Unique and unusual pasta shapes: 10 curious designs to try at Pastidea
If you think pasta is all about spaghetti, penne, and fusilli, get ready to change your mind.
Some pasta shapes are so unusual that they look like tiny pieces of art: flowing curves, unexpected geometries, and original details that turn every dish into something unique. And that’s one of the most enjoyable things about homemade pasta: going beyond traditional shapes and having fun creating something original, surprising, and delicious to serve at the table.
In this guide, we’ve selected 10 of the most unusual and original Pastidea pasta shapes to try, perfect for anyone who wants to surprise their guests with something truly different.
1. Curvo intrecciato
The name already hints at what makes this pasta so special.
Curvo Intrecciato features a distinctive twisted shape, with curves and interwoven details that make each piece stand out from traditional short pasta shapes.
Cooking Tips
Its unique structure helps sauces settle between the folds, making it particularly suitable for rich and creamy sauces.
Try it with a zucchini cream sauce and speck, gorgonzola and walnuts, or a vegetable ragù. Even a simple creamy pesto works beautifully with this shape, as the sauce spreads evenly through its twists and curves.
If you’re looking for a pasta shape that sparks curiosity before the first bite, this is definitely one worth trying.
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Curvo Intrecciato with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Curvo Intrecciato, compatible with various pasta machines using the appropriate adapters
2. Guscio rigato (Striped Shell)
Guscio Rigato (Striped Shell) resembles a small seashell and combines two features that are perfect for capturing sauce: a hollow center and a ridged surface.
The result is an unusual yet highly versatile pasta shape that can hold small pieces of ingredients inside each shell.
Cooking Tips
Make the most of its shell-like shape by choosing sauces that can fill its hollow center. It’s ideal with peas, sausage, and Parmesan cream sauce, tomato and ricotta, or a creamy pumpkin and Taleggio cheese sauce. It also works wonderfully with ragù and sauces containing small pieces of vegetables.
The most satisfying part? Discovering a delicious little surprise of sauce hidden inside every shell.
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Guscio Rigato with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Guscio Rigato, compatible with various pasta machines using the appropriate adapters
3. Fiore di loto (Lotus flower)
Fiore di loto (Lotus flower) is one of the most eye-catching pasta shapes in our selection.
Its design resembles the petals of a flower, making any dish visually appealing at first glance. Its open, intricate structure allows sauces to spread evenly throughout the pasta, creating a dish that’s as beautiful to look at as it is enjoyable to eat.
Cooking Tips
To highlight the delicate shape of Lotus Flower, choose creamy sauces that aren’t too heavy. Pair it with zucchini and robiola cheese cream sauce, cherry tomatoes, burrata and basil, or pistachio pesto. A simple combination of butter, Parmesan, and aromatic herbs is also an excellent choice, allowing the pasta’s beautiful shape to take center stage.
It’s the perfect option when you want to prepare an elegant and unusual dish without making the recipe too complicated.
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Fiore di loto with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Fiore di loto, compatible with various pasta machines using the appropriate adapter
4. Creste di Gallo (Rooster Combs)
Creste di Gallo takes its name from its characteristic wavy edge, which resembles a rooster’s comb. It’s an unusual yet highly functional pasta shape: its decorative edges and distinctive structure allow sauces to cling beautifully to the pasta.
Cooking Tips
Creste di Gallo pairs particularly well with rich and flavorful sauces. Serve with a classic meat ragù, sausage and mushrooms, or a creamy gorgonzola and radicchio sauce. It’s also delicious with vegetable-based sauces, such as eggplant, tomato, and salted ricotta cheese.
If you want to try an unusual pasta shape without giving up a hearty and satisfying pasta dish, this is an excellent choice.
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Creste di Gallo with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Creste di Gallo, compatible with various pasta machines using the appropriate adapters
5. Fusilli bucati / Cellentani
Fusilli Bucati and Cellentani take the classic spiral pasta shape and make it even more interesting thanks to their hollow centers.
It’s precisely this combination of a spiral structure and a hollow interior that makes them so special: sauces coat the outside of the pasta while also finding their way inside.
Cooking Tips
These pasta shapes are at their best with rich, creamy sauces that coat every twist. Try them with pistachio pesto and burrata, a creamy cheese sauce with crispy pancetta, or a smooth pumpkin cream sauce. If you prefer something simpler, a rich tomato sauce is also an excellent match.
These are ideal shapes when you want something original that’s still easy to pair with a wide variety of recipes.
