Capellini

Capellini («fine little hairs»), close kin of capelli d'angelo or angel hair, are among the thinnest long dry pastas and are sold wound into nests. Rummo's capellini measure 1.25 mm across and its angel hair 1 mm, against 1.9 mm for its spaghetti, and most brands cook them in 2 to 5 minutes. ³⁴⁶¹

Capellini and capelli d'angelo. De Cecco sells both, capellini n° 9 and capelli d'angelo n° 209, with the same description: one of the thinnest nest-wound long pastas, of contested origin between Genoa, the Naples area and the Ciociaria. ¹² Rummo draws the line in millimetres: capellini 1.25 mm, capelli d'angelo 1 mm, both cooked in 4 minutes. ³⁴

A pasta for the few. Rummo writes that capelli d'angelo were born in the Renaissance, when they were a pasta «for the few» because they were so hard to make by hand. ⁴ De Cecco notes that even the name capellini evokes how thin the shape is. ¹ Today both are dry durum wheat pasta: in Italy that means semolina and water only. ¹⁶

How thin is thin. In Rummo's range the steps are clear: capelli d'angelo 1 mm, capellini 1.25 mm, spaghettini 1.75 mm and spaghetti 1.9 mm, cooking in 4, 4, 7 and 9 minutes. ⁴³⁵⁶ Under the US standard of identity, any cord-shaped macaroni product up to 0.06 inch across, about 1.5 mm, is legally a vermicelli, which covers capellini too. ¹⁵

Cooking times. De Cecco gives just 2 minutes for both its shapes, Delverde and Divella's angel hair 3, Divella's and Rummo's capellini 4. ¹²⁹⁸⁷³ Ronzoni counts 3 to 5 minutes for capellini and 2 to 4 for its thinner angel hair, from al dente to tender. ¹⁰¹¹ Watch the pot: a minute too long makes the strands soft. ¹¹¹

What to serve them with. De Cecco recommends simple dressings: raw butter and cheese, melted butter with sage and cheese, egg-based sauces or fresh raw tomato, or a light clear broth; around Naples they also go into baked pasticci. ¹ For capelli d'angelo it adds white sauces and smoked ricotta, and notes they are usually broken up for broth. ² Rummo suggests fresh tomatoes, broth or butter and sage. ³

Nutrition, children and allergens. De Cecco recommends capellini in children's diets from 9 months, to get them used to grown-up food. ¹ Divella's capellini give 355 kcal and 13 g of protein per 100 g, Delverde's 352 kcal and 14 g. ⁷⁹ They contain wheat, a gluten allergen, and some packs warn of traces of egg or soy; Felicetti even makes an egg version with 19.36% egg. ^1721413

Capellini vs angel hair. In the US, Ronzoni sells both: capellini are «thin but not the thinnest», cooked in 3 to 5 minutes, while angel hair, or capelli d'angelo, is the delicate one, ready in 2 to 4. ¹⁰¹¹ Rummo's figures match: 1.25 mm for capellini, 1 mm for capelli d'angelo. ³⁴ In practice the names overlap, and the pack's cooking time tells you which one you have. ¹²

Why it matters to you. Use capellini for quick, light dishes: butter and sage, raw tomato, a clear broth. ¹³ Cook by the pack, 2 to 5 minutes, and drain at once. ¹¹⁰ Check the label for wheat and for traces of egg or soy, and choose an egg version only if you want one. ¹⁷²¹³