What Is Penne Pasta?

Penne pasta is one of the most popular pasta shapes in the world, nearly as famous as the beloved spaghetti noodle. The term “penne” can refer to more than one tube-shaped noodle. Penne rigate, often just called “penne,” is a cylinder-shaped pasta characterized by its diagonally cut ends and ridges that run along its outer surface. Penne is said to resemble a quill, or pen, hence the name “penne.” Penne lisce is a smooth penne pasta variation with the same angled ends, but without the ridges. There is also mezze penne, which is a larger variation. Penne pasta is made with simply durum wheat flour and water. Penne pasta is great at capturing sauces and so are very handy in the kitchen. Penne pasta recipes range from pasta salads to cheesy baked pasta dishes to pasta dishes that feature vibrant tomato sauces.

Penne Pasta Types

There are two types of penne pasta with angled ends: penne rigate and penne lisce. Penne rigate features grooves that look like lines running the length of each noodle. Penne lisce is also tube-shaped with angled ends, but it is a smooth penne noodle. There are no ridges or grooves on the outer surface of penne lisce. The textured exterior of penne rigate gives it an edge against its smooth penne relatives. The grooves are perfect for capturing sauces, which adds to the flavor of every bite.

The Origin Of Penne And And Its Brief History

There is some debate over where penne pasta originated. While some say penne comes from Genoa, of the Liguria region, while others claim penne pasta is a product of Southern Italy.

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

Penne pasta is made with durum wheat flour (semolina flour) and water. Pasta dough is kneaded and then extruded through dies to create its shape. Once shaped, pasta is dried and packaged. DeLallo utilizes artisanal methods of pasta making that contribute to a superior Italian pasta. We use artisanal bronze dies that give the surface area more of a texture. This heightens the pasta’s ability to capture sauces. We also dry our pasta slowly at low temperatures. Using heat for either step is quicker, but it cooks out the pasta’s flavor.

How To Cook Penne Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. We recommend 5 quarts of water for 1 pound of pasta. You can make the water as salty as you’d like—this is your chance to season the pasta. Always check the pasta’s package for instructions, but cooking pasta is not an exact science. DeLallo Penne Rigate cooks in 10-12 minutes, but be sure to check for doneness before you reach the cook time on the package. No one likes mushy, overcooked pasta. Once it is cooked al dente and before draining your noodles, reserve a cup of that starchy hot pasta cooking water for combining your sauce and pasta in the pan together. Only rinse penne pasta if you are making cold pasta salad. Never add oil.

The Best Penne Pasta - The Delallo Difference

As experts in all things Italian and all things pasta, DeLallo boasts an unforgettable Italian Penne Rigate made with top-quality ingredients, artisanal methods of production and generations of pasta-making experience. From the superior durum wheat and its careful milling to the use of bronze dies to extrude the pasta and slow drying at low temperatures, pasta-making is more than food production, but an art.

The Best Sauces For Penne Pasta

Penne pasta is a versatile pasta cut and shines in a myriad of creations. In Italy, penne pasta dishes usually consist of heavier meat ragùs and chunkier tomato sauces. Some of the most celebrated Italian penne pasta recipes include Penne alla Vodka, a creamy tomato sauce with a slight kick, and Arrabbiata of Southern Italy, a super spicy tomato sauce. While it is not typical in Italy for penne pasta to be paired with seafood sauces or light cream sauces, these are not out of the question. We also recommend trying it in baked pasta dishes, as well as summer pasta salads. There isn’t much penne rigate can’t do!

Penne Pasta Substitutes

If you’re looking for a substitute for penne pasta, try Ziti, Rigatoni or Tortiglioni. These are all cylinder-shaped short cuts of pasta that are great at capturing sauces. Depending on your recipe, there are other short cuts that will work such as fusilli, gemelli and cavatappi.

Penne Pasta Recipes And Usage Ideas

View our roundup of Penne Rigate recipes here, below are some of our faves!

Jerk Chicken Pasta

Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

Cheesy Baked Penne With Roasted Veggies

The Best Authentic Homemade Vodka Sauce

Chicken Pesto Pasta