Linguine vs. Spaghetti: What’s the Difference?
If you love pasta, you've probably wondered about the difference between linguine vs. spaghetti. These two kinds of pasta are some of the most common and delicious in Italian cuisine. However, there are when comparing linguine vs. spaghetti, there are some differences due to each pasta's unique characteristics and optimal sauce pairings.
Ready to take your understanding of Italian cuisine to the next level? Understanding when to use linguine vs. spaghetti can drastically improve the quality of your homemade Italian culinary creations. Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of linguine vs. spaghetti.
Jump to Section
- What Is Linguine Pasta?
- What Is Spaghetti?
- What Are the Similarities Between Linguine and Spaghetti?
- What's the Difference Between Linguine and Spaghetti?
What Is Linguine Pasta?
The first step to understanding the difference between linguine vs. spaghetti is examining linguine pasta. Linguine is a long and narrow pasta that hails from Liguria in north-western Italy. The translation of linguine in Italian is “little tongues.” This name refers to the flat shape of the pasta, that mimicks a tongue.
You can make linguine with just two ingredients: semolina flour and water. Semolina has a higher protein content and makes a stronger dough than you'd find with other types of pasta. It also gives linguine a slight yellow tinge and a more toothsome mouthfeel. Other linguine recipes include eggs or egg yolks. The secret to making the perfect linguine dough is to knead it until it's the right consistency — smooth, elastic and firm, but still pliable.
Linguine is a versatile type of pasta, and its flat surface makes it perfect for transporting delicious sauces from a plate into your mouth. Linguine is traditionally used with sauces like vongole (linguine with clam sauce), Alfredo and pesto. You have probably had some of these sauces with spaghetti in the past, which adds to the confusion in the linguine vs. spaghetti debate.
What Is Spaghetti?
The next step in breaking down the linguine vs. spaghetti conversation is understanding what spaghetti is. Spaghetti has its roots in southern Italy, specifically Sicily and Naples. The word “spaghetti” is the plural of “spaghetto.” This means little string in Italian, and it's easy to see why the name stuck — cooked spaghetti looks like a bunch of little strings. Like linguine, spaghetti can also be made with semolina flour.
It has higher levels of gluten than other varieties, which gives the pasta more texture and flavor. The gluten allows spaghetti to maintain its texture even after it is cooked and prevents it from getting soggy when covered in sauce.
When comparing linguine vs. spaghetti, spaghetti is more popular. One of the reasons spaghetti is so popular is its versatility, making it perfect to use in some of the most famous Italian dishes and other less common ones like taco spaghetti. Spaghetti is traditionally used in carbonara, aglio e olio and pomodoro (tomato) sauce. Beyond authentically Italian cuisine, spaghetti is the go-to pasta dish for Italian-American cuisine, amongst other types.
What Are the Similarities Between Linguine and Spaghetti?
Perhaps the biggest source of confusion when comparing linguine vs. spaghetti noodles is the similarities between the two kinds of pasta. As you examine linguine vs. spaghetti, you will see that they are quite similar indeed, from their shape and texture, to their uses in the kitchen.
Similar Shape and Texture:
The most obvious similarity when comparing linguine vs. spaghetti is the similar shape. Both types of pasta have a long and narrow shape. They also have a similar texture and mouth feel when made with the same types of flour.
Versatility in the Kitchen:
In large part due to the similar size and shape, many chefs and home cooks use linguine and spaghetti interchangeably. This creates a lot of confusion in the linguine vs. spaghetti debate. Both kinds of pasta are used in easy pasta recipes like authentic cacio e pepe. Additionally, both are used in many seafood pastas like seafood linguine, because they absorb the seafood flavor well and don’t overpower it.
What's the Difference Between Linguine and Spaghetti?
Despite the similarities, when you take a closer look at linguine vs. spaghetti, they have some subtle differences. While similar, their shapes, textures and cooking methods are not identical. Understanding these differences can help you become a better cook as you will know exactly when to use each type of pasta.
Shape
The most obvious difference when comparing linguine vs. spaghetti is the shape. While similar at a glance, a string of spaghetti is perfectly round and cylindrical when cooked. Linguine, on the other hand, is thinner, wider and flatter.
