Bigoli

Bigoli - The Bigoli is a long, fat pasta (solid in the middle), like a big spaghetti of Venetian origin.  It is spread throughout the region and is also found in East Lombardy.
The recipe for bigoli is traditionally prepared with wheat flour, water, and salt.

Bigoli Al'anatra

Italian's describe the main feature of this pasta as, "Pasta Forte" which refers to it's "roughness" that allows it to hold sauces.  Bigoli has a peculiar and time consuming method of preparation.  The traditional pasta press is a hand operated die press, with two handles that screw down, compressing the dough through the holes at the bottom (this is attached to a small bench).  The cylinder is loaded with dough and screwed down, the pasta comes out the bottom giving you roughly one portion per cylinder.
There are different recipe variations of bigoli that are obtained by varying the type of flour used.  Saracen flour is black and is used to make darker (brown) bigoli.  Some recipes also call for duck eggs to be used instead of water.
There are so many traditional sauces with bigoli, however, the most common is from the mountainous areas of Veneto, "Bigoli All'Anatra" - bigoli with duck sauce.  Other common recipes are: Bigoli al Baccala - from Vicenza; or Bigoli con Sardele - from Venice.

Every year, on the last week of April, the so-called "party of the bigoi Torcio" is held in Limena (Padova province).  Every Saturday and Sunday in May is "The Feast of Bigoli in Rovolon" (also in Padova) in the vicinity of Carbonara.  There is another festival held in May on the third weekend, also held in Abano Terme in Monterosso.

Bigoli dough recipe

Bigoli dough

Bigoli for four people:
400g (3cups) of flour ("00" or cake flour)
3 eggs (you can also use duck eggs, however their eggs a slightly bigger and modifies the recipe)
Water (small amount, appx 2-Tbsp)
Salt - 1 Tsp


In a bowl mix the flour and eggs with a fork until it has formed clumps in the flour.  Switch to using your hand(s) and mix rigorously.  When the dough has become one large ball, move to tabletop (preferably a wood surface) and continue to work and mix the dough with your hands just like any other pasta dough.  Bigoli is traditionally made using a torchio, make sure you load your pasta with it floured into the cylinder.  Begin to twist and cut twice for one cylinder load of dough.  flour liberally and ensure the pasta is not sticking while coming out. 

Duck Sauce 

Servings 4
500g Bigoli 
400 duck meat minced
1 tbsp butter

2tbsp Olive oil
1 cup  broth
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 carrot
1 cup oz red wine
4 tbs of heavy cream 
thyme to taste
marjoram to taste
1 bay leaf
Grana Padano to taste
parsley to taste

In a pan containing some butter, brown the onions, garlic and carrot, add the duck meat. Mix thoroughly.

Pour the red wine over the mixture, allow to evaporate, and then salt to taste.

Add the herbs, the bay leaves and finally the cream. In the meantime, cook the pasta in abundant boiling and salted water.

When the pasta is cooked, when it is still “al dente”, drain it, put it in the pan with the sauce and toss it. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with grated Parmesan, finely chopped parsley and arrange on the serving dish.

Bigoli alla Montanara

1lb Italian sausages (in Italy, Salsiccia sfusa that means 'Regular Sausage')

1 chopped onion

4 cloves of garlic

1 cup  Swiss chard chopped on big pieces or Radicchio di Treviso.

1/2 cup walnuts

1 cup red wine

1 cup tomato pure

1 tbsp oregano

Olive oil

Salt & Pepper

500 grams Bigoli, Tagliatelli, Pappardelle or any long pasta that is not Spaghetti! 

Smoked ricotta

Start with a good pouring of olive oil on the pan, fry the onions and garlic. Add the sausages, when the sausages are brown add the wine and let reduce in half. Add the tomato sauce and oregano and let cook for 10 minutes. Turn of the fire and add the greens. 

Sauté the pasta with the sauce and add walnuts and smoked ricotta to serve.