Ditalini Pasta

Ditalini pasta is a small, short-tube shape made from dried durum wheat semolina. The smooth, hollow cylinders cook quickly and offer a pleasantly chewy bite; their neutral, wheaty flavor suits brothy soups and hearty pasta salads. Commonly used in minestrone and pasta e fagioli, they are sold dry in smooth or ridged versions.

Originating in Italy, the name means 'little thimbles' and the shape spread through southern and central regions before becoming a pantry staple in North America. Modern production extrudes semolina dough through dies and dries it to a shelf-stable form.