cavatelli

[kav-uh-tel-ee]

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. a shell-like pasta with ridged surfaces.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavatelli¹

First recorded in 1940–45; from Italian: literally, “little hollows,” diminutive of cavato, past participle of cavare “to hollow out,” from Latin cavāre, derivative of cavus “hollow, hollowed” + -elli plural suffix; cave ( def. )

Example Sentences

And bite-size, bean-shaped cavatelli goes well with shellfish.

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A typical everyday pasta dish here is cavatelli with mussels.

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For example, if we do a dish of ‘Toasted Masa Cavatelli with Chestnut Mushrooms, Roasted Poblano Cream and Cotija Cheese”, that dish presents like a very Italian dish, but is all Mexican flavors.

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Many order the meatballs, chicken liver pâté and the fresh cavatelli pasta with hazelnut pesto and pecorino to pair with an Italian wine.

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“It’s not an actual business,” Elucid said over plates of branzino and cavatelli in Queens.

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