World Pasta Day – Let’s talk about pasta diversity
Step out of your pasta comfort zone this World Pasta day and explore the hundreds of different shapes to enjoy with your favourite classic pasta dishes.
Pasta diversity – hundreds of shapes to cook from.
It’s World pasta day and while it would be so easy to churn out another recipe for you to cook and enjoy at home, this year I wanted to do something a little bit different.
When we think of pasta, many Brits tend to automatically ponder on which sauce they want to enjoy. Fusilli and Penne are two of the country’s most popular shapes and are usually found stocked at UK local supermarkets.
But what if I told you that stepping out of your pasta comfort zone and exploring the hundreds of other shapes available is a great way to take your favourite pasta dish to another level?
Before you start thinking that you can enjoy any pasta shape with any other sauce, I am going to have to stop you right there. I mean, of course, I can’t actually stop you. But there is a reason why there are so many other shapes to choose from.
For Italians, each forkful should be a beautiful balance of your sauce of choice with a pasta shape that acts as the perfect utensil that carries the sauce as best as possible.
Are you scratching your head wondering what I’m going on about?
Here are some classic pasta sauces with alternative pasta shapes to show you how it’s done.
Tomato sauce
Spaghetti with tomato sauce is a popular classic. But what if told you, you could uplevel your tomato pasta game by swapping the long-stranded pasta with orecchiette – which translates into ‘little ears’?. Shaped as a small dome this rustic italian shape is perfect for scooping the sweet juicy sauce before enjoying each mouthful.
Pesto
Pesto, a sweet basil herb sauce has become a staple in most homes across Britain, especially with its convenience of ‘no-cooking’. Your pasta only needs a light coating of this luscious pesto sauce to appreciate its wonderful flavour. So it’s important that your pasta of choice is not too dense. That’s why Gemelli is a great option. Two simple strands of pasta twisted together. It holds the sauce beautifully while still retaining a nice al dente texture – giving you the ultimate pasta pesto experience.
Macaroni and cheese
Macaroni and cheese – a comforting cheesy dish loved by many. Traditionally served with macaroni – short narrow tubes. However, I like to bring a more interesting texture to this baked creamy classic. Gnocchi Sardi are shaped into small thin ribbed shells. The lovely texturised exterior helps that cheesy sauce to cling on, while the dip at the back of the shell means more of that saucy goodness can get collected in there.
So to conclude, don’t overlook the importance of your pasta shape. Don’t just give into the same old shapes you always buy because you really could be missing out on enhancing your pasta-eating experience.
Have I tempted you to explore different pasta shapes and step out of your pasta shape comfort zone? If so, before you grab packets of the same old pasta shapes, why not check out Garofalo’s diverse pasta range at Amazon Uk, and Ocado and start stacking up your pasta shelves with
