A staple food in many traditional Italian dishes, penne rigate is a must-have addition to any kitchen. One of the most popular forms of pasta, penne means "quills" in Italian, referring to the pointed, angle-cut ends of the pasta. Penne features a tube-shaped noodle with small ridges along the exterior, and is a great complement to almost any sauce. The hollow shape and ridges, which will hold onto extra bits of meat, vegetables, and sauce, makes it especially perfect for hearty sauces containing lots of chopped ingredients. Use this penne to create creamy pasta dishes, delightful baked casseroles, or specialty pasta salads. No matter what you're serving, this versatile pasta will bring authentic Italian flavor to any dish on your menu.
Best of all, this pasta is simple to prepare. Bring water to a boil and add salt to taste. Pour in the penne rigate pasta and stir gently. Bring the mixture back up to a boil and cook it uncovered for 10-12 minutes. When finished, take the pasta off the stove, strain it, and serve it with your signature sauce or mix it into a fresh pasta salad.