rotini
Twisted Italian noodles
Rotini is a type of pasta shaped into tight corkscrews or spirals.
The twisted form holds sauces well, making it popular in pasta salads and dishes with chunky or creamy sauces: rotini with pesto, rotini salad with vegetables.
Sometimes called fusilli, though fusilli is technically a longer, looser spiral.
Corkscrew-shaped pasta
- penneTubular pasta, angled cuts
- farfalleButterfly-shaped Italian pasta
- rigatoniLarge ridged pasta tubes
- zitiShort tubular pasta
macaroni · spaghetti · linguine · fettuccine · orecchiette · cavatappi · gemelli · campanelle
Spiraling three-dimensional curve
- corkscrewTool for opening bottles
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- coilWound circular arrangement
- spiralCurve winding around center
whorl · curlicue · grooves · ridges · turns · winding · curls · swirl
Seasoned tomato sauce
- pestoUncooked green Italian sauce
- alfredoButtery parmesan pasta sauce
- bologneseHearty Italian meat sauce
- arrabbiataSpicy Italian tomato sauce
primavera · vodka sauce · meat sauce · garlic butter · olive oil · cream sauce · tomato · basil
Tender but resistant
- boilingLiquid vaporization temperature
- colanderKitchen bowl for draining
- drainingDepleting one's reserves
- stirringArousing strong emotion
timing · tender · overcooked · undercooked · starchy · pasta water · pot · straining
Cold dressed noodles
- casseroleSlow-cooked oven dish
- potluckCommunal meal, shared contributions
- one-potCooked in one vessel
- tuna saladCold fish preparation
baked pasta · picnic · buffet · side dish · main course · leftover
fusilli
Corkscrew-shaped pasta
- penneTubular pasta, angled cuts
- farfalleButterfly-shaped Italian pasta
- rigatoniLarge ridged pasta tubes
ziti · macaroni · spaghetti · linguine · fettuccine · orecchiette · cavatappi · gemelli · campanelle · tortellini
helix
Spiraling three-dimensional curve
spiral · whorl · curlicue · grooves · ridges · turns · winding · curls · swirl · textured
marinara
Seasoned tomato sauce
- pestoUncooked green Italian sauce
- alfredoButtery parmesan pasta sauce
- bologneseHearty Italian meat sauce
arrabbiata · primavera · vodka sauce · meat sauce · garlic butter · olive oil · cream sauce · tomato · basil · parmesan
al dente
Tender but resistant
- boilingLiquid vaporization temperature
- colanderKitchen bowl for draining
- drainingDepleting one's reserves
stirring · timing · tender · overcooked · undercooked · starchy · pasta water · pot · straining · rinsing
pasta salad
Cold dressed noodles
baked pasta · tuna salad · picnic · buffet · side dish · main course · leftover
chewy
Resisting easy biting
nooks · crannies · ridged · grip · crevices · pockets · surface area · bite · mouthfeel · absorbent
- pastaspaghetti, penne, rigatoni, fusilli, farfalle
- spiral foodsspiral ham, curly fries, fusilli
- Italian restaurantspaghetti, lasagna, fettuccine, ravioli, penne
- noodle dishesspaghetti, lasagna, fettuccine, penne, linguine
- pasta and grainspasta, spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, fettuccine
- spiralsspiral, helix, logarithmic spiral, coil, whorl
rotinispaghetti
Long thin cylindrical pasta
linguine · fettuccine · penne · angel hair · rigatoni
rotate, rotation, rotating, rotary, rotund, rotor, rotunda, rotational, rota