We haven’t counted, but by our estimates, there are like, ten million different pasta shapes in the world. More accurately, there are probably more than 300 different shapes, and depending on where you are in the world, each one may have a completely different name.
Luckily, knowing the ins and outs of pasta shapes and names isn’t really that important, though we tend to think that the more you know about your food, the more you’ll enjoy it! What can be important, though, is knowing which pastas are best served with which sauces.
After all, you didn’t think a fusilli is all twisty for no reason, did you? Fusilli and other small, twisty or tubey pastas are made to capture the tasty bits of sauce that you serve them with! That’s true, in different ways, for each kind of pasta.
Sauces are customarily selected to suit a particular type of pasta. Long, flat pastas such as fettuccine or linguine are generally served with smooth, light sauces such as cream sauces, vegetable coulis, or butter and cheese combinations (Cacio e Pepe!) that will coat the strands evenly.
Tube pastas such as elbow macaroni or ziti and twisted pastas such as fusilli are normally paired with more heavily structured sauces, such as a meat sauce or one with a garnish of fresh vegetables, because these shapes are able to trap the sauce.
A pasta’s flavor is also an important consideration when choosing a sauce. The delicate flavor of fresh pasta is most successfully paired with light cream or butter-based sauces. Heartier sauces, such as those that include meats, are usually combined with dried pastas.
Filled pastas require only a very light sauce, because the filling provides a certain amount of flavor and moisture. This is why you will often see ravioli cooked in browned butter and herbs on restaurant menus.
Now, the important thing to mention here is that while there are guidelines for how to serve your pasta, there are no rules! If you like ziti carbonara and spaghetti with Bolognese sauce, that’s your right as a foodie! But keep these tips in mind next time you’re making dinner for your family.