Nina Slowinski
You know what never gets old? Pasta. Always tasty, always filling, and most importantly, as it should always be, always al dente! I’m not quite sure what it is about this carby Italian dish that makes it such a thrillingly reliable meal — what I do know is that it’s a balance incredibly difficult to achieve. Whether served with pesto, tomato sauce, olive oil or even just plain butter, it’s all delicious. But, some pasta shapes really do hit differently. And by differently, I do mean: better. What’s your all-time favorite?
#1 Fusilli
#2 Farfalle (Bowties)
Many people might refer to this pasta by its shape rather than its official name. Commonly seen in those barbeque summer pasta salads, I associate this pasta shape with fun times. It’s not just for salads, though. This pasta can handle it all: tomato sauce, cream sauces, even soup! It’s a great pasta to keep in your pantry, and there’s nothing it can’t handle.
#3 Fettuccine
You’ve probably eaten fettuccine alfredo; that’s this pasta’s classic dish. It’s similar to spaghetti, but this noodle is thicker and made for cream sauces. Though this is a solid pasta shape, I don’t have much else to say about it. I mean, it has it’s staple dish. What more could a pasta ask for? Seriously, let me know.
#4 Penne
Whenever I think penne, I do think: penne alla vodka. A classic Italian restaurant staple demonstrating the most perfect, irresistible blend of cream and tomato. Even on it’s own though, penne stands strong. Maybe partially because its shape was made to imitate the tip of a pen. The pen is mightier than the sword, right? So what about when the pen is made out of pasta?
#5 Conchiglie (Shells)
Who doesn’t love stuffed shells? It’s like eating a fuller ravioli or an enclosed piece of lasagna. Conchiglie comes in many sizes. Eating smaller shells though, the sauce gets lost inside the shell, only to reappear in your mouth. Yes, like a pasta gusher, exactly. Who doesn’t love a good surprise?
#6 Rotelle (Wagon Wheels)
#7 Spaghetti
A classic. Twirling your fork in a bed of spaghetti to then slurp a long hanging noodle is truly one of life’s simplest and greatest pleasures. It’s very Lady and The Tramp — you know, the scene where Lady and Tramp almost kiss because of their shared spaghetti noodle. Or it’s very Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love — the montage where Julia Roberts just goes down on Italian cuisine. Evident by the images we jump to associate it with, spaghetti is iconic.
