For the adults, cavatappi provides a heartier, more substantial meal. Try using cavatappi in any of these 34 gooey, creamy, over-the-top macaroni and cheese recipes. Although orecchiette is a unique shape, there are other types of pasta that will suffice as substitutes. Corkscrew-shaped cavatappi is perfect for pasta’s partner: basil pesto! Cavatelli. The only potential downside is that the thicker pasta takes a bit longer to cook, so you'll have to start your meal earlier or else prepare either the pasta or the sauce in advance. The cup-like structure of orecchiette allows for sauce and vegetables or meat to nestle inside and cling to the pasta, so choosing something that will act similarly is ideal. Shutterstock. This pesto cavatappi is best when made with homemade pesto! With its tubular center and ridged (rigate) surface, Cellentani is one of the most versatile pasta cuts; able to capture every drop of sauce and trap vegetables, meat or fish in every forkful. Go to our Vegan Pesto recipe. Consider this your permission to explore the pastablilities.Some types of pasta make great vehicles for carrying rich and hearty sauces, while others are best suited for soups and salads.Here you'll learn about 27 different types of pasta, along with suggested uses and recipe inspiration. As reliable as pasta is though, we do have a tendency to go for the same types over and over again. Linguine, for example, is pasta from Italy's Liguria region, created to be paired with seafood or pesto, ... corkscrew-shaped cavatappi are excellent when paired with thick and cheesy sauces. Substitutes . For kids, the extra-big, absurdly curly noodles make mealtime a lot more fun. Yes, this traditional Japanese ingredient is a great substitute for cheese. That makes it a clear win-win. Cavatappi or Medium Farfalle: Pasta Salads: Wide Noodles: Large Egg Bows or Kluski: Baked Side Dishes: Spaghetti: Angel Hair or Fettuccine: Classic Sauced Dishes: Lasagne: Ribbed Lasagne or Jumbo Shells: Stuffed Pasta Recipes: Rice: Orzo or Small Shells: Side Dishes and Salads: Matching Pasta to Sauce. Cellentani is also known as Cavatappi, which translates from Italian to “corkscrew;” the other common object this cut resembles. Homemade pesto recipes.