Cavatelli is a kind of pasta popular in southern Italy and Sicily that looks like a cowry shell. A small shell shaped pasta that has slightly rolled-in edges. The name cavatelli is sometimes found associated with pasta that is similar in shape to casarecci, only shorter in length, but most often it refers to the small shell shaped pasta. It is a good pasta to serve with thick, chunky sauces, meat sauces or in salads requiring a pasta that will hold sauces and dressings. If it is unavailable, casarecci, cicatelli, gnocchetti, or rotini may be substituted.