Strozzapreti are little sticks of pasta, similar to thin bucatini, about 5-6 cm long, wrapped around a knitting needle.
The fairly thick pasta and the typical rough surface enhance the flavour of the sauce.
Strozzapreti go very well not only with classic ragù, but also with other sauces, for example, made by sautéing lard, bacon, parsley with a sprinkling of pepper and grated parmesan or ragùs made from mushrooms or beans. Excellent with sausage, cream and rocket.
Available in 250g packs
Chitarrina Abruzzese is a typical regional speciality with an original long shape and a square cross section which is smaller that the classic Maccheroni alla Chitarra.
Historically, the pasta was cut with a special tool called a "chitarra" (guitar), consisting of a wooden frame over which thin, steel wires were stretched. The pasta, which was not excessively thin (about the thickness between one wire and another) was placed on the wires and then cut by pressing on it with a special little rolling pin.
This type of pasta is typically eaten with lamb ragù. In certain areas of Abruzzo, the traditional condiment for Chitarrina Abruzzese is a tomato sauce enriched with veal meatballs measuring about one centimetre across, known as "pallottelle".
The Chitarra Abruzzese is also excellent with different types of meat gravy, with sauces made from tomatoes and aubergines, or fish.
Available in 500g packs