Liguori Le Speciali – I Nidi

Liguori Le Speciali – I Nidi is Liguori's long pasta rolled into nests. It is dry durum wheat pasta: the maker states 100% Italian wheat, bronze dies and slow drying at low temperature to preserve texture and aroma. The protein content is 14.5%. Unlike the main ranges, the nests are not labelled as Pasta di Gragnano PGI.

There are three shapes: tagliatelle, fettuccine and pappardelle. They differ in ribbon width, from the narrower fettuccine to the broad pappardelle. The rough, porous surface left by the bronze die helps the ribbons hold sauce.

Nests are easy to portion and cook and do not break in the pack. Tagliatelle and fettuccine go well with cream sauces, mushrooms or bolognese; pappardelle with a thick meat ragù, for example of game.

The maker does not say that these nests contain egg, so they should be distinguished from classic egg pasta.

The range is made by Liguori, a pasta factory on Via dei Pastai in Gragnano whose history goes back to 1795. The company follows its certified "Liguori method": durum wheat from southern Italy, slow kneading with spring water from the Lattari Mountains, bronze dies and slow drying at low temperature.