To us common folk, the shape of the Pasta doesn’t make a big difference. But the ones blessed by the pasta Gods know that the shape is of great significance, whether for taste or the type of sauce. One such debate is Linguine vs. fettuccine.
People often really can’t find the difference between them. So the question is, are linguine and fettuccine different names for the same thing?
Well, this article is here to clarify this confusion. They both are not only different in their appearance but also their making process.
I know you must think they are both parts of the pasta family, so what is the major difference? You will be surprised to know that there is more than one difference.
The main distinguishing feature is linguine pasta is much taper than fettuccine. They both are prepared from different elements and ingredients. The fettuccine noodles have even doubled the length of the linguine.
It is not a big deal for a food amateur to be particular about the choice between linguine and fettuccine. For a food expert, especially for Italians, these pastas have their own taste and significance.
I would rather suggest that it’s not a good idea to say that all pastas are the same as Italians. Before going further, let’s first learn a bit about both linguine and fettuccine pasta.
Linguine Vs. Fettuccine | Difference Table
| Basis Of Difference | Linguine | Fettuccine |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Linguine has its origin in Italy. | Fettuccine has its origin in Rome. |
| Ingredients | Linguine pasta is made from flour and water. | Fettuccine noodles include eggs and flour. |
| Sauces | Linguine penne goes well with light sauces. | Fettuccine penne tastes best with thick sauces. |
| Types of Food | It is often served with seafood, light green veggies, and pesto. | It is served with meat, alfredo, and porcini. |
| Sizes | Linguine pasta is quite narrow. | Fettuccine is much wider and flat in appearance |
| Shape | These noodles are oval and round. | These noodles are much flatter. |
| Making At Home | Linguine pasta is not easy to make at home and creates a lot of mess in your kitchen. | Fettuccine pasta is much easier to make at home. |
What Is Linguine?
Linguine has its roots in Italy and is the staple food there. They are usually narrow and flat. You will always find linguine a bit round and ovular at the cross-section. Linguine is light pastas and blends well with light sauces.
Tomato-based and pesto sauces are best for linguine pasta. They fuse great with delicate and. thinner sauces.
But linguine is not the best option for creamy sauces. They are fragile and delicate and will eventually sink under heavy sauces.
It is also not wise to use large chunks of meat with this pasta. Instead, you can use linguine with olives, tomatoes, and seafood such as mussels and clams.
What Is Fettuccine?
Fettuccine pasta has its origin in Rome. It originated from the phrase “little ribbons.” As the phrase suggests, the fettuccine pasta just looks like ribbons. They are long, flat, and thicker in appearance.
Fettuccine dough includes well-merged flour and eggs. Make a dough, flatten it and just pass it from the pasta machine.
For pasta makers, it is the simplest pasta to make. You can even involve your kids in making them. It will be a fun activity for them.
The process of making fettuccine does not even create a mess. So you need not be worried about the cleaning. You can even buy prepared pasta from the store. But I suggested making fettuccine on your own from scratch.
The fettuccine pasta goes best with thick sauces filled with cream and meat. Fettuccine alfredo is quite preferable. The heavy sauces filled with cream and butter are made for fettuccine. These sauces bind with fettuccine better than oil-based sauces.
If you are looking for something delicious and creamy, fettuccine pasta is the best option for you. For the foodies who won’t count on their calories, fettuccine serves best for them.
Linguine Vs. Fettuccine | What’s The Difference?
Now let’s see the differences between linguine and fettuccine pasta.
1. Origin
Linguine pasta originally belongs to the birthplace of mostly all pasta; yes, you guessed it right, Italy. The word linguine had been derived from the phrase “little tongues,” while Fettuccine pasta is considered a part of Rome. This type of noodles originated from the phrase “Little ribbons.”
2. Ingredients
It is easy to make linguine pasta with the availability of just two ingredients: flour and water. You can easily choose linguine pasta if you want to have vegan and light dishes. On the other hand, fettuccine pasta includes eggs, flour, and olive oil.
3. Sauces
As I mentioned above, the linguine noodles go well with light sauces and pesto. It also serves better with oil-based sauces.
Linguine pasta is available in both dried and fresh forms. It is not suitable for heavy and creamy sauces. But for these, we have fettuccine pasta. Fettuccine pasta blends amazingly with thick sauces such as alfredo.
