Fileja

Fileja is a traditional pasta from the Calabria region of Italy. It is a type of long, thin spaghetti-like pasta that is typically made by hand using a combination of wheat flour and water. The pasta is usually shaped into long, thin ropes that are then coiled and twisted into small nests similar in shape to a bird’s nest.

Fileja is typically served with various sauces, but it is particularly well-suited to seafood-based sauces. The pasta is also often paired with a local spicy sausage called ‘nduja or with vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, and peppers.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of flour
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1/2 cup of water

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt.
2. Slowly add the water, kneading the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic.
3. Divide the dough into small balls, and roll each ball into a thin rope about 1/4 inch in diameter.
4. Take the end of the rope in one hand and use the other hand to twist the rope into a spiral shape.
5. Coil the spiral into a small nest shape and place it on a lightly floured baking sheet.
6. Repeat the process with the remaining dough.
7. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
8. Add the fileja nests to the boiling water and cook for about 4-5 minutes or until al dente.
9. Drain the pasta and toss it with your desired sauce.