Shaped Pasta

There are a huge variety of pasta shapes, all designed to trap and hold pasta sauce as it travels from the plate to the mouth. Usually sold dried rather than fresh, shapes may be fashioned after items such as bows, wheels, corkscrews, shells and even radiators. Their chunky texture makes them easier to eat than ribbons or rods, and they are robust enough to be used in pasta salads and baked casseroles.

Pasta shapes are best used with chunky sauces, such as meat sauce, cheese sauce and thick tomato sauce.