Written By: Jaidyn Gayman, Staff Writer
VERSATILE: Pasta is one of the only dishes that can be changed and altered to any of your preferences.
With over 600 pasta shapes with different purposes, choosing just one can be tremendously difficult. Whether you are looking for a noodle, a fun shape, or basically anything else in the human imagination, there will seemingly always be an option for you. Some popular shapes are farfalle, spaghetti, macaroni, and penne. These are all respectable favorites, but farfalle, also known as bowtie, seems to be a popular shape among students. There is absolutely nothing not to like about it: it has a unique shape, is easy to grab a bunch at once, and pairs well with most sauces. However, while it may be a great option Bowtie is not the best of the pasta shapes.
Just to preface this message, I love pasta. I like to think I am well certified in declaring the best pasta shape because of how much pasta I consume. So with that being said, there is no doubt in my mind that capellini and conchiglie are far superior shapes. Capellini, also known as Angel Hair, may look like any other spaghetti-shaped noodle, but its slight difference in thickness provides exquisite uniqueness. Its long, delicate shape works beautifully with simple and light sauces and vegetables, such as pesto sauce or a primavera dish. They can also pair well with a classic dish of spaghetti.
To greatly contrast the simple yet grand shape of capellini, conchiglie expresses a hefty and bolded texture. Conchiglie, more commonly known as “seashells” or “shells,” never disappoints: its distinct cut allows an easy way to chow down on favorite cuisines. Like Angel Hair, shells maintain a wide variety of possibilities. From simple sauces like pesto and marinara, shells can be stuffed or even used in soups.
Even though I am essentially a pasta connoisseur and have delighted you with my wisdom, your pasta preferences and disagreements all come with reason and are valid, considering that (when it comes to pasta) all options are good options. Regardless, we can all thank Italy for giving us this magnificent gift of endless pasta-bilities.