Pasta Almanac

The difference

Cavatelli vs Malloreddus

Both are small Southern shells pressed by hand, but cavatelli is a smooth rolled hull with a hollow, while malloreddus, the Sardinian gnocchetti, is ridged and often tinted gold with saffron. Cavatelli catches sauce in its fold, malloreddus grips it on the ridges, classically with sausage and tomato.

Gouache illustration of Cavatelli

Cavatelli

Family
Hand-formed regional
Size
not yet measured
Surface
Textured
Cook
15 to 18 min

Wants: Sausage ragu, Broccoli rabe, Tomato sauce

Gouache illustration of Malloreddus

Malloreddus

Family
Hand-formed regional
Size
20 mm long
Surface
Textured
Cook
10 min

Wants: Sausage ragu, Tomato sauce, Ragu

Compare more shapes, or look up Cavatelli and Malloreddus in full.