In this blog, we are going to dive into the various styles, shapes of pasta & flavorful sauces as well as examing common ways to make pasta as well as exploring some alternatives for individuals with gluten intolerances. In this blog we will also touch upon sauce styles/flavors and how these pairings come together to complement any dish or prepared meal.

Types of pasta

Pasta is a type of food that is typically made from an unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water and eggs, which are then formed into various shapes and cooked to perfection, or al dente! For those that have gluten issues, pasta can be readily made with a blend of different grains, such as corn, millet, buckwheat, quinoa, rice, and amaranth! This section will cover the various shapes and styles & varieties that pasta can take!

Linguine: Linguine (Or Linguini) is a common type of pasta that translates to “little tongue.” Linguine is similar to Spaghetti but is slightly wider and flatter than the rounded spaghetti you might be familiar with. Linguine originates from the Northern Regions of Italy and is traditionally served with seafood or pesto. Linguine is also ideal with dishes with rich sauces and succulent meats.

Fusilli: Fusili is a type of pasta that is formed into a corkscrew or helical shapes, “Fuso” roughly translates as “spun” as Fusili is made by pressing and rolling thin strips of pasta underneath a small rod to get the desired effect.

Farfalle: Farfalle (commonly known as bowtie or butterfly) pasta is a type of pasta than can come in many variations, some examples are farfalloni (larger pasta) or farfalline (smaller pasta)

Penne: Penne might be one of the more familiar names on this list as it appears frequently in pasta dishes! Penne is an extruded type of pasta with cylindrical shaped pieces with their edges at an angle.

Types Of Sauces

What is pasta without a hearty pour of sauce?! Like the various forms of pasta, the type of sauce you go with might be determined by flavors, a specific taste you are going for, or which flavor may suit your wine pairing best, for more information on Wine pairings, view our other blog!

Pesto: Pesto sauce is a creamy garlic and herb sauce that originated in Genoa Italy. It is normally made with ingredients such as basil, salt, garlic, olive oil, nuts, and grated cheese (cheese may vary!)

Alfredo: Alfredo sauce is a simple white / cream sauce that is primarily made from butter, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese! The recipe can vary greatly from person to person so don’t be afraid to be adventurous!

Vodka: Vodka sauce is an Italian-American cuisine sauce that is made from tomato sauce, vodka, Italian herbs, & a heavy cream.

Marina: Marina sauce is the mainstay of quintessential Italian cooking, the ingredients are simple and have withstood the test of time! If you are interested in making your own Marina, the ingredients are as follows: tomatoes, garlic, herbs, onions!

Call The Italian Catering Experts Today!

Viga specializes in catering for any important event or get together, this includes but is not limited to catering for fundraising events, special events, corporate events, parties & drop-off catering throughout the Greater Boston Area. For more information please visit our contact page, or give us a call at  617.482.1112 to see how we can best serve your next business lunch or corporate event!