Glossary of Pasta Terms

Macaroni is used in reference to any narrow short tubular pasta. The tubes may be straight or curved in shape and vary slightly in width.

Long tube pasta that is slightly slimmer than a pencil and has a small hollowed out center.

The Italian word used to reference all of the types of macaroni pasta, such as the shells, tubes, and twisted strands.

A flat wide ribbon pasta, somewhat similar to a narrow lasagna noodle, that is approximately ½ to ¾ inch in width and has rippled edges on both sides.

A flat ribbon pasta that is a slightly narrower version of the long variety of mafalda.

A short, curved tube pasta. If not available, substitute macaroni or canneroni.

A Sardinian pasta that resembles gnocchetti but differs in that it is generally flavored with saffron.

Flat, roughly cut pieces of pasta produced as random shapes from the scraps of pasta being cut and formed for another variety of pasta or pasta that is intentionally cut into a formed shape, similar to a trapezoid or a parallelogram.

A short, wide tube pasta with diagonally cut ends. This pasta has the same name as the shaped pasta that is roughly cut pasta scraps.

Large tube pasta that may be found with a ridged or smooth surface and ends that are straight cut or diagonally cut.

A Turkish pasta made of a small square of pasta with a meat filling added, which then has all four corners gathered together forming a ball.

A short, curved hollow tube pasta. If not available, substitute macaroni or ziti.

Short tube pasta with diagonally cut ends. This pasta is a short, stubby version of penne.

A wide pasta tube that is ¾ to 1 inch in diameter and 2 ½ to 2 ¾ inch in length....

A wide hollowed out tube of pasta that is a shorter version of paccheri. It is the same diameter as paccheri but is only approximately 1 ¼ inches in length.

A short, slightly curved tube pasta that is approximately 5/8 inch in length with a diameter of 1/2 inch.

A pasta product that consists of a group of different pasta shapes. The shapes can include small tubes of different sizes, short strands and miscellaneous shapes.

Long Philippine wheat noodles, which are very fine and delicate. They are slightly off-white in color.

Tube pasta with diagonally cut ends, similar to penne but longer in length. Mostaccioli is approximately 2 inches long and is available with a smooth or ridged surface.