We all love eating pasta, in fact who doesn’t? However, since there there are different types of pasta noodles that are made from different varieties of ingredients. Noodles are used to make dishes such as salad, soups and even stir-fried noodles. Because of the different varieties available, it would be very hard to decide and distinguish which noodles is the best type for the dish you want to make. To help you in choosing the right noodles, we have rounded up the pasta types noodles that you should have in your kitchen and also included here are short details on some of the noodle recipe.
Different Types Of Noodles
Spaghetti
Everybody love spaghetti. In fact, in some countries most especially Asian countries particularly the Philippines a celebrating or gathering will not be complete without the famous Spaghetti. It is considered to be a versatile type of noodle.
Spaghetti is used in other pasta noodles recipe such as carbonara and aglio e olio. There are different spaghetti varieties in the market that mostly differs to the thickness of its strands. To help you decide which one is best, here’s a tip: The smaller the number on the packaging, the thinner the spaghetti is.
Angel Hair
Considered to be a lighter type that is widely used in different varieties of dishes. The strands are thin, very fine and delicate therefore an ideal pasta noodles to use and go to when opting for a lighter meal. Can be conveniently used in both lunch and dinner dishes.
Cooking time fonly requires about 2-3 minutes for Fresh pasta noodles, while dried Angel hair requires 3 to 5 minutes cooking time.
It is best used on light sauces.
Capellini
These are very thin Italian pasta similar to Angel hair, however, angel hair tends to be more thinner than Capellini. It has a long but thin strands.
In cooking fresh Capellini it actually requires about 2 -3 minutes, while cooking dried pasta Capellini only requires 3 -5 minutes Cooking time.
Hearty Tomato sauce and meatballs is the ideal sauces for Capellini pasta noodles. Also, it is best for with Pomodoro sauce.
Cavatappi
Also known as Corkscrew which is actually an Italian word. It is also known for its other names such as Amori, Cellentani, Spirali and Tortiglione. It is basically a helical shape version of the famous Macaroni.
It is used mostly in tomato-based dishes of pasta. It is also best used for salads, baked dishes and sauces.
Cooking time for Fresh cavatappi requires about 6 to 8 minutes while dried Cavatappi requires about 9-11 minutes. In making Cavatappi dish, you can add ingredients and sauces such as tomatoes, mushrooms, brocolli, peas, pesto and creamy sauce.
Tagliattelle
A type of pasta noodles originated from the regions of Italy. These are long, flat ribbons somewhat similar to Fettuccine however the latter is more narrow than Tagliatelle.
The most common sauce used to pair Tagliatelle with is Bolognese sauce, a meat based sauce commonly used in Italian Cuisine. Although you can also use different kinds of meat sauce according to one’s preference, whichever works for your taste.
Dried Tagliatelle is available in the market however if fresh ones are available, I would rather choose the fresh ones as they are more delicious.
Penne
A traditional pasta noodles that is used mostly in Italian cuisines. These are small tube shaped pasta that are about 2 to 4 inches long. When Penne was created, the idea was to make it look like a fountain pen that is why it is tubular and since it was also named after a pen when it was created.
There are two main types of Penne
- Penne Lisce: Texture is smooth. Long drying pasta. Easy to cook as it absorb even better preventing the pasta to break.
- Penne Rigate: Texture is Ridget. Quick Drying. When overcooked, it may taste different. Since this type of Penne has a different level making it difficult to cook.
Cooking time for Fresh penne is about 3-4 minutes while dry pen requires about 10-12 minutes to cook. You can use ideal sauces such as tomato, meat, cream sauces and vegetables as an idea sauce and ingredients with Penne.
In the market, Penne Rigate is available in white color however tri colors can also be purchased in some groceries.
Maccheroni
If you are wondering, Maccheroni almost sound a lot like Macaroni. Are they the same? Yes! Actually, Maccheroni is just another fancy name for Macaroni.
These are short but C-shaped tubular pasta noodles that actually comes in different pasta shapes and sizes that are mostly characterized as either curved, ridged and our pinched on their ends.
