Not all pasta shapes are created equal. Some are dependable staples. Others are purely decorative. Then there’s Strascinate Nero—a bold, black standout that combines visual drama with exceptional taste.

Crafted with activated charcoal and inspired by the Southern Italian strascinate shape, this pasta is turning heads in restaurants and commercial kitchens across Australia. With its deep black colour and open-faced form, Strascinate Nero offers rich contrast, a natural rustic edge, and an unmistakable plate presence.

What makes it even more unique? VEDE Pasta is the only producer of fresh Strascinate Nero in Australia. Handmade in Brisbane, individually quick frozen (IQF), and engineered for reliable service, it’s pasta that brings performance, story, and style to the table.

What Is Strascinate Nero?

Strascinate (pronounced strah-SHEE-nah-teh) is a traditional shape from Puglia. Its name comes from strascinare, meaning “to drag”—a reference to the way it’s formed by dragging dough across a board with the fingers. The result is a concave, open shell with a rustic surface and wide body.

VEDE’s Strascinate Nero adds another layer of intrigue by blending activated charcoal into the dough. This deepens the colour, adds subtle minerality, and enhances the visual impact of every dish.

Unlike the classic orecchiette, which is smaller and tighter, strascinate has a larger surface area—ideal for gripping sauces and showcasing premium ingredients.

Tradition Meets Innovation

Strascinate Nero brings together centuries of pasta-making with modern culinary creativity.

Originating in Puglia, strascinate is a humble shape traditionally made without eggs. It was used to carry thick sugos, olive oil–based sauces, and slow-cooked vegetables. Its structure offered functionality. Its simplicity, versatility.

At VEDE, we preserve this Southern Italian tradition while adding an Australian innovation layer:

High-protein Australian durum flour
Food-grade activated charcoal from coconut husk
Stretched dough formed using artisanal shaping tools
IQF freezing for zero clumping and easy portioning

The result is a pasta that’s stunning to serve, consistent to cook, and scalable for volume kitchens.

Why Charcoal Pasta?

Charcoal in pasta isn’t just a visual gimmick. It offers subtle flavour notes—earthy and smoky—that pair well with seafood, shellfish, mushroom, and herb-driven sauces.

It also offers a significant visual contrast on the plate, helping bright garnishes, emulsions, or seafood stand out. In high-end dining, presentation matters—and Strascinate Nero gives chefs a canvas that elevates the entire dish.

This pasta is:

Strong enough to hold its shape in service
Quick to cook straight from frozen
Resistant to sticking or clumping
Beautifully textured for rich sauce adhesion

For chefs seeking a point of difference, Strascinate Nero delivers.

Menu Pairing Ideas with Strascinate Nero

Here are real-world pairings currently seen on Australian menus using Strascinate Nero:

Garlic Butter Prawns with Lemon and Herbs
Tiger prawns cooked in garlic butter, white wine, and lemon juice. Tossed with herbs and cracked black pepper. The dark pasta creates visual contrast and holds the emulsion beautifully.

Crab, Burnt Butter, and Tarragon
Blue swimmer crab folded through burnt butter, shallots, and tarragon. Finished with lemon zest and bottarga. Each concave shell holds enough butter and crab to give full flavour in every bite.

Tomato, Fennel, and Clams
Steamed vongole with tomato sugo and shaved fennel. The black pasta becomes the backdrop, letting the ingredients shine.

Charred Mushroom and Onion Purée
Charred onion purée topped with sautéed king brown mushrooms, sage, and pecorino. A plant-based dish that builds on the smoky complexity of the charcoal pasta.

Want more inspiration? Read Top 10 Pasta Dishes Chefs Are Serving in 2025

Why Chefs Are Switching to VEDE’s Charcoal Pasta

Fresh black pasta isn’t something every kitchen can produce in-house. It’s labour intensive, inconsistent, and often difficult to portion.

That’s where VEDE’s IQF Strascinate Nero stands out:

Individually frozen to prevent clumping
Fast cook time of 2–3 minutes
No prep or thawing needed
Excellent texture and shape retention
18-month shelf life with no compromise on flavour or performance

It gives you a handmade look with none of the kitchen risk—and allows full control across services and venues.

Who We Are: VEDE Pasta

VEDE Pasta was founded in Brisbane by Beau Vedelago, the restaurateur behind Factory 51. The vision? Make pasta that bridges artisan quality with service practicality.

We specialise in:

Sourdough Pasta – naturally fermented for strength, bite, and depth
Stretched Pasta – including shapes like orecchiette, fogliette de ulivo, cavatelli, strozzaprete, and Strascinate Nero

All our pastas are snap-frozen at peak quality using IQF, ensuring consistency, fast cook times, and zero clumping.

We work with MOCO Food Services in Queensland and Northern NSW, and support chefs across Australia with samples, wholesale supply, and menu-ready solutions.

How to Order Strascinate Nero

You can order Strascinate Nero through:

MOCO Food Services
Available in Queensland and Northern NSW via their wholesale portal.

VEDE Pasta Direct
For orders, distributor connections, or samples across Australia, reach out at vedepasta.com.au/contact

We support:

Multi-site hospitality groups
Hotels and catering kitchens
Upscale restaurants and wine bars
Foodservice distributors nationwide

Final Thoughts: Let the Pasta Do the Talking

Strascinate Nero isn’t just black pasta—it’s a conversation starter. It’s a dish builder. It’s a secret weapon in the hands of chefs who value detail, consistency, and diner experience.

When you serve VEDE’s charcoal pasta, you serve something distinct. You plate confidence. You offer curiosity, paired with performance.

Ready to see how it fits on your menu?

Explore our full pasta range: vedepasta.com.au/pasta-products

Or get in touch now to request samples or wholesale pricing:
vedepasta.com.au/contact

Strascinate Nero: Australia’s Only Fresh Charcoal Pasta, Handcrafted by VEDE