Pasta is an important foundation for many Italian dishes, and the perfect pasta and sauce pairing is an art! Napolina’s wide range of pasta comes in all shapes and sizes. We recommend pairing your pasta shape with the appropriate sauce for a fuller flavour. Thankfully, Nonna has shared her wisdom for authentic Italian pasta and sauce pairings you can do at home.
Nonna’s Tips for Pasta and Sauce Pairings
- Thin and long pasta, such as Napolina Spaghetti, is more suited to cream, white or smooth tomato-based sauces that lightly coat the pasta, such as our creamy Spaghetti Carbonara.
- Pasta that is more complex in shape, such as Napolina Fusilli, is better served with chunkier sauces that get caught in the spirals of pasta. Our delicious Super green pasta salad features fusilli pasta and is packed full of texture and flavour.
- Other shapes, such as Napolina Conchiglie, catch sauce, meats and vegetables in their shell-like shape. Our Chicken Pasta Bake uses Conchiglie pasta and is a perfect midweek meal for all the family.
- For the perfect pasta and sauce pairing that is comforting and filling, try Napolina Penne or Rigatoni, chunky tubes which both catch, and are coated by thick and juicy dollops of sauce. They’re beloved pasta for a reason! Try our Cheesy Bolognese Bake Rigatoni recipe as the ultimate dinner party show-stopper.Â
- Discover how to make Spaghetti Alla bolognese and other classic Italian pasta recipes on our recipe hub.
Read a complete guide and Nonna’s tips on different pasta shapes.
