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Casoncelli: A Traditional Lombard Pasta Dish

Casoncelli

Casoncelli is a traditional Lombard stuffed pasta, known for its signature half-moon shape and hearty filling of beef, pork, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan. Topped with a simple brown butter sage sauce, it’s a comforting dish that brings the flavors of Northern Italy right to your table.
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 Serving
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • For the Dough:
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup semolina flour
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • A pinch of salt
  • For the Filling:
  • ½ lb ground beef
  • ½ lb ground pork
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • For the Sauce:
  • ½ cup butter
  • 6-8 fresh sage leaves
  • Grated Parmesan for serving

Method
 

  1. Make the Dough:
  2. Mix the flours and salt in a bowl. Create a well, add eggs and olive oil, and mix until a dough forms. Knead until smooth, then wrap in plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.
  3. Prepare the Filling:
  4. In a bowl, combine ground beef, pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley, nutmeg, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
  5. Roll the Dough:
  6. Once rested, roll out the dough thinly on a floured surface. It should be almost translucent.
  7. Shape the Casoncelli:
  8. Cut the dough into squares (about 2 inches). Place a small spoonful of filling in the center of each square. Fold over into a half-moon shape and press edges to seal.
  9. Cook the Pasta:
  10. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the casoncelli and cook for 2-3 minutes or until they float to the surface. Drain gently.
  11. Make the Sauce:
  12. In a pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add sage leaves and cook until the butter turns golden brown.
  13. Serve:
  14. Toss the cooked casoncelli in the butter sage sauce. Top with grated Parmesan and serve warm.

Notes

The dough should be rolled out thin for delicate pasta.
Brown butter sage sauce is simple but adds a rich nutty flavor.
For extra flavor, you can drizzle a bit of lemon juice before serving