{"id":27629,"date":"2022-12-12T17:10:58","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T17:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=27629"},"modified":"2023-04-28T16:58:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T16:58:42","slug":"pasta-from-naples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/pasta-from-naples\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Best Types of Pasta from Naples: Gnocchi, Lasagne, & More"},"content":{"rendered":"
No trip to Naples is complete without trying <\/span>Neapolitan pizza<\/span><\/a>. And while we highly suggest devouring as many pies as possible, you should also leave room for another noteworthy item: pasta. Not nearly as famous but not to miss out on here are the best pasta dishes from Naples you have to try to understand why we consider it to be a pasta paradise.<\/span> Pasta in Naples is another very serious experience. Located in the lush region of Campania, the Parthenopean city has access to an incredible array of fresh ingredients, making for some particularly delicious local specialties. From classics like the seafood-based <\/span>spaghetti alla vongole<\/span><\/i> to more seasonal favorites such as <\/span>lasagne di carnevale<\/span><\/i>, Napoli’s pasta repertoire has much to offer. <\/span><\/p> Peasant food is oftentimes the tastiest. <\/span>Pasta e fagioli<\/span><\/i>, or pasta with beans, is a prime example: It’s a dish you’ll find across Italy,<\/span> which historically fed communities across the boot-shaped nation. In Naples however, there’s a particularly tasty variant of this bean-based classic: <\/span>pasta e fagioli con cozze<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p> In this pasta, mussels (and their natural juices) are added to the mix, making the dish particularly succulent. The most classic preparation features <\/span>ditalini<\/span><\/i> pasta, white cannellini beans, mussels, and their cooking liquid, garlic, white wine, olive oil,<\/span> peperoncino<\/span><\/i>, tomatoes, herbs, and seasonings.<\/span><\/p> Puttanesca<\/span><\/i> is another Neapolitan classic, which consists of spaghetti paired with a sauce made from tomatoes, olive oil, olives, anchovies, <\/span>peperoncino<\/span><\/i>, capers, and garlic. While this spicy, savory <\/span>sugo<\/span><\/i> is bound to surprise your tastebuds with its bold flavors, you may also be surprised by its name, which translates roughly into “spaghetti in the style of the whore.”<\/span><\/p> Like many Italian dishes (most, if we’re being honest), the exact origins of<\/span> puttanesca<\/span><\/i> are uncertain. But there are a couple of theories: <\/span><\/p> One popular story states that <\/span>puttanesca<\/span><\/i> was invented in one of many brothels in the Naples working-class <\/span>Quartieri Spagnoli<\/span>. Since it’s relatively quick to prepare, it is said that the prostitutes made it for themselves so they could minimize the interruption of their business. <\/span><\/p> The other is that one late evening in the 1950s, a group of restaurant-goers in Ischia asked the chef to prepare <\/span>una puttanata qualsiasi<\/span><\/i>, which translates into “make any sort of garbage,” since it was already late and the restaurant had run out of various ingredients. The chef threw together whatever was left, and alas, <\/span>spaghetti alla puttanesca<\/span><\/i> was born.<\/span><\/p> While in Naples we recommend trying this iconic pasta dish it at <\/span>Antica Trattoria da Ettore<\/span> (Via Gennaro Serra, 39<\/em>) located around the corner from <\/span>Piazza del Plebiscito.