My good friend and travel adviser, Maria, suggested we try culurgiones while in Sardinia. We had no idea what it was, but we did track it down.
It is a delicious pasta filled with potatoes and sage, or other herb, and covered in a heavenly tomato sauce.
Jennifer from La Mia Vita Sarda found a recipe for me. The pasta is made from flour, semolina, water and oil and the filling is potatoes, fresh and aged pecorino, garlic, and herbs. Her husband spoke lovingly of culurgiones, the best food in the world, he said. He could be correct. I will try the recipe and report my results.
We found culurgiones at a restaurant suggested by a lovely blog commenter….
La Vecchia Costa near Porto Cervo. Here is the rest of our delicious meal.
And here is our handsome waiter, Rafaele, with our friend Di.
If you go to La Vecchia Costa ask for the culurgiones, you will love it.
Yes, I tried Culurgiones and found it delicious. Enjoy your stay in Sardinia.
By: Antonio Violi on April 29, 2012
at 8:00 pm
Sardinia was gorgeous. I already want to go back.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 5:48 am
I’m jealous!! yum! yum! looks amazing!
By: carmela phillips on April 29, 2012
at 8:09 pm
It was a very delicious lunch.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 5:48 am
Yum. Looks like you are having a great time. Say Hi to Di from me too.
By: lizgolding on April 29, 2012
at 9:54 pm
Di is home now, not doubt having a little rest.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 5:49 am
Gosh, the food looks wonderful, Deb. Hope you’ve had a lovely Sunday.
Hugs,
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on April 29, 2012
at 11:54 pm
It is always fun to try something new.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 3:53 pm
That looks delicious, especially the pasta. I have to consult my Jamie’s Italian and see if I can find something look-alike for a beginner.
By: linneabylinneanilsson on April 29, 2012
at 11:59 pm
I think they might be a bit fiddly for a beginner.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 3:54 pm
Your beautiful pictures of food left me salivating! I could ‘eat’ each morsel and ‘squeeze’ the lemon over the seafood. I like learning new ideas about Italian food – those culurgiones look delectable in the tomato sauce! One thing I love about Italian tomato sauces is that these are mainly home-made and have a ritual attached to them. I had the privilege of learning tomato-sauce making with Italian friends years ago. Whole families are involved. One fascinating ritual is that mensurating women are not allowed to make the sauce.
By: Sandra H on April 30, 2012
at 12:22 am
Thankfully, some old fashioned ideas have gone now.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 3:55 pm
Great work Debra, and well worth tracking down by the look. What an incredible meal….!
By: janinevasta on April 30, 2012
at 3:53 am
It was an excellent choice for our last meal in Sardinia
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 3:56 pm
Yumm! Love Di with the handsome man! Have fun you 2!
By: Nicole Evans on April 30, 2012
at 4:13 am
Trust Di to find him.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 1, 2012
at 4:26 pm
Yum! You had a perfectly traditional Sardinian lunch! Oh, I’m hungry now … 🙂
By: Jennifer Avventura on April 30, 2012
at 5:47 am
Weren’t we lucky to find such a lovely place??
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 3:57 pm
I almost bought some today, but then decided I will try to make them! I said try … haha!
By: Jennifer Avventura on April 30, 2012
at 3:59 pm
I found them at the supermarket…you will see the results soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 1, 2012
at 4:55 am
I await the results of your recipe experimentation with bated breath! They sound delicious 🙂
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on April 30, 2012
at 9:14 am
The dish was certainly delicious. I hope I do it justice.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 10:40 am
The food looks yummy. I had never heard of culorgonies; it is always nice to learn about new dishes.
By: Just Add Attitude on April 30, 2012
at 9:29 am
We were pleased to have found the dish on our last day in Sardinia.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 10:42 am
My goodness Debra, it looks like you had quite the feast! Those culurgiones seem like the ultimate comfort food. I’m also intrigued by the second dish – the one with the aubergine and roasted onion. Those are my two favourite vegetables (if they even count) so I would love to know what else there is on that plate!
By: James on April 30, 2012
at 9:54 am
The second plate was a collection from the antipasti table. There were stuffed mushrooms, soft cheese, salami and stuffed tomatoes.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 10:44 am
Wow, they look yummy!!Made me think of a gnocchi variation. Maybe you’ve mentioned it in other posts (that I’ve not yet had time to salivate over) from your Sardanian travels but could you mention something about the language. I was there for a wknd. a long time ago; I believe what they speak is Sardo; nothing like Italian, as we know it, at all. Any comments on this?? Overall it’s quite a different ‘image’ of Italy; unique in it’s own way. I remember it’s ruggedness and huge mountains of drying salt. Cheers!
By: Caterina on April 30, 2012
at 1:41 pm
There is a Sardinian language which is spoken in the smaller towns and villages. We heard mostly Italian being spoken and had no trouble making ourselves understood in our beginners’ Italian. I have more posts to come on Sardinia, so I will talk about the language where I can.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 3:08 pm
Thanks, I’ll look forward. I realize now, with the passing of time, that a place like Sardinia is not so remote and being ‘discovered’ would have ‘morphed’ into use a more generic tongue. Kinda sad in a way; one doesn’t like to see those ‘unique’ characteristics fade away. What I remember is it sounded ‘rugged’; much like the landscape.
By: Caterina on May 3, 2012
at 1:34 pm
The landscape is, of course, still rugged, but there are lots of new developments on Sardinia.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 3, 2012
at 5:25 pm
OK. May be next year in Italy we’ll try it 🙂
By: Victor Tribunsky on April 30, 2012
at 3:28 pm
What a good idea!
By: Debra Kolkka on April 30, 2012
at 3:57 pm
Wow, the food looks absolutely mouth-watering! Wish I could eat some now!!!!
By: thirdeyemom on April 30, 2012
at 10:02 pm
It was a delicious meal.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 1, 2012
at 4:56 am
Pasta filled with potatoes? Carbohydrate heaven!! 🙂
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on May 1, 2012
at 11:44 pm
What more could you want?
By: Debra Kolkka on May 2, 2012
at 4:55 pm
We would like those very much in this house! I was just reading a recipe for gnudi having sampled their delights at our local Italian restaurant recently. I have been loving all the Sardinian posts ! xx Jo
By: Joanna on May 2, 2012
at 7:46 am
Sardinia is beautiful. It is quite easy to get to from here, so we will be back.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 2, 2012
at 4:58 pm
Just contemplating dinner and now nothing can compare to that gorgeous banquet! Yummo!
By: thelegaltart on May 3, 2012
at 9:17 am
It was very good, I would like some more now.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 3, 2012
at 5:25 pm