Rigatoni Rigatoni Rigatoni are a form of tube-shaped pasta of varying lengths and diameters originating in Italy. They are larger than penne and ziti, and sometimes slightly curved, though nowhere near as curved as elbow macaroni. Rigatoni characteristically have ridges down their length, sometimes spiraling around the tube, and unlike penne, rigatoni's ends are cut square (perpendicular) to the tube walls instead of diagonally. The word "rigatoni" comes from the Italian word "rigato" ("rigatone" being the augmentative and "rigatoni" the plural form), which means "ridged" or "lined", and is associated with the cuisine of southern and central Italy. Rigatoncini are a
Italian cuisine early 20th centuries, influencing the cuisine of the country (which was otherwise dominated by meat and dairy products that the narrow Ligurian hinterland would have not allowed). Pasta dishes based on the use of "guanciale" (unsmoked bacon prepared with pig's jowl or cheeks) are often found in Lazio, such as pasta "alla carbonara" and pasta "all'amatriciana". Another pasta dish of the region is "arrabbiata", with spicy tomato sauce. The regional cuisine widely use offal, resulting in dishes like the entrail-based "rigatoni" with "pajata" sauce and "coda alla vaccinara". Iconic of Lazio is cheese made from ewes' milk (Pecorino Romano), "porchetta"