Cooking time for fresh Maccheroni requires 3 -4 minutes while for dry Maccheroni it usually requires 6 to 8 minutes.
Maccheroni is best used for baked dishes, mac and cheese, salad and soup. An ideal sauce to use and ingredients are cheese, butter and broth.
Farfalle
Considered to be one of the older and definitely a popular small pasta shapes as it is shaped like bow ties. Although some may look like it to shape like a butterfly, hence it is commonly known for as Bow tie pasta or Butterfly pasta noodles. There are different sizes with Farfalle pasta but the medium ones are the most common and widely used in Italy.
Farfalle are best paired with ideal sauces such as meat sauces and creamy sauces. It is the ideal pasta of choice for dishes such as salami, ricotta pasta salad and artichoke.
Cooking time for Farfalle pasta is about 10-12 minutes.
Idea sauce for Farfalle are cheese, olive oil and butter.
Fusilli (Rotini)
Fusilli are corkscrew shaped pasta noodles that are about 1/2 inches long. They are known for as Little spindles as Rotinni basically means spirals or twists.
Fusilli pasta noodles are best paired with small ingredients such as pesto and or baked pasta with additions of eggplant and tomato to make it more delicious. Also best for baked dishes and salads.
Cooking time for Rotini is about 8 t0 10 minutes.
When making a dish using Fusilli pasta noodles, ideal sauces such as are Tomato, pesto and sometimes seafood sauce.
Rigatoni
Rigatoni Pasta noodles is a popular noodle in Central Italy. From the name itself, it simply means Ridged or large grooves or large stripes which is evident on its texture surface. These are pasta noodle tubes that is about 1 1/2 inches long and about 3/4 diameter.
Cooking time for Rigatoni pasta noodles takes about 11 to 13 minutes and it is best for with sauce and baked dishes.
Since the width is wider with Rigatoni, making it an ideal pasta noodle of choice in pairing it with ideal sauces such as chunky meat sauces.
Lasagna or Lasagne
These are wide, long and flat noodles sheets. Another oldest type of pasta since the middle ages. Ideally, lasagna have about three to four layers, however depending on one’s preferences you can add and stack up a few more layers if you like. Although it would then be difficult to adjust to the way it is to be cooked in terms of the ingredients and cooking time.
There are many different varieties in making a dish using Lasagna pasta since there are different pasta shapes available. But most of the time, building lasagna is the most common.
Lasagna is best paired with ideal sauces and ingredients such as cream, cheese, ricotta cheese and other vegetables.
Ramen Noodles
Ramen is a popular Japanese noodle soup made out of wheat flour noodles. The noodles in Ramen Noodles are thin but long noodles with a firm texture that was originally from China but most of the time used in Japan for Ramen.
There are different ramen noodles available in the freezer section or the refrigerator in the market nowadays. These Dried ramen noodles are mostly available in Asian stores.
If you’re wondering if Ramen noodles is the same as Instant noodles. The answer is no. The difference between ramen noodles and instant noodles is that aside instant noodles are packed with preservatives (therefore considered to be unhealthy when consumed in large amounts) where dehydrated vegetables and seasonings are included in a single pack while on the other hand, ramen noodles has a more better flavor, texture and is a whole lot fresher.
How to cook ramen noodles
Cooking ramen noodles is a simple process. The very first thing that you need to do is to bring to boil a large pan with water in it over high heat. Then, add ramen noodles. Gently stir the noodles, this is to separate the noodle strands.
If you will be serving noodles in broth, you may need to under cook the noodles by about 30 seconds. Make sure to drain it well. However, if you will be serving the noodles cold, continue to cook the noodles until it is tender. Then drain immediately. After which, rinse the noodles using cold water.
Ramen Noodle Substitute
If ramen noodles is not available and you do not have access to it, you can use Japanese Udon instead. Although Japanese udon has a different color and is more thicker, it is the closest to ramen noodles since they have a similar texture.
