Friday, May 7, 2010

What Is Cavatelli Pasta

Pasta is a versatile, carbohydrate-rich food product made mostly of durum wheat, and is available in many shapes, sizes, colors and specialized flavors. It is available in dried or fresh form, or you can make your own.


How It's Made


Cavatelli is made by rolling small pieces of dough into a shape similar to a curved tube which has been cut open along its length.








Features


Identifying features of cavatelli are the curved sides, giving it a bun-like appearance. The outer side of the pasta may be smooth or ridged.


Size


Size can vary, with standard boxed cavatelli about 1 inch long and 0.5 inches wide. It is possible to stuff larger-sized cavatelli with fillings such as cheese.


Use with Sauces


Rounded pasta shapes like cavatelli were designed for pairing with heavier sauces (like cream-based) or sauce with chunks (like tomato).








Good to Know


In a recipe, you may substitute gnocchi, casarecce or another pasta shape that is not long and thin, like spaghetti.

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