Spotlight Series: All About Conchiglie

(also known as ‘sea shell pasta’ and ‘pasta shells’)

Conchiglie, sometimes called sea shell pasta or pasta shells, get their name honestly. The word means “sea shell” in Italian, and the short, shaped pasta resembles just that: simple little shells. With a hollow interior and ridged exterior, conchiglie are excellent at scooping up and clinging to sauces, from cheesy ones to tomato-based to everything in between.

Shop DeLallo Conchiglie and Jumbo Shells:

What Is Conchiglie?

Conchiglie (pronounced “con-keel-yay”) are often labeled simply as “shells” in the U.S. The pasta is rounded with an opening on one side, resembling the opening of a shell. While conchiglie are a bit small for stuffing (the bigger version, jumbo shells, are ideal for this), they are good at capturing sauce and smaller ingredients for a perfect bite. They can be used in pasta salads, sauced hot pasta dishes, baked dishes, and more.

3 Different Sizes Of Conchiglie

Sea shell pasta is sold in a few different sizes (small, medium, and large) which are used for different types of dishes.

• Conchigliette: The smallest of the three, these shells are often labeled as “small shells” in U.S. grocery stores. These are traditionally used in soups, and you’ll also find them in boxed mixes for shells and cheese.
• Conchiglie: The most common of the three, conchiglie are medium-sized and sometimes labeled as sea shell pasta or pasta shells. Their shape makes them a good pairing with thick sauces, vegetable sauces and meat sauces, and they are sometimes used in pasta bakes and salads.
• Conchiglioni: The biggest type of shell pasta, conchiglioni are also known as jumbo shells or large shells. They are traditionally stuffed with fillings like cheeses and meats, topped with sauce, and baked.

The Origin Of Conchiglie And Its Brief History

Conchiglie is a relatively recent addition to the impressive line-up of Italian pastas, and that is because it is made mechanically rather than by hand. The ridged exterior and unique shell shape require special machine dies to produce. This means the pasta’s origins likely trace back to 18th and 19th century Southern Italy in the Puglia region where mass-produced pasta was born. Today, Italy’s pasta shells are enjoyed around the world.

How Is Conchiglie Pasta Made And What Is It Made Of?

Conchiglie is made by first creating a dough using semolina flour and water. This dough is then forced through dies and cut at regular intervals, forming the signature shell shape and producing ridges on the outside of the pasta. The pasta is then slowly dried before being packaged and sold in stores.

How To Cook Conchiglie (Sea Shell Pasta)

To cook conchilgie, bring a large pot of cool water to a rolling boil. Season generously with salt and add the pasta, giving it a stir to make sure it doesn’t stick to itself or the pot. Boil until al dente, around 10 to 11 minutes, before draining and using immediately in your favorite dishes.

The Best Conchiglie Pasta - The DeLallo Difference

DeLallo shells come from the town where pasta was born, a region near Naples, at the beginning of the Amalfi Coast. The art of making our pasta begins with the very best quality wheat. We carefully choose wheat with the highest gluten index, gluten content and protein content. All of these characteristics affect how the pasta cooks, as well as its taste and texture. The durum wheat is milled into coarse ground semolina flour and then carefully kneaded with cold, fresh, mineral-rich mountain spring water. We dry our pasta slowly at low temperatures to reproduce the traditional way of making pasta. This method respects the ingredients, preserving the pasta’s color, texture and aroma. You’ll find DeLallo shells in both regular and whole wheat varieties.

Conchiglie (Sea Shell Pasta) Recipes And Usage Ideas

Sea shell pasta can be used in a variety of ways, from classic plated pastas to bakes to salads. For mac and cheese with a little more bite, swap out the usual elbow macaroni for conchiglie. Toss with marinara and ground beef and top with cheese for a hearty baked pasta dish the whole family will love. For something different, pair with seafood, like this Pasta Shells with Peas, Proscuitto and Shrimp. Or make a creamy tomato sauce like this 3 Ingredient Creamy Tomato with Shells recipe. The shell shape is also great with vegetables like asparagus, mushrooms and broccoli.

