Gnocchetti sardi vs Malloreddus
Gnocchetti sardi is small ridged dried shell, the commercial malloreddus. Malloreddus is small ridged shell, rolled over a basket or a ridged board, often saffron-yellow.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmGnocchetti sardi: 15 to 20 mm by 8 to 10 mm
Malloreddus: 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 | Hand-formed |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sardinia | Sardinia |
| Section | Small ridged dried shell, the commercial malloreddus | Small ridged shell, rolled over a basket or a ridged board, often saffron-yellow |
| Length | 15 to 20 mm | 15 to 20 mm |
| Width or diameter | 8 to 10 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, La Molisana | not measured |
| Catalogue numbers | De Cecco no. 46, Rummo no. 63, La Molisana no. 26, La Molisana no. 27 | not measured |
| Cook time across brands | 2 to 11 min | not measured |
| Brand dimensions | Rummo: 21 mm long | not measured |
| 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 |
| Pairs with | Sausage ragu, Pomodoro, Pesto alla genovese, Meat ragu, Pasta salad | Sausage ragu, Meat ragu, Pomodoro, Ricotta |
Gnocchetti sardi
Ridged shells hold sausage, tomato, pesto, and cheese. They also hold up cold.
Malloreddus
A ridged chewy shell, so it holds a sausage and tomato sauce, a meat ragu, or a pecorino dressing. The ridges hold the cheese.
Can you swap them?
Malloreddus for gnocchetti sardi: yes, the hand-made original.
Gnocchetti sardi for malloreddus: yes, the same shape, dried.
Both take Sausage ragu, Pomodoro, Meat ragu.
Only gnocchetti sardi: Pesto alla genovese, Pasta salad.
Only malloreddus: Ricotta.
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.