In the region where they were created in Sardinia, they are called "malloreddus" which in Sardinian dialect literally means "little gnocchi" and they are by definition considered to be the most typical dish.
The unusual thing about these little gnocchi is their size, which has been developed to create an exceptional consistency, and the ridged surface which at one time was obtained by pressing the pieces of pasta with the thumb on the bottom of a wicker basket called "ciurili". Nowadays this is done by using a grooved board.
Gnocchetti sardi are particularly good with traditional recipes combined with fresh ricotta or sheep's cheese, as well as being excellent with tomato or meat sauces.
Available in 500g or 3 Kg 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 times of Roman cooking while others maintain that this type of pasta originated more generically from the central-southern part of Italy.
Lumache Rigate (grooved snails) are a delicious variation of the classic Pipe and have a whimsical shape which, thanks to the double-ended opening and the distinctive ridges, is perfect for mixing up with and capturing less dense, more liquid sauces.
Lumache Rigate are especially good with ragù sauces made from pork or beef, sausages or mushrooms. This pasta is also perfect for summer dishes with light sauces made from fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, or oven-baked dishes.
Available in 500g pack.s