From Pastificio Carleschi — Britain’s first artisan dry pasta producer. Founded by Giovanni Carleschi, a Tuscan-born cook who settled in Britain and asked a simple question: why does all great pasta have to come from Italy when Britain grows such extraordinary grain? The answer is in every packet. Made from 100% UK-grown organic ancient grains, stoneground, bronze-extruded and slow-dried for up to 40 hours. The grains are grown in Hertfordshire — practically on our doorstep.
Conchiglie — meaning ‘shells’ in Italian — are one of the most practical and charming pasta shapes ever devised. The cupped interior is literally designed to scoop and hold sauce, chunks of vegetable, meat and cheese inside each shell. In Carleschi’s white spelt version, you get all the functionality of this brilliant shape combined with the superior nutrition and flavour of British heritage grain.
Why Pastificio Carleschi Pasta is Different
- Ancient grains (spelt, emmer, einkorn) contain higher levels of protein, fibre and minerals than modern wheat varieties — and many people with mild wheat sensitivity find them much easier to digest
- Bronze-extruded — pressed through traditional bronze dies rather than Teflon-coated commercial machines. This creates a slightly rough, porous surface that sauces cling to magnificently
- Slow dried for up to 40 hours at low temperature (below 55°C) — preserving the natural oils, vitamins and flavour of the grain that industrial high-heat drying destroys
- Stoneground flour — retaining the germ and bran of the grain for superior flavour and nutrition
- Grown on regenerative British farms, supporting soil health and biodiversity
- Multiple Great Taste Award winner
Recipe Ideas
- Stuffed conchiglie: Cook al dente, stuff with ricotta, spinach and nutmeg, bake in tomato sauce and mozzarella — a stunning dinner party dish
- Minestrone: The shell shape catches vegetables and beans in every scoop of the soup
- Tuna pasta: The shells hold chunks of tuna, capers, olives and tomato beautifully — perfect for lunchboxes
- Pasta salad: An excellent salad pasta — the cups hold dressing and every ingredient gets captured in every forkful
Cooking: Al dente in 10-12 minutes. Perfect for baked pasta dishes as the shape retains its structure well.
