For other uses of this term, see Penne (disambiguation). Penne shown in a bowl.
Penne (plural of penna) are a type of pasta originating in Italian cuisine. Made from hard grain and generally available in the form of dry pasta (asciutta pasta), they have a cylindrical shape, and may have grooves on the outside (penne rigate) or not (penne lisce). The ends of the cylinder are usually cut obliquely (inclined cut). Its large surface (both inside and outside) makes them very suitable for cooking with sauces because with that surface they capture the flavors very well. The word "penne" comes from the Italian and means feathers (its oblique cut is the origin of the name because of its resemblance to the writing nib). They are characteristic of southern Italy.
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