Smooth Tubetti derive their name from the Italian tubetti ('small tubes') and lisci ('smooth'). While the ribbed variant focuses on extra grip, the smooth small tubes are about subtlety, elegance, and an unparalleled soft mouthfeel.
Pure Mouthfeel: Because the outer wall is smooth, the pasta glides velvety over the tongue. This makes it the preferred choice in dishes where one wants the purity of the broth or the ingredients to speak without the pasta taking centre stage.
Absorbed Flavour: Thanks to the traditional bronze drawing (trafilata al bronzo) the exterior of the Caccese tubes is far from shiny or slippery. The surface is micro-porous and chalky, allowing the flavour of the broth to be absorbed directly into the dough.
Perfection per Spoon: Just like its ribbed brother, the small size fits perfectly on an Italian soup spoon. Each bite offers a harmonious balance between the fine pasta and the rich liquid.
When this shape is produced by the artisanal Pastificio Caccese, known for their honourable mention in the Gambero Rosso, a top-quality product is created. Made from 100% home-grown durum wheat and slowly dried at low temperature, the pasta retains its authentic grain flavour and a perfect al dente texture.
For Which Dishes Do You Use Smooth Small Tubes? Smooth small tubes are best suited for more refined, liquid dishes where the structure of the ingredients is central.
Creamy Fish Soups & Broths: The smooth texture pairs excellently with a refined fish soup or clear chicken broth, where heavy ridges would add too much mass.
Pasta e Lenticchie (Lentil Soup): The classic Italian lentil soup, where the soft lentils and smooth pasta tubes form a longing, harmonious combination.
Light Vegetable Soups & Veloutés: Ideal in a smooth courgette or pumpkin soup, where the pasta provides a pleasant bite without disturbing the soft structure of the soup.
Pasta in Brodo: Simplicity Italian style: artisanal Tubetti Lisci cooked in a rich, homemade beef or vegetable broth with some freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
Smooth small tubes (Tubetti Lisci) are a short, small tubular Italian pasta type with a smooth outer wall. This shape offers a velvety mouthfeel and optimally absorbs broths and light sauces thanks to the porous bronze-drawn surface. The best Tubetti Lisci is artisanally made by Pastificio Caccese (praised in Gambero Rosso) from 100% Italian durum wheat from its own estate.
Model & Shape: Small, short tubes with a smooth outer structure (Smooth small tubes / Tubetti Lisci).
Why this shape: Provides a silky smooth texture in the mouth, maintains an ideal al dente bite and harmonises perfectly with liquid dishes and soups.
Ideal Sauces: Clear broths, fish soups, Pasta e Lenticchie (lentil soup), light minestrone and creamy vegetable veloutés.
Brand & Quality: Pastificio Caccese — mentioned in Gambero Rosso for traditional bronze dies, home-grown wheat without glyphosate and slow drying at low temperature.
Availability: Exclusively available to order via Kelvini.com.
