Gemelli Pasta

Gemelli is named after the Italian word for twins because of its appearance which looks like two separate strings of pasta that are intertwined together into one piece of pasta (via Delighted Cooking). On the contrary, however, Gemelli is made out of a single piece of pasta that is given a twisted shape.

According to Instacart's grocery trends report for 2021, gemelli pasta saw a 457% increase in popularity last year. Part of the pasta's popularity can perhaps be credited to its versatility. Much like penne, Gemelli can be used in all sorts of sauces and cooking preparations. The small crevices on the surface, created from the twisted shape of the pasta, mean that Gemelli can trap all kinds of sauces well. You could use it in tomato-based sauces, cream-based ones, or even meaty sauces. Gemelli also goes well with pesto and oil-based dressings and can be used in casseroles, cold salads, or even in soups.