Conchiglie also makes a fun choice for pasta salads. The thicker shape holds its texture well when served cold, and happily scoops up salad ingredients like peas, cheese, small-chopped veggies, meat, and more.

For more sea shell pasta ideas, see our list of recipes here.

The Best Sauces For Conchiglie (Sea Shell Pasta)

Conchiglie’s superior sauce-capturing abilities make it well-suited to thick sauces, like cheese sauces, chunky tomato sauces, bolognese, and vegetable and meat-forward dishes. In pasta bakes, shells tend to be paired with marinara, sometimes with heartier ingredients like sausage or ground beef thrown in. In pasta salads, oil-based, creamy, and herbaceous sauces like pesto are popular.

Conchiglie Pasta Substitutes

Sea shell pasta has a fun shape, and is worth seeking out for its uniqueness. Lumache, or shellbows, makes an especially good swap thanks to its similar size, ridged exterior, and hollow interior. Orecchiette makes a decent swap thanks to its disc shape, but it doesn’t have quite the same scooping ability and has a slightly different texture. Rigatoni works well in a pinch—it has a similar thickness and ridges, and can capture sauces and ingredients in its hollow interior.

DeLallo Conchiglie: FAQ

How Do I Pronounce “Conchiglie”?

Conchiglie is pronounced “con-keel-yay”.

What Does “Conchiglie” Mean?

Conchiglie means “sea shell” in Italian, and gets its name from its distinctive shape.

Why Is Conchiglie Called “Sea Shell Pasta?”

Conchiglie is called sea shell pasta because of its distinct sea shell-like shape. The name means “sea shell” in Italian.

What Is Conchiglie Best For?

Conchiglie, or pasta shells, are best paired with thick sauces, like cheesy, tomato-based, and chunky sauces. Serve as a hot plated pasta, or top with cheese and bake. Conchiglie are also good for cold pasta salads, whether tossed with pesto, creamy, or oil-based sauces.

Conchiglie Vs Conchigliette - What Is The Difference?

Conchiglie and conchigliette are both sea shell-shaped pastas; they are simply different sizes. Conchiglie, also known as sea shell pasta or shell pasta, are medium-sized and commonly used for dishes with thick sauces, pasta bakes, and pasta salads. Conchigliette is a much smaller version of conchiglie and is traditionally used in soups.

Conchiglie Vs Conchiglioni - What Is The Difference?

Conchiglie and conchiglioni are both sea shell-shaped pastas; their only difference is their size, which makes them better suited for different purposes. Conchiglie are a medium-sized, versatile shell pasta that are good at capturing sauces. Conchiglioni, or jumbo shells, are a much bigger version of conchilgie and are typically stuffed with a filling, like cheese or meat. Topping with a sauce and sometimes cheese and baking is a common preparation.

Is Conchiglioni The Same As Jumbo Shells?

Conchiglioni are the same thing as jumbo shells. They are the largest version of conchiglie, or sea shell pasta, and are traditionally stuffed with a filling, often cheese-based.

Conchiglie Vs Orecchiette - What Is The Difference?

Conchiglie is a shell-shaped, hollow pasta with ridges on the outside. Orecchiette resembles small discs, with shallow dips in each round pasta. Both are good at capturing ingredients like thick sauces, meats, vegetables, and cheeses, making for a delicious bite. The two pastas have a decidedly different look and a slightly different texture.

Conchiglie Vs Lumache - What Is The Difference?

Lumache, also known as shellbows, is a hybrid of elbow pasta and shell pasta. The curved, ridged, hollow pasta is great at capturing sauce and other ingredients. Its similarity to conchiglie, or shell pasta, makes the two pastas good swaps for each other in all kinds of dishes.

Where To Buy DeLallo Conchiglie?

Order DeLallo conchiglie pasta online or find it at most major supermarkets across the country.