Tortellini are a crowd-pleaser. Counter the carbs with nutritious veggies: mushrooms, red bell peppers, and zucchini. Photo courtesy of MushroomInfo.com (the recipe is on the website).
Updated May 2024
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Pasta Glossary
Page 9: Pasta Types With T
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TAGLIATELLE
Tagliatelle (tal-ya-TELL-lay), flat noodles, are slightly narrower than pappardelle. The name derives from the Italian verb tagliare, to cut. Tagliatelle originated in Emilia-Romagna, the region that also gave us balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and prosciutto di Parma (not bad for starters). Pappardelle, on the other hand, is native to Tuscany. The flat ribbons of tagliatelle are slightly thicker than fettuccine. The cut is typically served with a rich meat ragù. The pasta is wide enough to hold such a heavy sauce; yet, it is is also delicate enough to serve with a creamy sauce. A classic preparation includes mascarpone cheese, smoked salmon, Parmesan cheese, and chopped dill. |
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Freshly made tagliatelle (photo © Oleamea | Facebook). |
TAGLIARINI
A narrower version of tagliatelle (see above), tagliarini (tal-yeh-REE-nee) is a flat, wide egg pasta. It is similar in size to fettuccine. It is traditionally served with butter sauces.
TARTUFI
Tartufi (tahr-TOO-fee) is the Italian word for black truffles. Some pastas, particularly ribbon and strand pastas, are made with flecks of black truffle which give it a luxurious flavor. It should be served with a simple butter sauce and freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. The subtle truffle flavor also pairs beautifully with a drizzle of truffle oil or truffle butter. You wouldn’t top it with fresh black truffles or white truffles; the point is that if you are fortunate enough to have fresh truffles, you don’t need truffle pasta. Enjoy your fresh truffles on the finest plain pasta. (See our Truffle Glossary for more information.) |
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Find this black truffle-flecked tagliatelle on Giadzy. |
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THREADS or CELLOPHANE
NOODLES or GLASS NOODLES
These are mung bean threads, translucent, gelatin-like noodles cooked in the same manner as rice noodles. While the Asian word translates as “threads,” note that the translation of “spaghetti” is similar: cords or strings. This type of transparent noodle is made from starch and water, and can be made from other starches—potato starch, sweet potato starch, tapioca, and others.
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Cellophane noodles become translucent once re-hydrated, a.k.a. cooked (photo © Phuumy Noodles | Amazon). |
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TORCHIETTI
Torchietti (tor-KYEH-tee) are literally, “little torches.” These short, bell-shaped noodles go well with plain tomato sauces. (Photo at right.) They originated in the Campania region of Italy.
See also Maccheroni al Torchio.
TORCOLETTI
A twisted pasta shape, excellent for catching sauce (tohr-coe-LEH-tee).
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Torchietti, “little torches.” Photo courtesy of SXC. |
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TORTELLINI
Tortellini (tor-teh-LEE-nee) is a small pasta stuffed with a variety of fillings and is a favorite pasta dish worldwide. It is also served in soups, as in the classic dish, tortellini in brodo. Tortellini originated in Bologna and is accompanied by a legend: When the goddess Venus stayed in a tavern on the outskirts of the city, the innkeeper spied on her through the keyhole of her room but could catch only a glimpse of her navel. Spellbound, he went to the kitchen and, to capture this vision, shaped fresh egg pasta into the navel-sized tortellini.
TORTELLONI
Tortelloni (tore-teh-LOE-nee) are larger than the bite-sized tortellini.
TORTIGLIONI
Tortiglione (TORE-tee-LYOE-nee) are twisted, spiral tubes that are used in oven-baked dishes and with thick tomato or vegetable sauces.
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Photo of Putney Pasta’s tortellini. Click on the link to read our review. Photo by B.A. Van Sise | THE NIBBLE. |
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TRENNE
Trenne (TREN-nay), triangular penne, are a modern invention: (the tubes are not round but three-sided triangles). The name is a contraction: penne + triangolo (triangle) = trenne. Like penne, the size and density of the triangular tubes with the bias-cut ends are versatile for most preparations: cheese sauces, tomato sauces, straight from the pot or baked further in the oven (“al forno”). The triangular shape makes them that much more fun.
TRENETTE
A long, flat ribbon pasta, trennete (treh-NEH-tay) are very similar to linguine. The classic Ligurian dish is pesto and trenette; although oil, garlic, and chili pepper are also a classic dressing.
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Trenne are available from MurraysCheese.com. |
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TROFIE
Rolled pasta (troe-FEE-eh). The shape originated in Liguria, in northwest Italy, in Recco, a town on the Ligurian Riviera near Genoa—which is also famous for creating focaccia! Trofie are made with semolina, but no eggs. Small pieces of dough are stretched and twisted to achieve pasta with pointed ends and thicker at the center. Legend has it that the women of the region used to sit on chairs along the coast twisting the pasta pieces as they waited for their fisherman husbands to return home [source]. The shape is perfect with pesto, which is also native to Liguria.
TROFIETTE
Thinner trofie (troe-fee-EH-teh—photo at right).
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Trofie, rolled pasta (both photos © Dolce Terra).
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TROTTOLE
Native to the Campania region of Italy, trottole (troe-TOE-lay) is a creative shape, where the pasta is curled in rings around a center stalk. The name translates to “spinning tops.” Show off the shape with a light sauce, pasta salads, and soups.
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Trrottole (photo © ESO Artisan Pasta).
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TROMPETTI or TRUMPETS or CAMPANELLE
Different regions gave different names to similar shapes. The shape is also called campanelle, “little bell” in Italian, and also called gigli, “lilies.” The shape holds its shape in fluted petals like a flower or a horn and will add a little bit of fancy to your pasta nights. It is exceptionally fanciful with its frills and delicious when accompanied by a thick cheese sauce, baked in a casserole, or tossed with vegetables, beans, and lentils in a pasta salad.
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Trumpets (photo © Farm To People).
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TUBETTI RIGATI
Italian for “little tubes with lines,” this small-to-medium-size pasta cut (the tubes are about 1/2" long) is often used in soups, typically in minestrone. This cut can be substituted for ditali, pennette, or elbow macaroni. Pronounced too-BEH-tee.
TUBETTINI
Tiny tubes, similar to ditalini, are used in broth. Pronounced too-beh-TEE-nee.
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Tubettii rigati from Rancho Gordo. Great for Pasta e Fagioli.
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TUBULAR PASTA
Pastas in the shape of a tube are available in many different sizes and shapes. Some tubes are long and narrow while others are short and wide. They can have smooth or grooved (rigate) exteriors; their ends can be cut straight or at an angle. They work especially well with heavier sauces, which catch in the hollows of the tubes. Some of the larger tubes like manicotti can be stuffed with meat and/or cheese and then baked (al forno). Among the smallest tubular pasta is elbow macaroni, often used for the popular dish, baked macaroni and cheese.
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Rigatoni (photo © The Baker Chick).
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TUSCANY
A region in central Italy, bordering on Lazio to the south, Umbria and Marche to the east, Emilia-Romagna and Liguria to the north, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. Tuscany is known for its wines, including Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. The capital is Florence and provinces include Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, and Prato.
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The Tuscany region of Italy.
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