Benedetto Cavalieri has been making this pasta in Lecce in the region of Puglia using the same traditional method since 1918. In Benedetto Cavalieri's "delicate method," water and durum wheat are kneaded together and processed slowly and gently. To form the pasta into a variety of traditional shapes, the dough is extruded through antique rough bronze dies and dried gradually at room temperature. The result of this dedication to tradition and attention to detail is a pasta with the distinct fragrance and flavor of wheat and a satisfying chew that is typical of high-quality pasta made the authentic, old-fashioned, artisanal way. Sauce this special pasta sparingly so you can taste the difference between it and the pasta you buy at the supermarket.
This farfalle ("butterfly" or "bow-tie" pasta) is perfect for serving with chunky tomato and boar ragus, creamy tuna sauces, or tossed in a zesty vinaigrette for pasta salad.