Ditalini (pronounced as /it/; English: "small thimbles"), also referred to as tubettini, is a type of pasta that is shaped like small tubes. It has been described as "thimble-sized" and as "very short macaroni". In some areas it is also called "salad macaroni". During the industrial age in Apulia, Italy, increased development of ditali and other short-cut kinds of pasta occurred. In contemporary times, it is a mass-produced pasta. It is used in several dishes and is commonly used throughout Sicily.
Ditalini may be used in several pasta dishes, such as pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans). It is used in traditional Sicilian dishes throughout Sicily. Some Sicilian dishes with ditalini include pasta with ricotta cheese and pasta chi vrocculi arriminati, which is a pasta and broccoli dish. It has been described as used often in soups,[1] and as an ideal pasta for use in soups due to their small size being able to "fit well on a spoon". It may also be used in pasta salads.