Last Updated on April 10, 2022
I shop at Aldi at least once a week, sometimes more frequently if I need to pick up something extra or if I’m on the hunt for Aldi Finds that are delayed. On the other hand, while I have several Trader Joe’s stores in my region, they’re a little farther away, so I don’t get there quite as often. Because of that, I carefully plan what I want to buy whenever I make a trip to TJ’s, which is a cousin to Aldi. I get a lot of ideas from a Trader Joe’s Facebook group I follow. When I see someone post about an interesting product, I add it to my list for my next shopping trip.
One item that garnered some discussion on social media recently was a unique package of pasta. People referred to it as “phone cord” pasta because the little spiral-shaped noodles look like an old-school curly telephone cord. Quite a few of us in my household like pasta, and this particular pasta shape looked fun, so I bought a package during my latest TJ’s run.
Trader Joe’s Organic Fusilli Corti Bucati Pasta cost $1.99 for a 16-ounce package at the time of publication. This is imported from Italy, is certified organic by Quality Assurance International, and is kosher.
Trader Joe’s website states:
You may be familiar with Fusilli—the spirals that have filled our shelves and stomachs for years. But these Fusilli are distinctly different. In Italian, “Corti” means short and “Bucati” translates to “with a hole”. Each bite-size noodle is corkscrew shaped, with a hollow center that makes for an immensely exciting eating experience. Pair it with a hearty Bolognese sauce and be in awe of how much sauce clings to each noodle, while never feeling weighed down.
Ingredients are organic durum wheat semolina and water. If you’re looking out for allergens, this pasta contains wheat, and it may contain soy.
Trader Joe’s Organic Fusilli Corti Bucati Pasta nutrition information and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
One package has eight servings, and a single 2-ounce (56-gram) serving has 200 calories, 0.5 grams of total fat (1% DV), no cholesterol or sodium, 40 grams of total carbohydrates (15% DV), 2 grams of dietary fiber (7% DV), 1 gram of total sugars, no added sugar, and 7 grams of protein.
To prepare this pasta, bring a pot of water to a full boil. Salt the boiling water and add your desired amount of pasta to the pot. Stir to separate the pasta. Boil gently for 7 to 8 minutes or until the pasta is cooked to al dente. Drain and serve as desired.
Trader Joe’s recommends serving this pasta hot or cold, in soup, in pasta salad, or with sauce of your choice.
Cooked pasta with alfredo sauce.
I cooked this pasta, added Trader Joe’s Alfredo Pasta Sauce to it, and served it alongside some veggies and some buttered everything sourdough bread for an easy weeknight dinner.
It took slightly longer to boil this pasta than the directions indicate — about 11 minutes total. The noodles are tight coils when they’re uncooked, and as they cook they loosen up and get a little springy. One 16-ounce package also made plenty of pasta for my family of four.
This is a fun pasta that I’d definitely buy again the next time I’m at Trader Joe’s. I think it might be especially good in some pasta salads. I’m looking forward to serving it in different ways.
The Verdict:
Trader Joe’s Organic Fusilli Corti Bucati Pasta is unique spiral-shaped pasta that looks a bit like an old telephone cord. It cooks up easily and goes well with any kind of sauce, or it can be served in pasta salad. Try these noodles for a fun twist — literally — on pasta night.
