Mezzanelli - Pasta di Gragnano IGP - Ctn 14 x 500g

Mezzanelli

Mezzanelli are long, smooth, tubular pasta slightly narrower than ziti and traditionally sold in lengths that are broken by hand before cooking. The name derives from “mezzano”, meaning “middle” or “medium,” referencing their intermediate size. A distinctive shape from Naples and the Campania region, mezzanelli are built to stand up to long-simmered sauces and oven baking.

With their hollow core and durable structure, mezzanelli absorb flavour while retaining a satisfying bite, making them a favourite for classic Neapolitan dishes served on Sundays and holidays.

• Best for: Long-cooked meat sauces, baked pasta, or hearty vegetable ragù.

Classic Dishes Featuring Mezzanelli

• Mezzanelli alla Genovese – A signature Neapolitan dish with slow-cooked onions, beef, and white wine.
  
  
• Mezzanelli al Ragù Napoletano – A rich, long-simmered tomato sauce with multiple cuts of meat.
  
  
• Mezzanelli al Forno – Baked in layers with ragù, mozzarella, and grated cheese.
  
  

Mezzanelli con Melanzane – With fried eggplant and tomato sauce, finished with ricotta salata.

About the Producer

Pastificio Carmiano is an artisanal pasta producer based in Gragnano, Campania, a town recognised for more than 500 years as the historical centre of dried pasta making in Italy. Nestled between the Lattari Mountains and the Amalfi Coast, Gragnano lies just a short distance from Mount Vesuvius, Naples, and the ancient ruins of Pompeii. Its unique position—exposed to sea breezes, mountain air, and steady southern sunlight—created ideal conditions for air-drying pasta. The town's historic and continued importance for artisan pasta is recognised by its Protected Geographical Indication status, Pasta di Gragnano IGP.

Carmiano uses 100% Italian semolina from a single mill in Apulia and combines it with pure spring water from the Monti Lattari. The dough is bronze-extruded to create a coarse surface ideal for holding sauces. The pasta is then dried slowly, between 18 to 60 hours, depending on the shape, using modern static cells that simulate the historic open-air drying methods. Much of the process remains manual, guided by the expertise of the head pasta maker.

Notably, Pastificio Carmiano’s Linguine was featured in the Top Italian Food 2024 Guide by Gambero Rosso. Gambero Rosso is one of Italy’s most trusted names in gastronomy, known for its guides, ratings, and media that highlight the country’s best food, wine, and producers.

The company also shows a strong commitment to the environment, using 100% recyclable, plastic-free packaging.