Other ramen substitute includes Vermicelli noodles and thin spaghetti.
Soba Noodles
Soba is a popular Japanese noodle that is made from using Buckwheat flour and water. Soba Noodles is characterized as thin with light to brown-grey noodle that has a nutty flavor that comes from Buckwheat flour. It is used mostly in salads and often used as a dipping sauce. During winter season, it is mostly prepared as a hot soup.
Nowadays, Saba noodles are available in fried or dried vacuum packs.
How to cook Soba noodles
Cooking dried soba noodles is very easy. Using a large pan, add water and noodles. Bring it to boil for about 4 minutes or until Soba noodles are cooked just enough. Make sure not to overcooked the noodles, doing so will make the noodles becomes soft. To separate the strands of the noodle, make sure to stir occasionally.
To remove excess starch on the noodles, make sure to drain it well and then rinse with cold water. The only difference when cooking dried and fresh soba noodles is that you may need to cook the fresh soba noodles at least 2 minutes lesser than dried soba noodles.
Soba noodles Substitute
If Soba noodles is not available, you can use ramen noodles instead.
Rice Noodles
Rice noodles are noodles that are basically made from rice made from its main ingredients, rice flour and water. Although there are other different varieties of rice noodles such as those thin rice vermicelli to large flat noodles.
How do you cook rice noodles
The steps in cooking rice noodles simply involves covering the large pan with boiling water and rice noodle. Wait for it to become tender. If you are using Rice vermicelli, cooking only requires 2 minutes however though noodles with wider and thicker texture may require a little longer cooking time.
Egg Noodles
This type of noodle is basically made using egg and wheat flours. Although pasta and egg noodles are made using the same ingredients, the only difference between the two is that pasta is made from wheat or buckwheat and also they have a different texture.
What are Hokkien Noodles
A type of egg noodle is Hokkien Noodles. It is known for its bright yellow color strand. It is popularly used in Hawker dishes and other type of stir fry recipe, most Southeast Asian cuisines used Hokkien Noodles.
Hokkien Noodles is available in the market and can be purchased in a precooked and vacuum packed packaging.
How do you cook Egg Noodles
All you need to do to cook this type of noodles is to cover the pan with boiling water and noodles for about 1-2 minutes cooking time. Make sure strands are separated by stirring continuously before stirring it well.
Udon Noodles
An origin from Japan, Udon noodles is made from wheat flour, water and salt. These are pale, thick and shaped as either round or square. Its texture is slippery but at the same time chewy.
It is used for Hot soup, stir fries noodles and can also be used in cold pasta salads.
Udon Noodles are available in the market and can be purchased in a semi-dried and vacuum packed dried noodles packaging. There are also times when freshly made Udon noodles available in Asian grocery stores.
How do you cook udon noodles
If you are cooking a freshy packed (vacuumed) Udon noodles, precooking is no longer necessary. All you need to do is to soak Udon Noodles in Boiling water. Make sure to separate the strands either using a tong or chopsticks. Once cooked, drain Udon noodles well and then add to your soup or stir fry dish.
Cooking time for semi-dried pasta noodles, boil noodles in boiling water for about 5 to 8 minutes. Cooking dried Udon noodles, boil noodles in boiling water for about 10 minutes.
Difference between Dry and Fresh Pasta
Since we have mentioned above the ways of cooking dry and fresh pasta, let us now talk about the differences between the two.
Dry Pasta
It is made using semolina flour or also known as 00 flour and then water. The flour and water are mixed together so that a paste is formed, it is then pushed into a molder and eventually cut into different pasta shapes.
Fresh Pasta
Fresh pasta is made using white flour and eggs instead of using water. Using eggs provides more moisture to the mixture as compared to using water. Making this pasta is by using a machine. The noodles are then dried.
Conclusion:
Whether you are just starting to learn to cook pasta noodles or finding the right type of noodle for that pasta dish you’ve been wanting to make, hope this guide has helped you choose the perfect pasta noodles as well as pasta shapes.