauce and fresh herbs. While linguine can be used in a variety of different pasta dishes, the traditional recipe calls for tomatoes, onions, and a bit of salt. This dish is best served hot.
Gnocchi is a small tube pasta type. It is typically spiced with Italian herbs and served cold. Gnocchi is one of the more difficult pasta types to make due to its small size and shape. However, if you try to make gnocchi by hand, the process is not too complex, especially if you already have some experience making pasta by hand. You simply have to allow your dough to rise until it becomes soft and able to shape into pasta tubes.
Fettuccine is similar to spaghetti noodles. It is long and wide pasta, as well as flat and thicker than regular pasta. This is among the popular pasta types used in Italian pasta dishes and can be found in many restaurants. Because it has long, flat strands, it can easily soak in any sauce and flavour. In addition, you can also enjoy it with creamy sauces, such as those made with chicken, seafood, or Alfredo sauce. This pasta can also be easily made from scratch. After the dough has risen to a flat surface, you can cut the pasta into long ribbons.
Apart from the ones listed above, there are many other types of pasta you can use to make a pasta dish.
Many pasta types can be used in most recipes. However, this is not true for all, especially for chefs. While they are aware that certain pasta types can be used with different sauces, not all pasta types will work well with the same sauces.
It is important to be familiar with the various types of pasta as well as the sauces and ingredients that they are suitable for if you want to make your own pasta dishes. It is a good idea to learn the basics of cooking them. To learn more about the different types of pasta, read this infographic from Cirelli & Co, an Italian restaurant in Brunswick.
