Bumbola pasta is a thick, open pasta with ridges on one side, suitable for heavy sauces and meat. It can be difficult to find, but can be made at home or purchased from boutique pasta companies.
Bumbola pasta is a thick, rich pasta designed to hold heavy sauces. The pasta takes its name from the bumblebee, as the shape vaguely resembles bees and is sometimes seen labeled as “bumblebee”. While it can sometimes be difficult to find the shape of the pasta, as it’s a bit out of the ordinary, it’s worth tracking down, especially for cooks who want a strong shape to pair with a potent sauce. Bumbola pasta can also be made at home, with a little practice.
To make bumbola pasta, a tube of pasta is formed with flanges at periodic intervals, then cut in half. The result is a semi-cylindrical piece of dough with two small protrusions on the outer, curved side. From this side, the bumbola pasta looks like a bee, with the flanges bordering the body section in the middle and the wings projecting from either side of the flanges. One might see bumbola pasta as a twist on the plain pasta shell, making it a fun and novel addition to the dinner table.
Two things make bumbola pasta suitable for heavy sauces. The first is the open form, which can hold a lot of sauce. The other is the ridges on the other side, which also help hold the sauce. When tossed with a sauce, bumbola pasta will hold the sauce well on both sides, leading to an even distribution throughout the dish. When the sauce is poured over the pasta, it will help catch the sauce, making sure it doesn’t end up all over the bottom of the dish.
Because open pasta is such a strong vehicle for sauce, many people consider it a great meat pasta, as the hollowed out shape can hold bits of meat in addition to the sauce. Pasta alla bumbola can also be used with more delicate sauces, of course, and a flavored bumbola paired with a delicate sauce can be quite delicious. The rich cream sauces can sometimes be a bit overwhelming on bumbola pasta, however, as the shape will hold a large pocket of sauce, which can feel heavy in your mouth.
Both fresh and dry pasta are available. Bumbola fresh pasta can be prepared at home, although the assistance of a pasta mold is highly recommended. Dried shapes of pasta are often produced by boutique pasta companies that focus on celebrating Italy’s culinary heritage, often using ancient pasta molds and recipes.
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