Quite pasta-bly the most famous noodle in the world, spaghetti is made a bit differently in the Italian region of Abruzzo, just east of Rome. Just like standard spaghetti, the Abruzzese version is long and thin, made with durum wheat semolina and water, but instead of having a rounded shape, this Spaghetti is uniquely square, and goes by the name Spaghetti alla Chitarra.

A Chitarra is a pasta tool with a wooden frame and metal wires tied end-to-end, resembling a guitar (or chitarra in Italian.) Traditionally, a sheet of pasta dough is laid on the wires and pushed through with the use of a rolling pin to create its shape. Our Italian supplier mimics this method with the use of a bronze die extruder, which not only delivers the requisite square shape, but also creates a rough exterior texture on each noodle, resulting in superb sauce-sticking capabilities. Combine those attributes with a short list of exceptional ingredients (our supplier mills their own organic durum wheat semolina), and you have Trader Joe’s Organic Spaghetti alla Chitarra.

About nine minutes in boiling water produces pleasingly al dente pasta, ready to enjoy with your favorite sauce. We’re partial to pairing this Spaghetti with a jar of Vegan Bolognese Style Pasta Sauce or Cacio e Pepe Pasta Sauce, topped with a generous grating of Pecorino Romano.