The History of Cavatappi Pasta

Cavatappi pasta was created by accident by the pasta-making company Barilla in the 1960s. Pasta dies that were supposed to be made with straight lines were mistakenly crafted with spirals. This resulted in spiral-shaped pasta. The company originally named the accidental new pasta shape cellentani, after the Italian pop singer Adriano Celentano. However, the name was later changed to cavatappi, which is Italian for “corkscrew.” The ridges of cavatappi pasta are ideal for pairing with rich, cheesy sauces. Because of this, it is a popular choice for many cheesy Italian and American dishes today, including crowd-pleasing favorites like cacio e pepe and mac & cheese.