Gentile Eliche Pasta di Gragnano IGP is a traditional spiral-shaped pasta produced in Gragnano, a town in the Campania region of Southern Italy that has been famous for pasta making for centuries. The “IGP” designation (Indicazione Geografica Protetta) certifies that the pasta is produced in Gragnano according to strict quality standards.
Eliche, meaning “propellers,” are short spiral twists designed to trap sauce within their curves. The ridges and tight spirals allow both smooth and textured sauces to cling evenly, making every bite balanced and flavorful.
Gentile pasta is made from high-quality durum wheat semolina and extruded through bronze dies, giving it a rough, porous surface. It is slowly dried at low temperatures — a traditional method that enhances structure and preserves the natural character of the wheat.
Unlike industrial pasta, which tends to be smooth and glossy, bronze-extruded Pasta di Gragnano has a matte finish and textured surface that improves sauce adhesion.
Eliche pairs beautifully with sauces that benefit from grip and structure, including:
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Tomato and basil sauce
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Pesto
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Sausage ragù
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Creamy vegetable sauces
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Ricotta-based sauces
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Pasta salads
Because of its spiral form and ridged surface, eliche performs best with sauces that have enough body to coat the twists rather than very thin, delicate dressings.