Tortiglioni are one of many varieties of maccherone, one of the oldest types of pasta originating from Naples.
The name in Italian refers to the shape and comes from the Vulgar Latin tortillare which literally means to wrap in a spiral with a characteristic pattern from the lathe used in pasta production.
The shape is particularly versatile, but also very original, and best suited to full-bodied sauces.
Tortiglioni are excellent served with succulent, meat-based sauces. They are also very good served with tomato sauce or vegetable and tomatic sauces. It is a particularly suitable type of pasta for oven-baked dishes.
Available in 500g 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 250g packs.