Pasta is one of the most beloved and versatile foods in Italian cuisine. But what is one of the simplest (and most surprising) ways to make it truly special? Spices.
Just a pinch is enough to give character to any dish, making it more fragrant, richer and healthier.
Spices are a precious ingredient, to be chosen with care and combined in a balanced way to best express their aromas. The secret is to pair them with pasta designed to retain flavour and release taste with every bite.
Why use spices in pasta?
Spices are not just used to decorate dishes or add an exotic touch.
They are priceless ingredients, able to:
• Enhance the flavour of the wheat without hiding it.
• Reduce the need for salt or fat, making the dish lighter.
• Add functional benefits, such as digestive, anti-inflammatory and toning properties.
• Add character to even the simplest recipe.
And with a high-quality pasta, such as Valdigrano, the spices are able to release their full potential.
Valdigrano Qualità Superiore: the perfect base for spices
The most suitable spices for pasta (and how to use them)
Oregano
The king of Mediterranean cuisine. Excellent with fresh tomatoes, olives and capers, or simply with oil and garlic on Valdigrano linguine Valdigrano.
Chilli pepper
It adds warmth and character. It goes perfectly with spaghetti, but also with legume sauces. It is useful to infuse it in hot oil to avoid excessive spiciness.
Turmeric
With its golden colour and delicate flavour, it is perfect with fusilli or sedani rigati pasta, perhaps paired with carrots or courgettes.
A pinch of black pepper enhances its properties.
Ginger
Sharp, fresh, citrusy. Try it freshly grated in a cold pasta dish with conchiglie Valdigrano and prawns.
Curry
Rich, deep and spicy. It goes well with short pasta with legumes, chicken or vegetables. Dilute it in a little hot water or plant-based milk before use.
Wild fennel
Perfect with blue fish, but also with chickpea and onion sauces. Try it with mafaldine Valdigrano for a revisited traditional recipe.
Ideas for tasty recipes with Valdigrano
Linguine with cherry tomato confit and fresh oregano
Linguine with cherry tomato confit and fresh oregano.
Fusilli with mild curry sauce, carrot cream and chickpeas
A creamy vegetable recipe that coats the pasta and gives it an irresistible aroma.
Spaghetti with garlic, oil, chilli pepper and fresh ginger
A classic revisited with a digestive and modern twist.
Mafaldine con finocchietto, sarde e pinoli tostati
A tribute to Mediterranean roots, perfect for a dinner with intense flavours.
Spices are smart allies in the kitchen: they enhance, perfume and enrich. But to really work, they need a base that can welcome and enhance them.
Valdigrano pasta, with its firm texture and authentic flavour, is the ideal companion for any spicy combination, from the most delicate to the most intense.
Because every dish can become a sensory journey. Just start with the right pasta… and add a pinch of magic.
