Mafaldine are part of the long, curled, dried pasta family due to their ribbon shape with curled edges on both sides.
They are also known as "Reginette" or "Reginelle" and come from the Naples area where they were once called "Fettuccelle Ricce". They were dedicated by the people of Naples to Princess Mafalda of Savoy and renamed Reginette (from the Italian word "regina" meaning queen) or Mafaldine in her honour.
Once curled pasta, like Mafaldine, have been cooked, they have a distinctive, uneven consistency which differs on the smooth and curled parts.
Another characteristic of this type of pasta is that the curled part can retain more sauce that the smooth part.
It is a fairly versatile type of pasta, so the sauces recommended for Mafaldine are: Neapolitan ragù with ricotta, game sauces, fish sauces made from shellfish and seafood or white sauces made from soft cheeses with the addition of curry, saffron, horseradish or ginger.
Available in 500g pack.s
Pasta shapes that resemble small animals found in the garden or in fields are not uncommon.
The origins of Galletti (cockerels) are uncertain, but may well come from the Liguria region.
The shape is the same as Chifferi Rigati with the addition of a crimped line along the top edge that resembles a cockerel's crest.
The double-ended opening and the distinctive ridges mean that this pasta is perfect with less dense, more liquid sauces, all of which are captured inside it.
Galletti are excellent just with a simple tomato sauce, but are also delicious with sauces made from beef or pork or vegetables.
Available in 500g packs.