Pasta is a type of food usually made from an unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or eggs to form different kinds of shapes or sheets. There are two types of pasta which are freshly made pasta and store-bought pasta. Fresh pasta can be made at home that is commonly made by hand and also with the help of a pasta maker that can cut your pasta into various shapes. As for store-bought pasta, it comes in packets and can be easily found in the market in Malaysia.
Both fresh and store-bought pasta comes in a large selection of types and varieties and each one of them has its types of dishes. Here are the top 10 pasta types in Malaysia.
Why Are There So Many Types Of Pasta?
Even though pasta looks like simple food, each different shape of pasta is made for different purposes. The type of sauce will be used, different textures and aesthetic matter are one of the many reasons why there are a lot of types of pasta available to be purchased and also made by hand.
- Type of Sauce
Pasta is made with different types of sauces such as thin sauce and thick sauce. Pasta like angel hair is usually served with thin sauces and macaroni is commonly served with thicker sauces as its tube-shaped can hold a thicker sauce better.
- Different Texture
Although the texture of pasta does not seem to be a big deal, people create a specific paste with a specific texture in mind. Choosing the right kind of paste for a particular dish will, without a doubt complement its taste.
- Aesthetic
Visual presentation when it comes to cooking is just as important as the taste of the food. Sometimes, people choose a certain type of pasta because of the way it presents itself.
10 Best Pasta Types in Malaysia 2022
1. Spaghetti
Spaghetti is the classic thin, long cylindrical tube that is widely known and loved by pasta lovers. Unlike angel hair, spaghetti is thick enough to stand out in meaty sauce so you can use this type of pasta to make various creamy dishes. There are a lot of pasta dishes that are based on it but most of the time, are served with tomato sauce with meats or vegetables.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina
- Weight: 400g
Pros:
✅ Offers you versatility
✅ The most common type of pasta
✅ The easiest to find in stores
Price: RM2.49
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
2. Macaroni
Macaroni is a type of dry pasta shaped like narrow, small tubes and may be referred to as elbow macaroni due to its curved shape. Most often used to make macaroni and cheese recipes, this pasta is a great choice for the creamy sauce as it can flow into the tubes to let you taste the flavour in each bite. It is easy to find in the stores as Malaysians are familiar with this type of pasta.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina
- Weight: 400g
Pros:
✅ Easy to find in stores
✅ Suitable for a thick sauce like cheese sauce
Price: RM2.85
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
3. Angel’s Hair
Angel’s hair pasta got its name from a literal translation of Italian words, Capelli d’angelo and it is a thinner version of spaghetti. Cooking this pasta will not take you as much time as other types of pasta as it is thinner in size. Its delicateness will not stand out in a bowl of chunky meat sauces so it is best to serve it with creamy and light sauces. Angel’s hair is also often sold in a nest-like shape that goes well in soups.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina
- Weight: 400g
Pros:
✅ Easy to find in stores
✅ Takes a few times to cook
Price: RM2.85
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
4. Spiral
Fusilli also known as spirals in Malaysia is a variety of pasta that is made into corkscrew shapes that can be recognised even from afar. This thick spiral-shaped pasta gives you an unpredictable twist to any recipe that uses spaghetti. Its swirls are perfect for holding thick sauces but can also be used to add more flavour to your pasta salad.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina
- Weight: 400g
Pros:
✅ Easy to find in stores
✅ Great with thick sauces
✅ Has a distinctive appearance
Price: RM2.85
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
5. Linguine
Linguine is a type of pasta similar to fettuccine but elliptical in section rather than flat which is wider than spaghetti but not as wide as fettuccine. It is commonly served with sauces such as pesto, tomato sauce or even fish-based sauces. This type of pasta is versatile as you can use it in any dish that calls for spaghetti.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina
- Weight: 500g
Pros:
✅ Easy to find in stores
✅ Popularly served with pesto
Price: RM3.89
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
6. Fettuccine
Fettuccine is a flat and thick pasta that is traditionally made of egg and flour. Compared to the usual spaghetti, it is wider and thicker when it comes to its size and appearance. Often served with creamy sauces like the classic Fettuccine Alfredo that can be found in many restaurants. You can use fettuccine in exchange for spaghetti or linguine as they have almost an identical texture and shape.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina
- Weight: 500g
Pros:
✅ Easy to find in stores
✅ Versatile as it has almost the same shape as spaghetti
Price: RM3.19
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
7. Farfalle
Farfalle comes in a variety of sizes but they all have the same “bow-tie” shape that is distinguishable from other types of pasta. It is formed in the shape of a rectangle or oval with trimmed sides to a ruffled edge and the centre pinched together to make its unique shape. You can use this pasta as a complement to any dish as it has a great appearance.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina
- Weight: 500g
Pros:
✅ Unique appearance
✅ Also called “butterfly pasta”
✅ Easy to find in stores
Price: RM5.20
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
8. Penne
Penne is a type of pasta with cylinder-shaped pieces and their ends are cut at an angle to make them easy to recognise. It is great with sauces with chunky meats or vegetable sauces as the pieces may slide into the pasta tubes to let you experience a better way of eating the pasta.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina
- Weight: 500g
Pros:
✅ Distinctive appearance
✅ Great with sauces with big chunks
✅ Easy to find in stores
Price: RM5.20
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
9. Lasagna
Lasagna sheets are rectangular and usually require no pre-cooking as they are ready to be baked in the oven. There are many ways to cook a lasagna but it is commonly layered with fillings like meats, chicken meats, vegetables and tomato sauces. Try to add some cheese to make it tastier!
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina
- Weight: 250g
Pros:
✅ Can layer with lots of ingredients
✅ Ready to be baked
Price: RM5.20
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
10. Vegeroni Spiral
Vegeroni spirals are small pieces of spirals that are lovely in salads, especially when you use them with chicken or with a light tomato sauce. The ingredients made from tomato paste, spinach powder and beetroot powder give this pasta a colourful feature that is favoured by those who like to add colours to their dishes.
Specifications:
- Ingredients: Durum Wheat Semolina, Tomato Paste (2%), Spinach Powder (1%), Beetroot Powder.
- Weight: 375g
Pros:
✅ Colourful pasta
✅ Has other ingredients besides durum wheat
✅ Great in salads
✅ Easy to find in stores
Price: RM3.90
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us [email protected] For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.