Pasta Shapes

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Pasta Shapes
– The ultimate guide to pasta shapes – The site is not vegan but a great page. – Jamie Oliver

Pasta Shapes Dictionary – https://sharethepasta.org/pasta-shapes/ – from the food blog, “Share the Pasta” (recipes not vegan). A quick guide to 55 popular pasta shapes.

– Types of Pasta: The Definitive List (124 in all) – Great, informative web page. Coconut Mama

There are more than 360 different types of pasta in the whole world, most from Italy.

The word “pasta” derives from the Italian word for the dough from which pasta shapes are made. Pasta shapes’ names usually relate to their creation process or the objects they resemble.

Each features unique contours, ridges, diameters, and lengths—characteristics that lend themselves to specific sauce applications. Shapes are not arbitrary but designed with specific sauces and preparations in mind. Some shapes hold historical significance.

Each shape has a purpose – for soup, light or heavy sauces, chunky sauces, grooves and folds to trap sauces, and specific dishes like lasagna- to fill you with different regions that developed their traditions. Distinct shapes emerged, influenced by local ingredients, climate, and culinary preferences.

  • Spaghetti – from spago, “cord” – long solid strings
  • Vermicelli – means “little worm” (1 to 1.5 mm)
  • Capellini (.85 to .92 mm)
  • Angel Hair (.78 to .88 mm)
  • Linguine – means “little tongues” (3 mm, slight oval cross-section)
  • Fettuccine – fetta meaning “ribbon” (6 mm, flat)
  • Lasagna – means “cooking pot”
  • Penne – from penna, “quill”
  • Fusilli – from fuso meaning “spindle”(Rotini)
  • Farfalle – “butterflies” (Bow Ties)
  • Macaroni – from maccare, “to bruise”(Elbow)
  • Rigatoni – from rigare, “to draw a line” – wide tube
  • Penne – from penna, “quill” – tube with diagonal cut ends
  • Ziti – from Campania and Sicily, straight ends
  • Chiocciole
  • Conchiglie – from chonchiglia, “sea shell” (small, medium, large)
  • Orzo – means “barley”
  • Cannelloni
  • Tortellini – means “small cakes”
  • Ravioli – from riavvolgere, “to wrap”
  • Gnocchi – from nocchio, “knot in the wood” or dumplings (flour, potatoes, & eggs
  • Jumbo Shells
  • .Cannelloni – “large tube”

  • Bucatini – small Italian buca, “hole” (thick spaghetti with a hole running through the center)
  • Perciatelli (thin spaghetti with a hole running through the center)
  • Tagliatelle – means “to cut” (6 mm, flat)
  • Pappardelle – from papare “to eat hungrily” (2-3 cm)
  • Trottole
  • Cavatappi (Cork Screw)
  • Cavatelli – “little hollows” (priest’s ear)
  • Orecchiette Rigate – means “little ear”
  • Cavatelli
  • Trottole
  • Trecce
  • Rigate
  • Gemelli
  • Trofie
  • Lumaconi
  • Ditalini
  • Casarecce
  • Paccheri – from pacca, “slap”
  • Fusilli col Buco



The Pasta Project – https://www.the-pasta-project.com/category/specific-diets/vegetarian/

Pasta to Buy

Jovial Foods – https://jovialfoods.com/gluten-free/brown-rice-pasta/ – Rice pasta has excellent texture and is gluten-free. They also sell grain-free Cassava pasta, Einkorn flour, tomatoes, beans, and olive oil. Great products!

Tinkyada Gluten-free Rice Pasta – https://www.tinkyada.com/products – Organic, Conventional, Vegan & Plant-based Rice Pastas – 19 varieties

Sanniti Italian Pasta – https://supermarketitaly.com/collections/sanniti/pasta-dry-goods

Also, see my Deep Dive pasta page – https://www.thenextmeal.net/deep-dive/pasta/

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