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A Beginner’s Guide to Pasta – The Italian Way!

By : admin
On : June 25, 2018

Pasta is a staple of Italian cuisine and one of the most versatile foods on the planet. Whether it’s spaghetti and meatballs, Bolognese, ravioli or gnocchi, there’s seemingly no end to the uses of pasta!

Best of all, it’s really simple to prepare too, making it a favourite with cooks of all ability levels.

We’re going to take a look at some of the many different types of pasta and offering up some tips and tricks to get it just right.

Varieties

Agnolotti – Like a smaller version of ravioli, agnolotti are small packages, usually containing meat or vegetables and is typically found in the Piedmont region.
Conchiglie – As the name suggests, this pasta is in the shape of a conch shell and it’s great in a sauce, as the sauce is captured in the shell.
Farfalle – These little bows are popular with kids and are often seen in salads and soups.
Fettuccine – A slightly wider version of tagliatelle, this thick pasta works well in a meat sauce.
Fusilli – One of the most popular variations of pasta, fusilli are a small spiral pasta, seen in many popular dishes.
Linguine – Literally translating to ‘little tongues’, linguine is like a flatter version of spaghetti and holds sauce slightly better.
Macaroni – Dried, slightly curled tubes which are best known for their use in the American dish, macaroni and cheese.
Orecchiette – Known as ‘little ears’, these small, curved pieces usually come with thick and chunky sauces.
Pappardelle – Falling somewhere between lasagne and tagliatelle, pappardelle is usually served with a heavy meat sauce.
Penne – Another very popular variation, penne is very easy to eat, with medium sized tubes cut off diagonally at either end.
Ravioli – These small squares are usually filled with vegetables or meat.
Rigatoni – Large, ribbed tubes which capture chunky meat sauces.
Spaghetti – Probably the most popular shape of pasta available, spaghetti are long round straws which are used in dishes such as carbonara and Bolognese.
Tagliatelle – These ribbon-like strands are commonly used in many meat dishes.
Tortellini – Shaped like a ring, tortellini is stuffed with either meat, cheese or vegetables and served in a sauce.
Vermicelli – Known as ‘little worms’, vermicelli is a very thin strand which is usually used in lighter sauces.

How to Cook

While cooking pasta may seem simple, there’s actually a lot more to it than you might think. The team here at Bella Cosa have put together some tips for their method for cooking pasta the Italian way,

1.Fill a large saucepan with about 1 litre of water for every 100g of pasta you’re using and use about 10g of salt for every litre of water.
2.Boil the water first, then add the pasta and simmer uncovered.
3.Drain when cooked to the desired level but save some water in case it’s needed for your sauce.
4.Mix the sauce in until the pasta is evenly coated rather than spooning on top.
5.The pasta should soak up all of the sauce with very little left over.

Now that you know how it’s done, check out the pasta recipes at BBC Good Food for some inspiration on where to get started.

Want to try out some of our favourite recipes for inspiration? Take a look at our menu and book a table so we can introduce you to authentic Italian cooking.

What our Customers Say

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My friends and I visited this restaurant a few days ago for a birthday dinner.
We had such a wonderful time - the view was beautiful in the evening,... read more

nahidaaaa_
July 8, 2021

Just had the most incredible lobster seafood pasta in London – a huge plate for only £13! - Can’t believe I scored this massive lobster seafood pasta for just £13 here. Tried a few lobster pasta dishes across the UK, and this one’s easily the best – generous... read more

Rendell L
July 23, 2025

We will definitely be coming back to Bella Cosa. Italian food made correctly. Nice water location in Canary Wharf that comes with good ambiance. Prices were decent for the quality... read more

Patrick D
August 27, 2020

I’ve been absolutely blown away by the amazing service I received by Sunil and his team at Bella Cosa for my husbands 30th birthday yesterday. I can hands down say... read more

Felzquartey
August 16, 2021

Nice view of the River Thames
Narcisa (our attendant) was very kind to me and my wife. Best customer service anywhere around.
And food is very good and affordable ... read more /> I recommend a 100%

Abdulhafeez12
October 24, 2020

We had an amazing dinner, good quality food and very good and friendly staff. Quiet place perfect for romantic dates.

Fer F
November 13, 2017

The food was great the service was even better! Shout out to Simon for making it an amazing night with my friends!

fuzzypeach24
June 30, 2018

We had chosen the restaurant to celebrate a birthday and the food and service was truly brilliant. Even without any prompt they brought out a dessert with a candle in... read more

mahdiiya
September 4, 2021

Thank you to Antonio, Luciana and the team including all the kitchen staff. We were so very happy with the event and enjoyed working with you before and during the... read more

Shunnyhunny
June 11, 2018

I been for business dinner ..... top quality of food.... very tasty ...... service perfect..... Erika she looking for us brilliant ... 5 stars I suggest to try ......for sure... read more I will come back there

simonevD2280SN
January 25, 2019