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Fusilli Bucati with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Fusilli Bucati, compatible with various pasta machines using the appropriate adapters
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Cellentani with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Cellentani, compatible with various pasta machines using the appropriate adapters
6. Friggitelli
The name is no coincidence: Friggitelli pasta resembles the small green Italian sweet peppers of the same name.
It’s one of those pasta shapes that instantly brings a smile to the table and offers a fun opportunity to play with the ingredients in your recipe.
Cooking Tips
Why not take inspiration directly from its name? You can prepare Friggitelli pasta with a sauce made from sautéed friggitelli peppers, cherry tomatoes, and salted ricotta cheese, or try it with sausage and bell peppers. For a more delicate version, pair it with roasted pepper cream sauce and stracciatella cheese.
This pasta shape lets you get creative not only with its appearance but also with the ingredients you choose.
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Friggitelli with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Friggitelli, compatible with various pasta machines using the appropriate adapters
7. Calle (Lily Flowers) / Funghi (Mushrooms)
Calle and Funghi are two different pasta shapes, but they share a three-dimensional, softly curved structure that makes them particularly eye-catching. Calle resembles the elegant shape of a calla lily, while Funghi looks like a small mushroom.
In both cases, their distinctive shapes create hollows and folds that help capture sauces beautifully.
Cooking Tips
You can experiment with different combinations, such as porcini mushrooms and Parmesan cream sauce, a classic pairing of speck and mushrooms, creamy pumpkin and Taleggio cheese sauce, or cherry tomatoes, burrata, and basil.
Two different pasta shapes, both perfect for bringing something original and truly unique to the table.
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Calle with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Calle, compatible with various pasta machines using different adapters
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Funghi with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Funghi, compatible with various pasta machines using different adapters
8. Festonata doppia
Festonata Doppia is instantly recognizable thanks to its intricate, decorative edges.
It’s one of those pasta shapes that immediately catches the eye when served, allowing you to create something special even with very simple ingredients.
Cooking Tips
With such an elaborate shape, there’s no need to overdo the sauce. Try it with butter, sage, and Parmesan, or with a delicate Parmesan cream sauce and black pepper.
You can also pair it with richer sauces, but a simple dressing allows the pasta’s beautiful shape to remain the star of the dish.
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Festonata Doppia with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Festonata Doppia, compatible with various pasta machines using different adapters
9. Radiatori
The name says it all: Radiatori pasta is shaped just like a tiny radiator, with multiple closely spaced ridges that make it instantly recognizable. Its structure isn’t just visually interesting; it’s also extremely practical. The ridges capture sauce beautifully, making every bite full of flavor.
Cooking Tips
Radiatori are perfect for rich, thick, and creamy sauces. Pair them with sausage ragù, pumpkin cream sauce and speck, traditional Genoese pesto, or a creamy cheese fondue. They’re also excellent in pasta salads because their shape captures small ingredients and dressings particularly well.
A fun, instantly recognizable pasta shape that’s perfect when you want to bring something different to the table.
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Radiatori with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Radiatori , compatible with various pasta machines using different adapters
10. Disco volante (Flying Saucer)
With a name like Disco Volante (Flying Saucer), it’s hard not to be curious. Its shape resembles a tiny UFO, making it one of the most playful and unusual pasta shapes you can create with a pasta maker. It’s perfect for surprising your guests or making mealtime even more entertaining for children.
Cooking Tips
With such a distinctive shape, you can choose simple, colorful sauces. Try it with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella, zucchini pesto, or ham and Parmesan cream sauce. For younger pasta lovers, even a simple tomato sauce or butter dressing becomes much more exciting when served with little “flying saucers.”
A perfect pasta shape for anyone who believes that food should be fun, too.
• Here you can find the POM pasta die for making Disco Volante with the Philips Pasta Maker 7000 Series
• Here you can find the bronze (brass) pasta die for making Disco Volante, compatible with various pasta machines using different adapters
Extra Bonus: Pasta Figures
If you think these ten pasta shapes are unusual, there’s still a whole world waiting to be discovered.
Pasta can take on truly unexpected shapes: animals, symbols, themed designs, and many other creative figures that can transform a simple pasta dish into something completely different.
They’re perfect for a special dinner, surprising your guests, having fun with children, or simply adding something new to your pasta die collection.
After all, one of the best things about making homemade pasta is having the freedom to choose a different shape every time.
Explore Pastidea’s unique pasta shapes and discover the next pasta die to try!
