Casarecce Pasta: Perfect for Rich Sauces and Creative Recipes

This classic Sicilian pasta shape is sure to fulfill your cravings on any given summer day. Find out more about the shape, history, and different recipes that Casarecce pasta can bring to your table.

History and Background

Casarecce pasta is often compared to “rolled parchment”: with its curled edges and tube-like form, this pasta shape is perfect for getting maximum sauce and flavor with every bite. The name comes from the Italian word “casereccio,” which means “homemade.” This pasta can very well live up to its name! It’s recommended that this pasta is cooked al dente in order to enhance the taste.

Sicilian heritage

Caserecce pasta is believed to have originated in Sicily, an island with a rich culinary tradition influenced by various cultures, including the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Normans. These influences are reflected in the diversity and richness of Sicilian cuisine. With the advent of pasta-making machines, caserecce, like many other traditional pastas, transitioned from being exclusively homemade to being commercially produced. This allowed for wider distribution and availability beyond Italy.

What are some rich sauces?

These easy rich, creamy sauces will pair well with casarecce. Give them a try!

Sausage and cream sauce

• Add sausage to a skillet with olive oil, breaking it up with a spoon. Add onion and garlic.

• Pour in ½ cup of white wine and let it simmer. Repeat with heavy cream.

• Season with salt and pepper, adding parmesan cheese to taste.
  

Pesto cream sauce

• Put the pesto over medium heat in a large pan. 

• Stir in the heavy cream and simmer.

• Season with salt and pepper, adding parmesan cheese to taste.

Vodka sauce

• Saute onion and garlic over olive oil. Add red pepper flakes.

• Pour in ½ cup of vodka and simmer.

• Add crushed tomatoes and simmer.

• Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

Truffle mushroom cream sauce

• Add mushrooms to a skillet over medium heat and cook assorted mushrooms.

• Add garlic, then pour in ½ cup of white wine and simmer.

• Pour in heavy cream and let simmer.

• Add Parmesan cheese and truffle oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Bolognese sauce

• In a large pot, cook onion/carrots/celery over olive oil. Add garlic.

• Add ground beef and break it up with a spoon.

• Pour in red wine and simmer.

• Add crushed tomatoes and simmer.

• Season with salt and pepper.

These are just a few simple sauce ideas that can get you started! Read on to find some creative recipes, if you’re looking to get fancy.

And lastly: some creative ideas

With these simple base sauces, adding a few interesting flavors could be the way to go. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

Firstly, adding a different cheese can be an easy way to spice things up. While Parmesan is a classic and appears in many of the recipes above, something like goat cheese or ricotta cheese can send your culinary tastes above and beyond.

In addition, adding some interesting vegetables or fruit can be a great way to play with the texture of the pasta, especially since Casarecce is such a unique pasta shape. Cubed butternut squash, asparagus, or even sun-dried tomatoes are a great way to elevate your dish.

Lastly, playing with the main elements of a pasta dish can completely change its flavor palate. Try some shrimp, or other seafood options. Since pasta is such a versatile dish, the world is your oyster (And wow! Oyster pasta sounds delicious…).

And of course, creativity is in the eye of the beholder. Try some of your own new flavor pairings! Let us know how your summer of cooking goes.