Ditali vs Pennette
Ditali is short straight tube, as long as it is wide. Pennette is small penne, ridged, about 3.5 cm.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmDitali: 8 to 12 mm by 6 to 8 mm
Pennette: 30 to 40 mm by 6 to 8 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Tubes | Tubes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Campania | All of Italy |
| Section | Short straight tube, as long as it is wide | Small penne, ridged, about 3.5 cm |
| Length | 8 to 12 mm | 30 to 40 mm |
| Width or diameter | 6 to 8 mm | 6 to 8 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | 0.9 to 1.1 mm |
| Surface | Smooth | Ridged |
| Hollow | Yes | Yes |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 8 to 11 min | 8 to 11 min |
| Brands with a page | La Molisana | De Cecco, Rummo, Mancini, Barilla, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | La Molisana no. 45, La Molisana no. 47 | De Cecco no. 42, Rummo no. 28, Rummo no. 58, Rummo no. 70, La Molisana no. 19, La Molisana no. 22, La Molisana no. 23, La Molisana no. 24, La Molisana no. 35 |
| Cook time across brands | 8 min | 7 to 12 min |
| Brand dimensions | not measured | Rummo: 40 mm long, 5.8 mm across; Mancini: 30 mm long, 10.2 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 | 4 | 5 |
| Pairs with | Pasta e fagioli, Pasta e ceci, Minestrone, Pomodoro, Pasta salad | Pomodoro, Pesto alla genovese, Tuna and tomato, Pasta salad, Cream sauce, Minestrone |
Ditali
Short and open at both ends, so they fill with soup and hold beans and vegetables. They also work in a thick tomato sauce for children and in a cold salad. Too small for a ragu.
Pennette
Small tubes take smooth and light sauces: tomato, a simple cream, pesto, an oil dressing for a cold salad. Chunks of meat or vegetable outsize the pasta.
Can you swap them?
Ditali for pennette: yes, a short straight tube.
Both take Minestrone, Pomodoro, Pasta salad.
Only ditali: Pasta e fagioli, Pasta e ceci.
Only pennette: Pesto alla genovese, Tuna and tomato, Cream sauce.
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.