Texture
Due to its perfectly uniform shape, spaghetti has a more consistent texture and mouthfeel. Each bite of spaghetti will feel exactly the same. Linguine has more surface area, giving it the iconic firmer and heartier texture. The textural distinction is perhaps the most important difference when comparing linguine vs. spaghetti.
Cooking Method
How you cook each type also varies when comparing linguine vs. spaghetti. Due to its perfectly uniform shape, you can cook al dente spaghetti in around 8 to 10 minutes. Additionally, spaghetti tends to cook more evenly because of its shape.
Linguine takes slightly longer. You need to cook it for 9 to 12 minutes to reach the perfect al dente consistency. It is also more likely to stick due to its shape so you have to watch your linguine closely and stir it while it cooks.
Spaghetti vs. Linguine Sauce Pairings
The key to maximizing your knowledge of spaghetti vs. linguine is knowing the right types of sauce to pair each pasta with. This is every chef's secret and one that is sure to wow your friends at your next gathering. And while they can often be used interchangeably, knowing the subtle differences can help you get the very best out of each, depending on the dish you're cooking.
Linguine vs. Spaghetti: Spaghetti Suaces
With its uniform texture and shape, spaghetti is best used with lighter or medium sauces. The cylindrical shape makes it easy for the sauce to cling on without drowning out the flavor of the pasta. Some classic spaghetti sauces include:
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Marinara: Tomato-based sauce that often includes herbs, garlic and onions.
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Pesto: An oil and nut-based sauce that binds well to the round spaghetti noodles.
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Bolognese: Meat and tomato-based sauce that is well-known worldwide.
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Aglio e Olio: One of the simplest sauces in Italian cuisine, consisting of olive oil, garlic and chili flakes.
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Amatriciana: Similar to marinara but it includes guanciale and pecorino romano cheese.
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Arrabbiata: A spicy version of marinara sauce that includes garlic and red chili peppers.
Linguine vs. Spaghetti: Linguine Sauces
When you compare linguine vs. spaghetti, you will see that linguine favors richer and heavier sauces. This is because the thick and flat surface of linguine is perfect for thick sauces to cling to. Some popular linguine sauces include:
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Afredo: A creamy sauce made with just cheese in Italy or cream/milk in the United States.
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Carbonara: A luxurious sauce that combines the richness of eggs and guanciale.
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Clam sauce: Seafood sauces like clam sauce are almost always served with linguine.
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Creamy mushroom: A rich and creamy sauce made with mushrooms, garlic, cream and white wine.
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Lemon garlic: A simple but classic sauce made with butter, garlic, lemon juice and a garnish of parsley.
Can I Substitute Spaghetti for Linguine?
Now that you know the basics of linguine vs. spaghetti, you are probably wondering, "Can I substitute spaghetti for linguine?" Given the similarities between the two, you can usually substitute spaghetti for linguine and vice versa. However, there are some things to keep in mind when making either substitution.
Since both types of pasta are long and thin, they work well with saucy pasta dishes. However, if you serve spaghetti with thick sauces like Alfredo, the sauce flavor may be overwhelming due to the amount of sauce that clings to the pasta. On the flip side, using linguine for thin sauces may cause the flavor to be heavy on the pasta side, with the sauce draining to the bottom.
A good way to mitigate the differences between linguine vs. spaghetti when substituting is to make the pasta sauce thicker or thinner, depending on the type of pasta. A great way to put this information into practice is to check out online cooking classes that can be taken from wherever you are in the world, taught by experienced chefs.
Chefs of the same experience and expertise levels also teach cooking classes near you, perfect if you are more of an in-person learner. Both options are a great way to expand your knowledge of Italian cuisine and better understand the differences between linguine vs. spaghetti.
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To summarize the linguine vs. spaghetti debate, while similar, these two types of pasta have some notable differences that are worth bearing in mind for anybody hoping to take their Italian cooking game to new heights. If this sounds like you, and you want to avoid offending any Italian nonnas, make sure you use each type of pasta with the correct sauce.
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