Rigatoni, a slightly curved, tubular-shaped pasta with square ends, is believed to originate from Rome. It is larger than penne and commonly associated with the cuisine of southern and central Italy, notably Sicily. Its ridges are designed to help the sauce to better stick to the pasta, distinguishing it from smooth-sided pastas.
Today, rigatoni is everywhere in traditional dishes across all regions of Italy,particularly in the middle and southern areas, including Sicily.
Pasta sauce & shape pairing
In Italian cuisine, rigatoni pairs splendidly with chunky tomato and vegetable-based sauces like “Rigatoni Alla Norma.” Additionally, it complements hearty meat-based sauces such as “Ragu Alla bolognese” well.