When you’re looking for a fast, easy, crowd-pleasing homemade dinner option for your family, it’s hard to beat the appeal of pasta and sauce. Whether you cook with spaghetti, rotini or something else, there is a world of options available for making that pasta delicious. Make some fettuccine Alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna Bolognese or bucatini with tomatoes and cream. One factor to keep in mind as you’re planning your meal, however, is that not all kinds of pasta complement all sauces interchangeably. In fact, the shape and size of pasta have a direct impact on the best sauces to go with it.
How can you know what pasta to use with what sauce? To help you make the most of your meal plans, here are a few key pairing tips to keep in mind:
- Skinny noodles are versatile. Pair spaghetti or angel hair with tomato sauce, meat sauce, cream, vegetables, oil/butter or seafood.
- Flat noodles absorb sauce. Long and flat ribbons of noodles are great for thick sauces, as they have more surface area for soaking up sauce.
- Tube pastas pair well with thinner sauces. Short and long pasta tubes like macaroni or rigatoni work beautifully with holding thin sauces.
- Tiny pastas are ideal for soups. Wondering what to do with a tiny pasta type, such as pastina? Try it in soup. Other good possibilities include salads and baked pasta dishes.
When it comes to pasta and sauce, you’ll get more from your mealtime when you think strategically about your pairings. The tips above are a great place to start. Are you interested in learning more about pasta types and sauces? Check out the full breakdown of smart pairings in the helpful infographic from DeLallo Foods below.
Matching Pasta With Sauce Guide from Italian Food Supplier DeLallo Foods
