Grocery
Fresh Straccetti Pasta
What it is
Straccetti are a type of fresh pasta, meaning they are made without drying. The name 'straccetti' translates to 'little rags' in Italian, referring to their irregular, torn shapes. This pasta is typically made from a simple dough of flour and eggs, giving it a tender texture and rich flavor. Because it is fresh, it cooks very quickly, making it a convenient choice for weeknight meals. Its delicate form allows it to pair well with a variety of sauces.
How people cook with it
Fresh straccetti are wonderfully versatile and can be enjoyed with many different types of sauces.
- Tossed with light cream sauces
- Mixed with sautéed vegetables
- Served with a simple butter and herb dressing
- Combined with seafood
To cook fresh straccetti, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Gently add the pasta to the boiling water. Fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta, often in just 2 to 4 minutes. It is ready when it floats to the surface and is tender to the bite. Drain the pasta carefully, reserving a little of the cooking water. Toss the cooked straccetti immediately with your chosen sauce, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to help the sauce cling to the pasta.
How it differs from similar foods
Unlike dried pasta, fresh straccetti have a softer, more yielding texture due to their higher moisture content. They also cook significantly faster. The irregular shapes of straccetti are designed to capture and hold sauces more effectively than uniformly shaped dried pastas.
Who it is for
Home cooks looking for a quick and satisfying pasta dish will appreciate fresh straccetti.
How to keep the rest
Unopened packages of fresh straccetti should be kept refrigerated. Once opened, it is best to use the pasta within a few days. If you do not plan to use it immediately, you can freeze it in its original packaging or an airtight container for longer storage.