16 Types of Pasta and Their Uses

Pasta is a type of food that is made from a mixture of flour, eggs, and water. It can be formed into different shapes, is either boiled or baked and can be added to different dishes or made into a dish on its own. From a nutritional perspective, pasta is rich in carbohydrates, protein, iron, and magnesium. It can be fortified with more nutrients by using whole grains instead of flour. Generally, there are two types of pasta- dried pasta and fresh pasta.

Types of pasta

Now, let’s take a look at the different types of pasta along with their uses.

Angel Hair Pasta- Angel hair pasta or capellini is a type of pasta that is long and delicate. Capellini is served with light or creamy sauces.

Spaghetti- Spaghetti is a type of long pasta that is formed into a cylinder. It is popular around the world and is served with red sauce and meatballs.

Macaroni- Macaroni or elbow pasta is a type of short pasta that is famously used in America to create Macaroni and cheese. It is also used to make casseroles.

Farfalle- Farfalle or bow tie pasta is used to make pasta salad and pairs well with creamy sauces.

Cannelloni- Cannelloni is a large tube-shaped pasta. It is ideally stuffed with cheese or meat sauce. It is often filled with stuffing and baked as a casserole.

Ditalini- Ditalini is medium-sized, tube pasta that is used in soups, and pasta salads, and can be served with chunky tomato sauce.

Gnocchi- Gnocchi is little potato and flour dumpling that have a pillowy texture. Gnocchi can be baked, fried, and boiled and it can be served along with tomato or cream-based sauces.

Conchiglie- Conchiglie is a sea shell-shaped pasta that is available in a number of sizes. It is best served along with thick meaty gravies.

Fettuccine- Fettuccine is a type of long pasta that is flat like a ribbon. It is a very sturdy pasta that is served alongside thicker sauces with chunks of meat and vegetables.

Lasagna- Lasagna is large, wide, and flat sheets of pasts with rigged edges. It is popularly used to make a pasta casserole that includes layers of lasagna, sauce, cheese, and fillings.

Fusilli- Fusilli pasta is a spiral-shaped pasta. Its crevices are used for carrying thick sauces. It is also used to make pasta salads.

Manicotti- Just like cannelloni, manicotti is also a long tube-shaped pasta. However, the tubes of manicotti have ridges. Manicotti is usually stuffed with filling and then baked on a bed of tomato sauce.

Ravioli- Ravioli is a square-shaped filled pasta. It can be stuffed with lots of different things and then get served along with an accompanying sauce.

Pappardelle- Pappardelle is another type of flat ribbon-like pasta that is thicker than fettuccine. Pappardelle can be stir-fried and served with sturdy meat or cream sauces.

Mezzeluna- Mezzeluna is a hand-rolled filled pasta that is in the shape of a crescent moon. Mezzeluna can be pan-fried or boiled and is served with a simple sauce.

Penne Pasta- Penne pasta or mostaccioli is a 2-inch-long tube-shaped pasta that is cut diagonally at both ends. It is served with vegetable or meat sauces as it can hold them within its tube.

This is just the beginning of a long list of types of pasta. Pasta is an incredibly versatile food and can be turned into just about any dish.