Conchiglie

Conchiglie (Italian: [koŋˈkiʎʎe]) are a type of pasta. They are usually sold in the plain durum wheat variety, and also in colored varieties which use natural pigments, such as tomato extract, squid ink or spinach extract. The shell shape of the pasta allows the sauce to adhere to it. There is a larger variation known as conchiglioni, and a miniature version called conchigliette.^[1]

Conchiglie

Conchiglie rigate
Alternative names	Shells, seashells
Type	Pasta
Place of origin	Italy
Main ingredients	Durum wheat flour, possibly natural colour (tomato or spinach extract, squid ink)
Variations	Conchigliette Conchiglioni
Media: Conchiglie

Conchiglie are claimed to have been traced back to southern Italy, where they were traditionally made using durum wheat semolina.^[2]

Etymology

The name derives from the Italian word for 'seashell', conchiglia. The Italian word conchiglie and the English word conch share the same Greek root in the form of κοχύλι (kochýli), meaning 'shell'.^[3]

Controversy

In 2021, long-standing Italian pasta manufacturer La Molisana launched an advertising for several pasta shapes including conchiglie. In the campaign, conchiglie was called by its historic name, abissine, named after Benito Mussolini's fascist occupation of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia).^[4] The campaign praised the pasta's "colonial taste" and made references to Roman lictors.^[4] Following online backlash including a statement from the National Association of Partisans, La Molisana apologised, temporarily withdrew the pasta shapes promoted by the campaign, and changed their marketing to refer to the pasta shape as conchiglie.^[5] However, news outlet Huffington Post Italia and magazine Gambero Rosso criticised the pasta maker for renaming the pasta and claimed the backlash constituted cancel culture.^[4][6]

See also

Media related to Conchiglie at Wikimedia Commons

• Italy portal
• Food portal

• List of pasta