Chifferi: All about the pasta variety

From rigatoni to cannelloni to ziti – all of these types of pasta are used in the home from time to time, but what about chifferi pasta?

Chifferi, whose name comes from the German word “Kipfel”, is a tubular pasta that originated in northern and central Italy. Its individual length is around 16 cm, while the width is around 6 cm. It is made from durum wheat flour and water and has the shape of a small, curved tube that satisfies the daily pasta craving.

In this article, you’ll learn all about chifferi and discover delicious recipes to go with this type of pasta. Let’s go!

Chifferi: origin and meaning

Pasta typeChifferi
CategoryTubular noodles
Lengthabout 16 cm
Widthabout 6 cm
Thicknessvaries
OriginNorth and Central Italy
MeaningDerived from the German word “Kipfel” (an Austrian cake with a similar shape).
SynonymsChifferini, cirillini, chiocciole, lumachine, lumachette
Similar types of pastaMacaroni, Lumache

Where do Chifferi come from?

Chifferi originated in northern and central Italy. Since then, Italians have prepared soups and other dishes with this pasta. The characteristics of this pasta are similar to those of macaroni, but chifferi have grooves on the outside.

Due to their structure, these short, chunky, tubular Italian pasta noodles are also ideal for pasta salads and soups. They are known to go well with cheese sauces, light, simple sauces or tomato sauces.

What does Chifferi mean?

The word “Chifferi” is derived from the German word “Kipfel”, which refers to an almond cookie with a characteristic curved tube shape similar to that of a Chifferi pasta. The cookie was invented by a baker in Vienna at the end of the 16th century to commemorate the liberation of the city from the Turks.

What is the difference between chifferi and macaroni?

Chifferi and macaroni have a lot in common when you compare them side by side, but there is one key difference between the two: Chifferi have ridges surrounding them on the outside. In contrast, macaroni is smooth and has no ridges.

Both noodles have a tubular shape and are interchangeable. They can be used in soup dishes or even in a classic mac n’ cheese. There is little difference between the two noodles and they are made with the same flour, but preferences may still differ. If you prefer a thicker texture for your pasta, you should choose chifferi.

Recipes to go with Chifferi

Chifferi elbow pasta with cannellini beans and tuna

Pasta, beans and tuna – a classic combination for a hot dish on a cold day. Although you don’t often see this phenomenal recipe in restaurants, it’s the ideal weekday meal.

Chifferi Arabiatta with pasta sauce

This delicious recipe with Chifferi Rigati pasta, olive oil, garlic cloves, black pepper, chili flakes, mozzarella, fresh basil leaves and a tomato and basil sauce, served with a green salad.

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