<\/span><\/i><\/p> Today, you can find<\/span> spaghetti alle vongole<\/span><\/i> all over Italy (and the world). Neapolitans however, will be quick to remind you that this beloved seafood pasta originated in Napoli, where <\/span>vongole<\/span><\/i> (clams) have been a prized ingredient for many centuries. <\/span><\/p> The first noted recipe for <\/span>spaghetti alle vongole <\/span><\/i>dates back to 1839, and was published by Ippolito Cavalcanti in his cookbook, <\/span>Cucina Teorico-pratica<\/span><\/i>. This original take called for just five ingredients—pasta, olive oil, garlic, parsley, and fresh clams, which is a formula that to this day, has experienced very few alterations. <\/span><\/p> Some spots, however, will also serve <\/span>spaghetti alle vongole in<\/span><\/i> rosso<\/span><\/i>, which simply includes the addition of tomatoes and fresh basil. <\/span><\/p> Ragù Napoletano<\/span><\/i>, known as <\/span>‘o rraù <\/span><\/i>in the local dialect, represents the quintessential Sunday family meal. Not to be confused with <\/span>ragu alla bolognese<\/span><\/i>, which features ground beef, Neapolitan-style ragù uses a combination of various meat cuts, such as veal shank, Neapolitan chops, pork ribs, fresh sausages, and pork rinds. And in contrast with its Northern counterpart, an abundance of tomatoes is preferred. <\/span><\/p> Usually, the ragù-making process starts early in the morning, since it <\/span>requires hours of cooking<\/span><\/a> in order to acquire its emblematically thick and creamy texture. But it’s well worth the trouble– once the pork meat is ready, the sauce is paired with pasta and topped off with Parmigiano and fresh basil to make an irresistibly rich <\/span>primo<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p> But what about the beef? Since it takes longer to cook, it’s reserved for the <\/span>secondo!<\/span><\/i><\/p> Many cities across Italy tend to favor fried sweets for carnival celebrations. And while Naples is no exception, there’s an additional C<\/a><\/span>arnival<\/span> claim to fame: lasagne.<\/span><\/p> In mid-February, pasta sheets are filled with a hefty combination of that same <\/span>ragù napoletano<\/span><\/i> with <\/span>salsiccia<\/span><\/i> (sausage), <\/span>salame<\/span><\/i>, meatballs, <\/span>caciocavallo<\/span><\/i>, and ricotta to make the mouthwatering, delectable dish known as <\/span>lasagne di carnevale. <\/span><\/i>Every family has its own recipe, but what’s certain is that Neapolitan carnival lasagne will never be missing from the <\/span>martedi grosso<\/span><\/i> table, when gluttony and excess are not just accepted, but actively encouraged. <\/span><\/p> If you’re lucky to be in Naples around <\/span>carnevale<\/span><\/i>, head to Januarius (Via Duomo 136\/138<\/em>) and try their lasagne, which is served with a tremendously generous amount of their homemade ragù.<\/span><\/p> Another beloved Sunday dish from the region of Campania is gnocchi alla sorrentina<\/em>, which <\/span>hails from the coastal city of Sorrento<\/a>, just an hour outside of Naples. <\/span><\/p> This simple preparation features homemade potato gnocchi doused in a creamy sauce made <\/span>from tomato, mozzarella, basil, and parmigiano, which is finished off in the oven to give it a <\/span>golden-brown bake. And while this is the classic version, there are many renditions of gnocchi <\/em><\/span>alla sorrentina<\/em>. For example, there are those who opt for cherry tomatoes, rather than the <\/span>classic San Marzano; others prefer fior di latte<\/em> to mozzarella di<\/em> buffala<\/em><\/a> when thinking about the mozzarella <\/span>component; a select few even choose to add eggplant. <\/span><\/p> No matter which version of gnocchi alla sorrentina you end up trying, your palate is bound to be <\/span>pleased by those soft potato-based pillows smothered in that tangy, rich sauce.<\/span><\/p> Looking for more vegetarian options? Check out our guide to dining meat-free in Napoli<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>
Pasta e Fagioli con Cozze<\/b><\/h2>

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca<\/b><\/h2>

Spaghetti alle Vongole<\/b><\/h2>
‘O Rraù (or Ragù Napoletano) <\/b><\/h2>

Lasagne di Carnevale<\/b><\/h2>

Gnocchi alla Sorrentina<\/b><\/h2>

Sugo alla Genovese<\/b><\/h2>