Conchiglie vs Gnocchetti sardi
Conchiglie is cupped shell with ridges on the outside. Gnocchetti sardi is small ridged dried shell, the commercial malloreddus.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmConchiglie: 25 to 35 mm by 15 to 22 mm
Gnocchetti sardi: 15 to 20 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 | All of Italy | Sardinia |
| Section | Cupped shell with ridges on the outside | Small ridged dried shell, the commercial malloreddus |
| Length | 25 to 35 mm | 15 to 20 mm |
| Width or diameter | 15 to 22 mm | 8 to 10 mm |
| Surface | Ridged | Ridged |
| Hollow | No | No |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 10 to 13 min | 10 to 13 min |
| Brands with a page | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Barilla, La Molisana | De Cecco, Rummo, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | De Cecco no. 50, De Cecco no. 52, Rummo no. 42, Garofalo no. 84, La Molisana no. 25, La Molisana no. 56, La Molisana no. 57, La Molisana no. 313 | De Cecco no. 46, Rummo no. 63, La Molisana no. 26, La Molisana no. 27 |
| Cook time across brands | 7 to 15 min | 2 to 11 min |
| Brand dimensions | Rummo: | Rummo: 21 mm long |
| 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 | 37 | not measured |
| Pairs with | Mac and cheese, Sausage ragu, Cream sauce, Vegetable ragu, Tuna and tomato, Pomodoro, Pasta salad | Sausage ragu, Pomodoro, Pesto alla genovese, Meat ragu, Pasta salad |
Conchiglie
A cup fills with whatever is in the pan: cheese sauce, cream with peas, a sausage crumble, a chunky tomato. Medium shells are a mac-and-cheese upgrade. Ridges hold sauce on the outside too.
Gnocchetti sardi
Ridged shells hold sausage, tomato, pesto, and cheese. They also hold up cold.
Can you swap them?
Conchiglie for gnocchetti sardi: yes, shells.
Both take Sausage ragu, Pomodoro, Pasta salad.
Only conchiglie: Mac and cheese, Cream sauce, Vegetable ragu, Tuna and tomato.
Only gnocchetti sardi: Pesto alla genovese, Meat ragu.
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.