Pasta is a universal dish, enjoyed by people all over the world. Whether you prefer spaghetti, penne or tagliatelle, it's important to know how to choose the right pasta to make the most of its flavor. In this article, we'll give you a few tips to help you choose the right pasta.
The right shape
Pasta comes in a wide variety of shapes, each with its own characteristics. Here are a few shapes and their uses:
Spaghetti
This long, thin pasta is ideal for thin or light sauces. They go perfectly with tomato sauce, olive oil and garlic, or a simple pesto.
Penne
Penne has a tubular cut that captures sauces well. They are ideal for thicker sauces, such as Alfredo or meat sauces.
Trofie
Trofie is a pasta made in Tuscany using a method that preserves the wheat germ. Their name means "to roll" in the Genovese dialect. Their sepcial shape, rolld and narrow, allaws the sauce to stick to the pasta.
Enjoy with a drizzle of olive oil or one of our delicious pesto.
Linguine
Linguine is a pasta distinguished by its characteristic flat shape and long, narrow ribbons. Originating in Italy, this variety of pasta is known for its elegance and ability to marry with a wide range of sauces and ingredients.
Orecchiette
Made in the Italian tradition, they are shaped by rolling the pasta with the tumb on a rolling pin to cream small " bowls". They're called orecchitte because they look like little ears.
Choose the pasta variety that best suits the sauce you intend to cook to maximize the taste experience.
Quality & ingredients
Pasta quality is also crucial. Look for pasta made from hard wheat (semolina), as this type of pasta has a good texture and absorbs the sauce better. Try to avoid pasta containing artificial colorings and/or ingredients. Instead, opt for pasta containing few ingredients, such as wheat and water. Shop our range of high-quality pasta..
Cooking time
Remember to respect the cooking times indicated on the packet. Overcooked pasta can be soft and flavorless, while undercooked pasta can be too crunchy. You can taste the pasta at minute or two before the end of the cooking time to make sucre it's "al dente", with a slight chewiness.
Organic alternatives
If you're concerned about the environment, you might also consider choosing organic pasta. They are ofent produced using more sustainable methods and contain fewer chemical additives.
Truffle pasta: a delicate dish
Truffle-flavored pasta is a true delicacy that has found its way onto tables the world over. This variety offers a unique, seductive flavor that highlights the earhty, aromatic qualities of truffle.
This pasta is made by adding truffle oil, truffle paste or truffle butter to the paste or sauce. This gives the pasta an intense, natural truffle flavor, both luxurious and subtle.
Some recipe ideas
At Oliviers&Co, we offer delicious recipes using all our products. Here's a selection of our best pasta recipes.
Basil & Bell Pepper Pesto Cannelloni
This dish of cannelloni with parmesan is the perfect accompaniment to a long day. This recipe is so delicious that the whole family will be asking for more.
Linguine All' Arrabbiata & Lemon Sardines
A slightly spicy pasta recipe, but so comforting! The touch of lemon adds a light acidity to this delicious dish.
Ravioli with Yellow Pesto
A recipe for homemade ravioli. Pumkin pesto adds a touch of sweetness to this autumnal dish.
Spaghetti, Speck, Parmesan & Truffle Sauce
A generous and comforting pasta recipe. A creamy dish you'll never tire of!