Penne

Origin

Penne means “pens” or “quills” in Italian, referring to the diagonal cut. Born in 19th-century Italy with early extrusion tech, penne rigate (ridged) became a weeknight favorite worldwide.

How to make them

1. 01

   Boil dried penne in salted water until al dente.

2. 02

   Reserve pasta water before draining.

3. 03

   Finish in the sauce so the tubes fill and coat.

4. 04

   For baked dishes, undercook slightly before saucing and oven time.

Storage

Dried penne keeps up to 2 years in a cool, dry place. Cooked penne refrigerates 3–5 days.

Popular dishes

• Penne all’Arrabbiata

  Spicy tomato-garlic sauce from Lazio.

• Penne alla Vodka

  Tomato-cream sauce finished with vodka.

• Pasta al Forno

  Baked penne with ragù and cheese.

• Penne al Pesto

  Basil pesto clinging to ridged tubes with pine nuts and Parmigiano.

• Penne ai Quattro Formaggi

  Four-cheese cream sauce coating hot penne for a rich, gooey bowl.