WHAT IS GIGLI?

Also known as campanelle, this cut is made in the shape of a little bell or flower.  The ruffled edge and central cone are both elegant and symbolic of its home town’s coat of arms.  With a trumpet shape and furled edge, gigli is great for trapping thicker sauces.

WHERE IS GIGLI MADE?

Lillies have been the emblem of Tuscany since Roman times.   They are featured on the coat of arms for this regions capital city Florence.  This pasta’s flower shape is a tribute to the land of its’ birth.  The identity of these “little bells” and the people of Florence are heavily intertwined.  In the 1800’s Napoleon conquered Florence and tried to banish the Giglio (lilly icon).  Instead it became a symbol of rebellion against his rule.

WHO HATED THIS PASTA SO MUCH TO NAME THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE AFTER IT?

Gigli is also the unfortunate title of a movie that Rotten Tomatoes voted one of the worst of all time. Please don’t let it prejudice your love of this beautiful pasta or encourage you to see the movie.  Admittedly though, the “turkey time” scene may put you off poultry for a while.

WHAT SAUCES GO WELL WITH GIGLI?

This cut holds up well in thicker sauces and surprisingly also in baked dishes.  British chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s Gigli with Chickpeas and Za’atar is a clever Israeli Italian fusion dish.  Sauces that work with other Tuscan pasta cuts like pici or pappardelle are usually a safe bet with gigli.  When pairing a wine with this dish, remember you are pairing to the sauce not the pasta.  A nice Tuscan Chianti or Brunello will need to be able to stand up to your sauce or ragu of choice.  If you’d like to see one of our recipes using this cut check out Italian mushroom sauce recipe!