Pasta comes in interesting shapes, and it makes the eating experience worthwhile too. Speaking of interesting shapes, Rotelle pasta has garnered a lot of attention over the years.
Rotelle pasta is famously known for its wagon wheel shape. The pasta has ridged rings and spoked openings. The spokes trap all the succulent and delicious sauce. Although the shape of Rotelle does not have an Italian origin, many manufacturers in Italy are making this intriguing and tasty pasta.
Do you wish to know more about Rotelle pasta? If the answer’s a YES, keep reading this post as we have highlighted the origin, meaning, and traditional dishes made with Rotelle.
Rotelle Origin and Meaning
| Pasta Shape: | Rotelle |
| Pasta Type: | Tube |
| Length | 2.4 cm |
| Origin: | Northern Italy |
| Meaning: | Little wheels |
| Synonyms: | Chu Chu Wheel |
| Similar Shapes: | Ruoto |
Where did Rotelle originate?
As per food critics and enthusiasts, Rotelle’s shape does not have an Italian origin. However, others believe that it originated in Northern Italy.
Most households in Italy and American eateries cook Rotelle in a cream or tomato-based sauce.
Rotelle pasta is made using different flours such as semolina, quinoa, durum wheat, and whole wheat. You will also find this pasta dyed in different colours like green, orange, or burgundy.
What Does Rotelle Mean?
Rotelle means little wheels in Italian. However, it is sold and marketed as Choo Choo Wheels pasta in the United States. Choo Choo Wheels sounds better than rotelle, and kids finish up the dish when they hear the name. After all, it is less easy to refuse when the dish is called, ‘Choo Choo Wheels Pasta with Cheese.’
What Is the Difference Between Rotelle and Rotini?
Rotelle is wagon wheel-shaped pasta. It is quite similar to ruote pasta. Most people use pasta to decorate soups. Rotini is quite different from Rotelle. These are corkscrew-shaped pasta and rotini means small wheels in Italian.
Traditional dishes that use Rotelle
Rotelle has a unique shape which is why holding thick sauces becomes easier. There are different ways to serve this pasta. Chefs make salads with Rotelle using different dressings to enhance the flavour.
Rotelle goes well with cream and tomato thick sauces too. If you want to toss it with some garlic, olive oil, and cheese, it will make a light snack. Since Rotelle absorbs all the sauce, you can make a thick mushroom and cheese sauce.
Besides a thick and creamy sauce, you can make pasta soups too. The sauce will go inside the pasta tubes and make it succulent too.
Here’s a quick yet traditional recipe you can try. It’s called Rotelle con Salsiccia e Panna. Take a skillet, heat a bit of olive oil, and add diced shallots. Now, put chicken or pork sausages into it, and then add the heavy cream and salt.
Cook the rotelle pasta al dente and add it to the prepared sauce. Garnish it with Parmigiano and fresh herbs.
The dish is easy to prepare and it is beautiful in every way. You can also prepare an Italian Rotelle pasta salad using a few ingredients or feel free to make a thick and rich tomato gravy with fresh herbs and cheese.