Casarecce vs Fusilli
Casarecce is short strip rolled into an S, with a groove down the middle. Fusilli is short solid spiral, three blades twisted around a core.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmCasarecce: 35 to 45 mm by 6 to 8 mm
Fusilli: 35 to 45 mm by 8 to 10 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Short shapes | Short shapes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sicily | Campania |
| Section | Short strip rolled into an S, with a groove down the middle | Short solid spiral, three blades twisted around a core |
| Length | 35 to 45 mm | 35 to 45 mm |
| Width or diameter | 6 to 8 mm | 8 to 10 mm |
| Surface | Rough | Smooth |
| Hollow | No | No |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 9 to 12 min | 9 to 12 min |
| Brands with a page | Rummo, Garofalo, La Molisana | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Mancini, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | Rummo no. 88, La Molisana no. 29 | De Cecco no. 34, De Cecco no. 98, Rummo no. 48, Rummo no. 155, Garofalo no. 63, La Molisana no. 28 |
| Cook time across brands | 10 to 12 min | 8 to 15 min |
| Brand dimensions | Rummo: 45 mm long, 8.9 mm across | Rummo: 40 mm long, 10.5 mm across; Mancini: 40 mm long, 12 mm across |
| 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 | 19 | 154 |
| Pairs with | Pesto alla genovese, Pesto alla trapanese, Sausage ragu, Norma, Ricotta | Pesto alla genovese, Pasta salad, Vegetable ragu, Pomodoro, Tuna and tomato, Ricotta, Sausage ragu |
Casarecce
A trough down the middle and a slight twist, so it carries pesto, ricotta, sausage crumbs, and a chunky vegetable sauce. In Sicily it takes pesto alla trapanese and the Norma.
Fusilli
The spiral grooves trap sauce along their whole length, so fusilli takes chunky and creamy sauces that a smooth shape sheds: pesto, a vegetable ragu, tomato with ricotta, a cold dressing. It is the default pasta salad shape.
Can you swap them?
Not a natural swap. They share 3 sauces: Pesto alla genovese, Sausage ragu, Ricotta.
Only casarecce: Pesto alla trapanese, Norma.
Only fusilli: Pasta salad, Vegetable ragu, Pomodoro, Tuna and tomato.
Sources
- Dimensions, surface, dough, and cook time: each shape page names the brand page, spec sheet, or measured box behind every figure.
- Brands, catalogue numbers, brand cook times, and brand dimensions: the brand product pages linked on each shape page, read on 2026-08-25.
- 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.