FARFALLONI (large), FARFALLE (medium) or FARFALLINI (small), meaning ‘butterflies’, are also known as bow tie shaped pasta. The italian for bow tie is ‘cravatta a farfalla’. They are make using durum wheat semolina flour.
The farfalloni shape dates back to the 16th century and originated in the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions of northern Italy. The shape is formed from a square of pasta that is carefully pinched in the center.
This shape is known as ‘gassa’ in Genoa, ‘strichetto’ and ‘galani’, in the cities of Bologna and Parma.
Since this pasta shape has no ridges, it is best served with light, oil or butter based sauces. They are also a great pasta salad choice.