Capunti vs Cavatelli
Capunti is long cavatelli dragged with three fingers, like an open pea pod. Cavatelli is small dumpling with a hollow, rolled under two fingers.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmCapunti: 35 to 50 mm by 8 to 12 mm
Cavatelli: 20 to 30 mm by 8 to 12 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Hand-formed | Hand-formed |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Puglia | Puglia |
| Section | Long cavatelli dragged with three fingers, like an open pea pod | Small dumpling with a hollow, rolled under two fingers |
| Length | 35 to 50 mm | 20 to 30 mm |
| Width or diameter | 8 to 12 mm | 8 to 12 mm |
| Surface | Rough | Rough |
| Hollow | No | No |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 6 to 10 min | 8 to 12 min |
| Energy, dry, per 100 g | 371 kcal (dry semolina pasta) | 371 kcal (dry semolina pasta) |
| Protein, dry, per 100 g | 13.0 g | 13.0 g |
| Products catalogued | not measured | 14 |
| Pairs with | Cime di rapa, Sausage ragu, Pasta e fagioli, Pomodoro | Broccoli and anchovy, Sausage ragu, Meat ragu, Cime di rapa, Pomodoro |
Capunti
Three hollows in a chewy piece, so it carries greens, beans, and a sausage sauce.
Cavatelli
A dense chewy shell with a hollow, so it carries a ragu, broccoli or greens with garlic, a sausage sauce, and beans. The rough face holds oil and cheese.
Can you swap them?
Cavatelli for capunti: yes, the shorter version.
Both take Cime di rapa, Sausage ragu, Pomodoro.
Only capunti: Pasta e fagioli.
Only cavatelli: Broccoli and anchovy, Meat ragu.
Sources
- Dimensions, surface, dough, and cook time: each shape page names the brand page, spec sheet, or measured box behind every figure.
- Energy and protein: USDA FoodData Central, per 100 g of the dough, public domain.
- Products catalogued: Open Food Facts, Open Database License, read on 2026-08-25. A crowd database: a count is a floor.