Penne is one of the most famous Italian pasta shapes. Penne are a specialty of the Campania Region in southern Italy, which includes the cities of Naples, Capri and Sorrento. Penne, which means “pen” in Italian, gets its name from its shape. Penne are tube-shaped with angled ends cut to resemble a quill or pen point. They have ridges which allow them to hold more sauce. Ridged penne are designed for meat, vegetable, cheese and oil or butter-based sauces. They are also perfect for baked dishes made with sauce and cheese. Penne all’Arrabbiata, penne with a spicy tomato sauce, is a favorite Italian dish.