4. Types of Foods
Linguine pasta is not thick and is fragile in nature. It goes well with light veggies and seafood, especially shrimp. On the contrary, fettuccine pasta blends well with spinach, mushroom, and flavored herbs.
5. Shape
The appearance of linguine pasta is round and ovular. They are much wider than spaghetti. The fettuccine pasta, on the other hand, is much taper than linguine noodles.
The length of fettuccine is almost twice the linguine. Fettuccine pasta is similar to ribbons, flat and slightly wider than linguine noodles. They are even thicker in appearance but not as wide as tagliatelle.
6. Make At Home
It is not an easy job to make linguine pasta at home. It requires a lot of patience and steadiness to make linguine pasta. If you want to make linguine pasta in your kitchen, then be prepared for the upcoming mess.
In contrast, fettuccine noodles are quite simple to make at home. Just prepare the dough and grab the noodle-making machine.
How To Make Linguine At Home?
Well, it is not easy to make linguine noodles from dough. But it is easy to cook a restaurant-like linguine pasta in your kitchen. It just requires two steps. First, Grab a pack of linguine pasta from your nearest store. Second, follow the below-given recipe.
Linguine Noodles Recipe
Equipment
- Bowl
- Rolling Pin
- Knife
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 ½ cups Semolina Flour
- 2 tablespoons Water
- ½ teaspoon Salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Place the flour on a plain surface or in a bowl. Add half a spoonful of salt to it.
- Pour water into the mixture and prepare a stiff dough. Add water until you have a proper ball of dough.
- Knead it properly for the next 5 -10 minutes.
- Make a thin sheet from the dough. Cut the fine long strands
- Give round and oval shapes to few strands. Your linguine is ready!
Nutrition
How To Make Fettuccine At Home?
It is an easy task to prepare fettuccine at home. Pasta makers love to make it from scratch. It doesn’t need as much patience as linguine pasta. They are made easily with available ingredients.
Fettuccine Noodles Recipe
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- Knife
Ingredients
- 3 cups Flour
- 4 large Eggs
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoons Water (if needed)
Instructions
- Place the flour in a mound on a clean surface. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and salt.
- Put three eggs in the flour at the center of the mound and merge them well. Form a dough and knead it for 5-10 minutes.
- Cut it into 4 pieces and cover them. Take each piece and make them into a large thin sheet.
- Cut that sheet into thin strands. You can also use a pasta machine. Repeat the process with other pieces. Your fettuccine noodles are ready!
Nutrition
Can I Substitute Linguine and Fettuccine?
People often interchangeably use linguine and fettuccine pasta at home. But the chefs and the Italians don’t substitute one for another. As the basic elements are different in both kinds of pasta, I would suggest not substituting them.
It is best to enjoy them traditionally. Linguine with light sauces and light veggies; fettuccine with heavy and creamy sauces. Although you can use whichever is present in your kitchen. These are both easily available in the nearest market to your home.
Tips For Serving Linguine and Fettuccine With Different Types of Sauces?
Linguine pasta tastes good when served with light sauces such as tomato, oil-based, and pesto sauces. It also tastes even yummier with seafood like shrimp and light veggies like mushrooms and olives.
Fettuccine pasta tastes delicious when mixed with thick and creamy sauces. They blend well with meat and alfredo.
Linguine Vs. Fettuccine | Which One Is Better?
Both pastas are preferred by different sections of society. The choice between linguine and fettuccine totally depends on you and your preference for pasta.
But in my opinion, linguine is the ultimate winner as it is light, goes well with veggies and lighter sauces. Also, vegan people can consume it.
In addition to this, linguine noodles don’t have many calories. Hence, they are also a good option for health-conscious people. Not only this, one can consume it in every season.
Whereas fettuccine is a winter staple. It is much heavier and includes eggs which is not an option for vegetarians.
Conclusion
Linguine and fettuccine pasta are part of the family of pasta. They both serve different purposes and tastes. It all depends on your tastes and preferences. I hope you like this article; if you have any questions or opinions, you are most welcome. Thank you for reading, and see you next time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which pasta is better: linguine or fettuccine?
There is no clear winner as they both have different properties and appearances.
Can I substitute linguine for fettuccine?
Yes, you can substitute them at home but not in restaurants
Can I use fettuccine instead of linguine?
Yes, one can use fettuccine instead of linguine pasta as they belong to the family of strand pasta.
What is the best sauce to serve with linguine pasta?
Linguine pasta is served with light sauc
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