It was a couple of years ago that I first spotted Cappello’s Pasta at an Expo. I was intrigued, but their booth was packed with so many curious foodies that I couldn’t get close enough to sample. Fortunately, Cappello’s Pasta recently found me and sent a few packages for us to trial at home.
Cappello’s Pasta is gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and even paleo. Made with just 5 to 6 ingredients in each variety (almond flour, eggs, tapioca flour, xanthan gum and salt + potato flakes in the gnocchi). Yet somehow, it cooks up into tender fresh pasta goodness.
Tasting Notes for Cappello’s Pasta
We had a chance to sample all three varieties of Cappello’s pasta. Overall, we still can hardly believe it’s grain-free!
Fettuccine
The Fettuccine was first up, and both Tony and I were seriously impressed. One serving didn’t look like much at first. Once prepared, it not only filled our bowls, it seriously filled our stomachs. Cappello’s Pasta is a fantastic option for vegetarians and meatless meals as it’s quite rich in healthy fats and protein on its own. The only two caveats: it easily took twice as long to cook to al dente (but this was still just a few minutes) and I noticed a slight bitterness in the aftertaste that emerged with every other bite, but Tony didn’t. But overall, it was tasty, relatively neutral and had such a wonderful bite.
Lasagna
Up next was the Lasagna sheets, which worked perfectly! I had a beautiful, tender, “cheesy” lasagna on the table in no time at all, with minimal cooking time since the sheets are fresh rather than dried. They were easy to work with and cut, and once cooked, very tender. Interestingly enough, I didn’t notice the bitter aftertaste on this variety of Cappello’s Pasta, but Tony did! This time around, we both noticed that the meal weighed a bit heavy, too, despite taking what looked like normal servings.
Gnocchi
Finally, the Gnocchi. I was really curious about this one, but Tony needed a dense pasta break. He was probably right to pass as these were tasty, but VERY heavy. Unlike the other two, the Gnocchi is also made with potato flakes. The package lists 6 servings, but the writing on the package says “serves two to three”, so I braved 1-1/2 servings which still looked like a pretty small amount. Wow, tasty, but my stomach was hurting later. I think in the future I would just use a handful as an addition to soup, rather than trying to make them the base of a meal. To note, I had trouble getting the Gnocchi to cook up – a good 10 minutes or more into the cooking, they still weren’t floating. I finally gave up due to hunger!
The Facts on Cappello’s Pasta
Certifications: Cappello’s Pasta is Certified Gluten-Free and Certified Kosher (parve, I believe)
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Cappello’s Pasta is dairy-free / non-dairy, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegetarian, and paleo. Nonetheless, check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the Cappello’s Gluten Free website at cappellosglutenfree.com.
