Maccheroni al Ferretto Pasta Recipe

Written by: Vladimir Lapshin

Key Takeaways

• Simple Ingredients: This recipe is very easy to make and requires only a handful of ingredients. 
• Versatile with sauces: Maccheroni al Ferreto is a very versatile dish. You can pair it with your favorite choice of sauces. It goes very well with vegetable based sauces and tomato based sauces. 
• Handmade Tradition: The authentic Maccheroni al Ferreto is handmade using semolina dough and a thin metal rod. However, shaping this Maccheroni requires practice and patience. With a few trials, you can master the art of shaping this pasta. 

Introduction

Maccheroni al Ferretto is a hollow tube shaped pasta which is made using a thin metal rod called Ferretto. Its hollow tube shape makes it perfect for holding sauces. Maccheroni al Ferretto pasta can be made using only two ingredients, water and semolina flour. However, shaping the pasta takes a bit of practice. This special and delicious pasta can be paired with creamy or tomato based sauces. You can also pair it with meaty options. 

What is Macheroni al Ferretto?

Maccheroni al Ferretto is a special pasta from Calabria which is a region in southern italy. Maccheroni means ‘pasta’ and Ferreto refers to the thin metal rod used to shape this pasta. It can be easily made by rolling small pieces of semolina dough around the Ferreto. Due to the hollow shape of the pasta, the sauces can easily cling inside and outside of this pasta. This makes every bite of it delicious, and flavorful. 

Maccheroni al Ferretto Pasta Recipe

Recipe by Recipe Blossom

0.0 from 0 votes

Cuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Medium

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

1

hour 

Cooking time

15

minutes

Calories per serving

500

kcal

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• For the Pasta:

• Semolina Flour: 200 grams

• Water: 100 grams

• Salt: Pinch

• For the Dish:

• Fava Beans: 2 pounds

• Olive Oil: 1 tbsp + extra

• Garlic: 2 cloves, minced

• White Wine: Splash

• Nduja: 2 ounces

• Fresh Mint: Small handful, chopped

• Fresh Basil: Small handful, chopped

• Pecorino Romano: To taste, grated

• Lemon Zest: To taste

• Salt: To taste

Step by Step Instructions

• Prepare Pasta Dough: Take a large bowl and put the semolina flour in it. Make some space in the center of the flour and slowly add water into it while mixing the flour with your hands. Add a pinch of salt and knead it for about 10 minutes. If the dough is sticky, sprinkle some extra flour into it. If the dough is too dry, add a bit of water to it. Finally, cover the dough and leave it for 30 minutes. 
• Shaping the Pasta: Sprinkle some semolina flour on the baking sheet. Cut a small piece of dough and roll it into 2 inch long piece. Roll this piece of dough around Ferreto and roll it back and forth until it forms a cylindrical shape. Take off this cylindrical shaped dough from the Ferreto and repeat this process for remaining dough. 
• Prepare Fava Beans: Take a pot of salted water and boil it. Take out the fava beans and drop them in the boiling water. Cook them for two minutes until they become tender. Drain the water and put the cooked fava beans into an ice water bath. Drain the ice water and peel the fava beans. 
• Finishing the dish: Boil a pot of salted water. Put the Maccheroni in it and cook for about 5 minutes until al dente. Take a skillet and heat one tablespoon of olive oil in it. Put minced garlic in it and sauté for one to two minutes. Put the shelled fava beans and pasta cooking water into it. Add cooked pasta and ‘nduja to the skillet. Swirl to combine all ingredients thoroughly. When the mixture is heated enough, add the basil and fresh mint into the skillet and toss to combine. Season with salt according to your taste. 
• Serve: Your Maccheroni Ferretto pasta is ready. Put it in the bowls and serve it with lemon zest or a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Enjoy your delicious and flavorful Maccheroni pasta. 

Chef Recommendations

• Dough Consistency: Dough consistency is the key to a flavorful Maccheroncini pasta. It should not be too wet or too dry.
• Shaping Practice: Practice to shape your pasta dough perfectly. This will enhance the texture of the dish and make it more appealing. 
• Spice Level: You can adjust the level of spice such as ‘nduja according to your preference. 
• Ingredient Quality: Alway use fresh and high quality ingredients to make Maccheroni Ferretto. They make a big difference in the overall flavor profile of the dish. 

The Nutritional Benefits

• Carbohydrates: Maccheroni pasta is a rich source of carbohydrates which provide energy throughout the day. 
• Proteins: This pasta contains moderate amounts of protein. Protein is essential for building and repairing muscles. 
• Fat: Maccheroni al Ferro pasta is low in saturated fatty acids. This makes it a healthy dish. 

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