3 Pasta Types & Uses: How to Prep for National Pasta Day
National Pasta Day looms on the horizon, and if you’re as much of a pasta aficionado as we are, you’ll agree there’s hardly a better way to celebrate than by diving fork-first into a bowl of homemade pasta.
But before you dust off your pasta maker, let’s embark on a little pasta exploration. We’ll delve into three primary categories of pasta—stuffed, long, and short—and showcase how you can bring out the best in each type for a drool-worthy National Pasta Day celebration.
3 Pasta Types & Uses
1. Stuffed pasta types
Stuffed pasta is a type of pasta that is filled with a variety of ingredients, such as cheese, meat, vegetables, or seafood. Stuffed pasta is often served with a simple sauce, such as a tomato sauce or a cream sauce.
• Agnolotti
Small, square-shaped pockets of delight, Agnolotti, encase a medley of ingredients, typically finding a companion in either a tomato or cream sauce.
• Ravioli
The larger, pillow-shaped pockets known as Ravioli harbor a selection of ingredients, often paired with a tomato or cream sauce.
• Tortellini
These small, ring-shaped enclosures known as Tortellini cradle various fillings, usually floating in a broth or nestled with a cream sauce.
2. Long pasta types
Long pasta is a type of pasta that is long and thin, such as spaghetti or fettuccine. Long pasta is often served with a variety of sauces, such as tomato sauce, Alfredo sauce, or pesto.
• Spaghetti
Spaghetti is a long, thin pasta that is often served with a tomato sauce or meat sauce.
• Fettuccine
Fettuccine is a long, flat pasta that is often served with Alfredo sauce or pesto.
• Linguine
Linguine, a slender and narrower cousin to Fettuccine, frequently pairs with seafood sauce or Alfredo sauce.
• Angel hair
Angel hair is a very thin pasta that is often served with a light sauce, such as a tomato sauce or a pesto.
3. Short pasta types
Short pasta is a type of pasta that is short and thick, such as penne or macaroni. Short pasta is often served with a variety of sauces, such as tomato sauce, Alfredo sauce, or cream sauce.
• Penne
Penne, the short, tube-shaped tunnels, often bathe in tomato or meat sauce.
• Macaroni
Macaroni is a short, elbow-shaped pasta that is often served with cheese sauce or tomato sauce.
• Rotini
Rotini, with its short, spiral form, often served with tomato sauce or Alfredo sauce.
• Fusilli
Fusilli is a short, corkscrew-shaped pasta that is often served with tomato sauce or cream sauce.
How to choose the right pasta for your dish?
When choosing the right pasta for your dish, it is important to consider the type of sauce you will be using. For example, if you are using a thick sauce, such as Alfredo sauce or cream sauce, you will want to choose a short pasta, such as penne or macaroni. This is because short pasta has a larger surface area, which helps it to hold the sauce better.
If you are using a light sauce, such as a tomato sauce or pesto, you can choose any type of pasta you like. However, long pasta, such as spaghetti or fettuccine, is often preferred for light sauces because it is easier to eat.
Tips for cooking pasta
• Choose the right pasta shape for your sauce.
• Use Ventray Electric Grill and plenty of water to give pasta room to cook without clumping together.
• Salt the water generously to flavor the pasta.
• Bring the water to a rapid boil before adding pasta.
• Follow the package instructions for cooking times but taste-test a minute or two before the end of the cooking time.
• Before draining, save a cup of pasta water.
• Don’t rinse the pasta after cooking unless you’re making a cold pasta salad.
• Combine the pasta and sauce in Ventray Electric Grill and cook together for a minute or two.
• Finish with a drizzle of good quality olive oil, some fresh herbs, and a sprinkle of grated cheese to elevate the dish.
• Don’t hesitate to experiment with different ingredients and methods until you find what works best for you.
National Pasta Day is your excuse to venture out of your pasta comfort zone. Whether you’re handcrafting delicate stuffed pastas, twirling long luxurious strands, or enjoying the comforting bite of short pasta varieties, there’s a world of textures, flavors, and delightful culinary experiences awaiting. So, roll up your sleeves, dust off that pasta maker, and get ready to commemorate National Pasta Day like a true pasta connoisseur!
