Which Pasta Goes With Which Sauce?

 Long noodles (like spaghetti or linguine) are best with smooth sauces like tomato, olive oil, or cream. 

 Tubes and ridges (like rigatoni or penne) are perfect for chunky sauces like Bolognese or vodka sauce — they catch all the flavor. 

 Twisted and curled pastas (like fusilli or radiatori) hold onto cheesy or creamy sauces beautifully. 

In Italy, food traditions vary by region — and so do pasta pairings.

• From Liguria, try trofié with pesto.
   
• In Sicily, busiate is tossed with a tomato-almond pesto called pesto Trapanese.
   
• Puglia is famous for orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage.
   

Each shape and sauce evolved together, using local ingredients and tradition.

Want to cook like a true Italian? Match the personality of the pasta with the power of the sauce:

• Delicate pasta? Use a delicate sauce (butter, olive oil, light tomato).
   
• Hearty pasta? Go bold with meat sauces or rich ragù.
   
• Stuffed pasta? Keep it balanced — a creamy béchamel or light marinara lets the filling shine.
   

Ask us! We’re happy to help you pick the perfect pair — and maybe a wine to go with it too.