In the south of Italy, the term "Zita" means the bride and as a matter of fact, this type of pasta is traditionally associated with weddings and is always served at wedding receptions.
Tradition has it that Zita , which is quite thick with a fairly rough texture, is broken by hand into uneven pieces, before being put in the saucepan to cook.
Zita Tagliata ( "tagliata" means cut) has been made shorter for a more practical use in the kitchen.
This type of pasta can be used to prepare oven-baked recipes or plates of pasta served with dense, colourful sauces of meat or fish, with green leaf vegetables or vegetables, or strong Italian cheeses, such as pecorino, provolone or caciocavallo.
Alternatively, Zita Tagliata is also excellent served with vegetable sauces prepared with tomato and the addition of peppers, aubergines and courgettes.
Available in 500g packs.
Pasta shapes that resemble small animals found in the garden or in fields are not uncommon.
Some people claim that Lumache (snails) can be traced back to the tradition of Roman cooking while others maintain that this type of pasta originated more generically from the central-southern part of Italy.
Lumachine (little snails), a smaller variation of the classic Pipe, are a whimsical shape and have always been considered a great pasta for any kind of sauce for all the family because children love it too thanks to its small, attractive shape.
Lumachine are best used in broths, or in vegetable or bean soups. This pasta is also excellent for preparing very delicate pasta dishes with light tomato and basil sauces.
Available in 500g pack.s