Cavatappi
Dried cavatappi
Alternative namesCellentani, serpentini, trivelle, stortelli, spirali, double elbows, amori, scoobi doo
TypePasta
Place of originItaly

Cavatappi [kavaˈtappi] is macaroni formed in a helical tube shape. Cavatappi is the Italian word for corkscrews. It is known by other names, including cellentani, amori, serpentini, spirali, torselli, and tortiglione.[1] Certain areas of the US and Canada may also refer to it as "scoobi doo" pasta, though the reason for this is unclear, and "double elbows".[2]

It is not to be confused with a different pasta shape often called "corkscrew pasta" that also goes by several names, that other shape being fusilli. The distinguishing characteristics being fusilli's flat twist, rather than cavatappi's hollow tube shape. Cavatappi is usually scored with lines or ridges (rigati in Italian) on the surface. Cavatappi is a type of macaroni, or thick, hollow pasta that is made without using eggs. It may be yellow in color, like most pastas, or have vegetables or a food coloring added to make it green or red. It can be used in a variety of dishes including salads, soups, and casseroles.

Etymology

Cavatappi is an Italian word created by compounding cava and tappi, which literally means "stopper (or top or cap) extractor" (a corkscrew). It is known by many other names.

Origin

Cavatappi is a generic name adopted by other brands that imitated Barilla's cellentani. This particular shape was born in the 1970s at Barilla in Parma[3] when a set of pasta dies had been mistakenly made with a spiral (instead of straight) set of lines. These produced pasta in a spiral or spring (molla in Italian) shape. Barilla decided to name it after one of the most famous showpeople of the time, Adriano Celentano, who was nicknamed "il molleggiato". As this name was trademarked by Barilla, other pasta producers had to use other names, such as cavatappi (corkscrews).

Shape

The cavatappi shape is perhaps best described as a ridged tube extruded into a helix shape through a small number of rotations. The number of turns is commonly in the range of one to three (with less than one full turn, the shape degenerates into a twisted version of elbow macaroni).

Common recipes

Cavatappi is used with Italian-style foods such as cavatappi Amatriciana[4] and cavatappi pomodoro.[5] It is mostly found in tomato-based pasta sauces and is associated closely with different types of cheeses such as mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone. It is a common choice for macaroni and cheese.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Nibble: Pasta Types". www.thenibble.com. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Cavatappi Pasta | Pasta | Gourmet Italian Food Store". www.GourmetItalian.com. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  3. ↑ This story was related to chef Davide Oldani on his TV show Alle origini della bontà (November 24, 2018) by Italo Bardiani, at the time one of the technicians at Barilla research lab. – http://www.acfans.it/blog/minipost/barilla-da-un-errore-e-nata-la-pasta-cellentani/
  4. ↑ "Carrabbas Cavatappi Amatriciana (Side Dish Pasta) Recipe - Food.com". www.food.com. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "Cavatappi Pomodoro". Just A Pinch Recipes. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  6. ↑ Roman, Alison. "How to Make Mac and Cheese". New York Times Cooking. Retrieved 10 April 2018.


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