Conchiglie (), commonly known as "shells" or "seashells", is a type of

pasta Pasta (, ; ) is a type of food typically made from an unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or eggs, and formed into sheets or other shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking. Rice flour, or legumes such as beans or lentils, ar ...

. It is 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. A miniature variety called ''conchigliette'' is also available.

Etymology

The name derives from the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

word for seashell (''conchiglia''). The Italian word ''conchiglie'' and the English word " conch" share the same Greek root in the form of κοχύλι (kochýli), which means "shell".

Other names

In the 1930s, fascism celebrated the

Italian colonial empire The Italian colonial empire ( it, Impero coloniale italiano), known as the Italian Empire (''Impero Italiano'') between 1936 and 1943, began in Africa in the 19th century and comprised the colonies, protectorates, concessions and dependencie ...

with new pasta shapes recalling the African lands: tripoline ( Tripoli), bengasine ( Bengasi), assabesi ( Assab), and abissine ( Abissinia). In 2021, after an outcry in objection to pasta brand La Molisana's advertising campaign, abissine were renamed as conchiglie (shells). However, some complained, claiming this re-naming constituted cancel culture.

Etymology

Other names

References

See also