9 Popular Types of pasta in India | Best Pasta Shapes

After pizza, pasta holds the crown as the second most-loved dish worldwide. But many believe that making perfect homemade pasta is a challenge. To break this myth, NFCI presents an article for popular types of pasta for pasta lovers — uncovering trending and popular types of homemade pasta like orecchiette, pappardelle, penne, rigatoni, farfalle, ravioli, ziti, gnocchi, and lasagne — along with tips to craft them effortlessly at home.

Here are 9 trending types of pasta that will make your meal both fancy and delicious!

1. Exploring Types of Pasta: Why Orecchiette Pasta Stands Out

Small, disc-shaped pasta with ridges that’s good in soups and lighter recipes. An orecchietta is shaped like a tiny dome, with a rough surface. Orecchiette, like other types of pasta, is produced from durum wheat and water. Eggs are hardly utilized. The dough is rolled and cubed in typical Southern Italian home cookery.

2. Discover Pappardelle Pasta – A Classic Choice in Types of Pasta

Wide, flat, ribbon-like pasta from Tuscany that goes well with thick sauces. Pappardelle are long, flat, and broad ribbons of (traditionally) egg pasta that originated in Toscana (Tuscany), a region famous for its rich, strong, and typically meaty sauces. Pappardelle, with its huge surface area and gritty texture, is an ideal companion to more powerful sauces and ragus.

3. Penne Pasta – A Versatile Star in Types of Pasta

Hollow, tube-shaped pasta with angled ends that’s good for sauces like marinara or cream. Penne is one of the most well-known Italian pasta forms, appreciated across Italy and the world. Penne means “pen” and is named for its shape, which is a small cylinder-shaped pasta with slanted edges. A quill provided inspiration for the form. Penne’s huge diameter and ridges make it great for keeping sauces on all sides.

4. Rigatoni Pasta: The Hearty Tube in Types of Pasta

Rigatoni pasta is a member of the small pasta family that includes penne and is well-known and widely used in Italy. They have ridged exteriors and are rather large in diameter. Rigatoni are excellent at retaining sauces both inside and out, and are ideal for catching all of the sauce’s taste.

5. Farfalle Pasta – A Little Bow Tie shaped pasta That Makes Types of Pasta Fancy

Farfalle is sometimes known as ‘bow tie pasta’ because of its form. This flexible pasta pairs nicely with both light (olive oil, butter) and heavy sauces (cream, tomato, pesto), and it also tastes fantastic in salads. It may be used as a dressing for stir-fried vegetables or meats.

6. Ravioli Pasta | Pillow Shaped Pasta

Ravioli, like dumplings, are square or circular pillow-shaped filled pastas. They can be filled with cheese, meat, or veggies. Ravioli are made by layering flat pasta, filling it, and then layering another flat layer on top to make a pillow.

7. Ziti Pasta

Ziti, a tube-shaped pasta, is extremely popular. The name Ziti comes from the word zita, which signifies bride. In Naples, ziti is the traditional pasta offered at weddings as the zita/bride’s dish. Ziti pairs nicely with light, fresh sauces like olive oil or a basic tomato sauce.

8. Gnocchi Pasta – The Coziest Pick in Types of Pasta

Although gnocchi are a typical Italian pasta form, what distinguishes them is that potatoes are the primary ingredient. As a result, they are usually referred to as a dumpling. Gnocchi, like many dishes in Italian cuisine, varies in name, look, and preparation across the Lo Stivale areas.

9. Lasagna | One of the favorite types of pasta in India 

Lasagna is a large, flat layer of pasta. Lasagna can refer to either a type of noodle or the traditional lasagna meal, which consists of many layers of lasagna sheets with sauce and other components, such as meats and cheese, sandwiched between the noodles.

Here are the 10 pasta shapes in India that are mostly loved by all the people!

1. Penne: Penne translates to the word “pen”, and gets its name from its shape – a short cylinder-shaped pasta that has angled edges.
2. Farfalle: To make farfalle, simply cut fresh pasta into small rectangles and pinch the centers together to form the unique shape.
3. Spaghetti: Many people nicknamed as ‘angel hair’ for its long and thin shaped. Spaghetti is also known as Capellini.
4. Fusilli: Fusilli is a spiral or corkscrew shaped pasta. Because of its twists, it has grooves that are good for holding onto sauce.
5. Conchiglie: Conchiglie is a pasta variety that is Shell shaped like a conch shell. The smallest shell shape is called conchigliette and the largest shell shape is called conchiglioni.
6. Fettucine: Popular roman cuisine known for its ribbon shaped pasta, popular for classic creamy Fettuccine Alfredo.
7. Pappardelle: Pappardelle are long, flat and broad ribbons of (traditionally) egg pasta, it is wider than tagliatelle but not quite as wide as lasagna.
8. Ravioli: Raviolis are square or round pillow shaped stuffed pastas, similar to dumplings. Ravioli are formed by having one layer of flat pasta topped with filling and then placing another flat layer on top to form a pillow.
9. Buccatini: This straw-like pasta is shaped like thick spaghetti with a hollow center. The name bucatini comes from Italy. Bucatini is thicker than spaghetti, it is more interesting texture and makes it better at sopping up
10. Cavatappi: Cavatappi is a spiral-shaped pasta that originated in Southern Italy. It’s also known as “double elbows” or “scoobi doo” pasta. This Pasta is short S-Shaped pasta tube. Cavatappi is great for capturing sauces and chunky ingredients. It is a type of macaroni pasta.

How to make homemade pasta at home with Pasta Machine?

In the vibrant world of pasta, here is the blog for popular types of pasta in India and each pasta shape brings its own charm and flavor to the table. From delicate orecchiette to hearty lasagna, mastering homemade pasta isn’t just about recipes — it’s about creating culinary experiences. With the right techniques and a little practice, anyone can craft these delectable pasta types right at home.

If your passion for cooking goes beyond just experimenting in your kitchen, why not take the next step? At NFCI, we nurture culinary dreams with expert-led courses designed to transform home cooks into professional chefs. Join us and turn your love for food into a rewarding career!

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